Largest Tanning Salon in Grundy County Offers Quality Tans
Tanning Salon busy season is right now.
The Velocity tanning bed at Premier Tan in Minooka.
Courtesy of Premier Tan
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Teresa Housman was looking for diversification.
She had been operating Bellacino’s Pizza & Grinders in Morris for nine years. While she enjoyed the restaurant business, she wanted more. She still successfully runs the food establishment, but she wanted to mix things up a bit.
So, six years ago she decided to open a tanning salon. Today, Premier Tan in Minooka is the largest tanning salon in Grundy County.
“We are not a gym offering tanning on site. We are not a hair salon with just one bed,” Housman said. “We are solely a tanning salon. Tanning is our business.”
Premier Tan has nine tanning beds. The time limit for the tanning beds varies between 10 to 20 minute sessions. Housman said she takes a health history of each client and will assist them in making the right decision on which bed, the time limit to tan and how many sessions it will take to achieve the tan the client wants.
“We have different packages to purchase to make the tanning experience cost effective,” Housman said.
Housman emphasized that the beds are stimulating what takes place outside. The filters on the tanning beds provide protection similar to what the ozone layer does outside in the elements, Housman said.
“When people are outside in the sun, many say they will be out for a short time. They get distracted and the results are a sunburn,” Housman said. “At the salon we have time limits.”
Prior to entering the tanning bed, Housman recommends her clients apply tanning lotions to their skin. A variety of lotions in many scents are available for purchase at the salon.
For those who are not patient with the tanning process or for those who cannot use a tanning bed because they have a history of health issues or are pregnant, Housman said a spray tan will give immediate results.
The product used for spray tanning is a clear solution and is applied with an airbrush, Housman said. The solution works with the amino acids in the body to create a tan.
“The same color is applied to the clients, but it will be different for each person because of the chemical make-up in their body,” Housman said.
Busy times
High school dances such as prom and homecoming are popular times at the tanning salon, Housman said. February, March and April are busy as well because people want a tan for vacation or get a jump start on their color for the summer, she said.
Surprisingly, the clientele is mixed.
“There are more men than you would think coming in to get tans,” Housman said.
Specials
Members can text A483 and put 36000 in the message to receive special discounts throughout the year, Housman said. The first text guarantees a free tan, she said. Other specials, including free lotions, are also promoted throughout the year.
From December 1 through June 1, Sunday tanning sessions are half price, Housman said. She added that Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays are half price days from June 1 through December 1.
Clients can also go to the salon’s Web site, or on Facebook to read about the latest specials and additional information about the salon.
Vanessa Holloway
6:05 am on Monday, February 20, 2012
Other specialities at the salon are Swedish massages from Susan McElroy. She also performs pregnancy massages as well. She has a dimly lit room, enhanced with mediating music and relaxing scents. The heated massage table adds another special touch to the massage experience.
Purses and jewelry are also sold at the salon. Housmanis also a Mary Kay consultant and has some of the products at the salon for sale as well.
Sam
8:05 am on Monday, February 20, 2012
It is a very nice tanning salon, clean and nice machines... I just wish the people were a little more friendly, every time I have been in I feel like I'm bothering them. Normally I wouldn't go back to a place so unfriendly but we're limited in Minooka/Channahon.
Pickled Egg
10:53 am on Monday, February 20, 2012
Sadly, that seems to be the problem at Bellacino's, too, Sam. I don't know why she comes off so unfriendly. Maybe she doesn't realize it, but maybe we'll get lucky and she'll read this and understand that she doesn't put out an inviting vibe. That's something they can work on, and hopefully change.
Tim
1:58 pm on Monday, February 20, 2012
How places like this are still in business even after all the health effects such as cancer and dermal skin damage are widely known now, is a mystery. I guess it's just like smoking.
"The filters on the tanning beds provide protection similar to what the ozone layer does outside"
This is right up at the level of hearing tobacco companies saying nicotine isn't addictive. The unfortunate fact, is that while tanning beds use UVA light, it ends up being at a higher intensity than what anyone would ever experience outdoors, UVA also penetrates deeper into the skin than UVB(the 'bad' one), and ends up causing more damage to the dermis.
Do not get your health advice from the person selling you the product, get it from a doctor.
There is no more a 'safe' tanning bed, than there is a safe cigarette.
Jacki McHale
4:43 pm on Monday, February 20, 2012
I have to agree with Tim. I did fake and bake when I was in my early 20's, and when my mom got Melanoma from tanning, we both quit instantly. Lucky for her they caught it and had it removed.
I tried spray tan and was SUPER orange. Sigh, I just wish people could accept their skin color. I'm white. Pale white, and I've learned that I love being this white more then I enjoy cancer.
And yes Tim, I don't understand why people smoke any more either.
Vanessa Holloway
5:53 pm on Monday, February 20, 2012
Sam, Pickled Egg- The times I was at the salon; one to get the contact person's name and when I went for a massage and when I talked to the owner on the telephone in a interview, they appeared friendly to me. Perhaps you caught them on a bad day? I don't know.
Tim, Jacki- As a reporter, I found this story interesting because it is the largest in the area and they offer various beds, etc. But as just a reader/resident I agree with you both. With all the medical studies, I don't understand how they are in business, but as Tim says "it's like smoking." You know the risks, but people still do it. I made it a point to find out the alternatives, which is the spray tan, to vary up the story and let people know there is options beside the tanning bed. I wouldn't do neither. That's just my decision. I have had basal cells removed and it wouldn't be wise to enter one of those beds, although the owner said I could. Yeah I physically could, but I won't. I'm constantly covered with a hat, a coverup and SPF100 during the summer. I burn instantly. Especially when I'm out on the water in the boat. I know there is controversy on whether anything higher than SPF30 is good, but my dermatologist says 100 is fine. It's the only thing I can put on myself and children and not get burned! I will go back there, but I just can't utilize the tanning beds. I will keep that for others.The masseuse is good and I will return for that. There is cute merchandise sold in the salon. Great for simple gifts.
Pickled Egg
4:42 pm on Friday, February 24, 2012
Thank you, Vanessa. Unfortunately it can't be blamed on a "bad day". I am making that assessment based on a few years of experiences with her.
Pickled Egg
4:43 pm on Friday, February 24, 2012
And in more than one single location/vocation.