Bronzer bulbs

It is official: this is the most over used and little understood word in tanning. First, all lamps are "bronzing bulbs". If they didn't bronze you (tan you), then they wouldn't be tanning bulbs at all. In short, the word means absolutely nothing now. Not what you were expecting, is it?

Example of a typical lamp. Most are blueish, but some are pink or other colors.

Traditionally, the term meant a lamp that is lower in UVB, say 5% or less. This means the lamp would get you darker than a quot;hot" lamp, but it would take a little longer. Hot bulbs tan you faster, but the tan fades faster and you don't get as dark in the long run. That is simply how it works: Faster but fades faster or Slower and fades slower.

The problem is, now every yahoo in every marketing department has decided to use the word on lamps that are super high in UVB, which is the exact opposite of true bronzing. This means that ultra hot lamps (high UVB, lower UVA) are being called "bronzing lamps" on the label, while in reality they are better at getting you red than getting you bronze.

There are some exceptions: SunMaster only names a lamp "bronzer" (such as their Custom Bronzer, Pro Bronzer and ReFlex Bronzer) if the lamp is 5% UVB or less. A few major players also use the term correctly. The problem is that most of your sellers that are internet only (the majority of websites) don't, so you buy a bronzer, and what you get is a burner.

So don't ask for Bronzing Lamps, ask for what you need, and if a salesman starts pushing you toward 9% UVB lamps (burners) when you want bronzing lamps, just hang up and call a more reputable company.