Summer Hours

Effective May 24th

Monday: 9 am - 6 pm

Tuesday: 9 am - 6 pm

Wednesday: 9 am - 6 pm

Thursday: 9 am - 6 pm

Friday: 9 am - 6 pm

Saturday: 9 am - 3 pm

Sunday:  CLOSED

Note: Hours may vary.

 

TESTIMONIALS

"I have been tanning at Secret Sun for the past two years now. I like the fact that you don't have to make an appointment ahead of time. For people with busy schedules like mine that's really important. They have plenty of tanning beds to accommodate any kind of demand. They are friendly and courteous and the facility is top shelf with all new machines. They also have a wide selection of tanning products. I enjoy going to Secret Sun because Wisconsin has so many overcast days. It just makes me feel good after I have been there for a 20 minute session. It's just a very relaxing, rejuvenating experience. I would recommend Secret Sun to anyone that needs a stress reliever plus you always get a great tan."

- Tom Bjork

account executive

The AVS Group

 

"I have been a member at Secret Sun for 4 years. After moving from LaCrosse to Onalaska I choose to stay because of the friendly staff, clean facility, and personable owner. No matter where I live, Secret Sun is where I'll Tan."

-Ryan Schaller, Onalaska

 

"I have only been tanning at Secret Sun for a short period of time, but I have lived many places and tanned at many salons. Secret Sun is the best tanning salon I have been to. Thanks for the great tan!" -Meghann T. - LaCrosse

Tips & Instruction

Tanning Tips

General:

  • Exfoliate. Use a loofa or puff with an exfoliator containing alpha-hydroxy acid and / or microbeads prior to tanning or at least once a week.
  • Limit tanning to 3-4 times a week. To determine how often you should tan take into account your skin type and tanning goals.
  • Use shower gels. Regular use of harsh soaps can shorten the life of your tan. The essential oils from your skin form a moisture lock, when these oils are depleted they leave tanned skin cells vulnerable to be washed away or lightened. Shower gels with less alkaline ph levels are less likely to strip natural oils from the skin.

Once you arrive:

  • Apply SPF to lips: Lips contain no melanocytes, so they are unable to protect themselves. We recommend that clients use a SPF lip balm prior to tanning sessions to prevent burning and damage to the lips. Also, UV can aggravate cold sores, so if you have a history of cold sores, SPF for lips is vital.
  • Apply accelerant lotion: Keeping skin moist is essential to the production and maintenance of your tan. In addition to providing moisture, accelerants and amplifying lotions will help your body produce a tan more quickly and you will get more color out of every session.
  • Protect sensitive areas: Some parts of our body receive less exposure to sunlight than others. For the first session or two, you may want to cover these areas and gradually introduce them to UV light.

After you leave:

  • Apply moisturizer: We recommend using an after-tan moisturizer to keep skin hydrated and extend the life of your tan.
  • Avoid over-exposure: Refrain from spending any extended amount of time in the sun after sessions. Remember, a UV session is like a full day of sun.

Avoiding tan lines:

  • Armpits: If you find you are white under your arms, try putting arms over your head for half of your session. The stand-up unit with overhead handles will help as well.
  • Buttocks: This can be cause by the weight of your body folding under your skin as you lie down. Try lifting your legs (one at a time) in classic sunbathing position for half of your session. Use of the stand-up every third session with also help eliminate this problem.
  • Pressure Points: Pressure points can develop under your shoulder blades or on your tailbone as a result of lack of blood flow to these areas when your are lying down. To eliminate these points, try using the stand up every third session or shifting weight from side to side a few times during your session.
  • Chin: This can be caused by tilting your head down during the session. Use the thick part of the pillow under your neck so that your head is tilted slightly backward during your session, exposing your neck. If you are in the stand up, try to point your head directly forwards or slightly towards the ceiling.
  • Eyes: Do not consider tanning without eyewear. If you are having problems with goggle lines, try using winkease or sunsets. Moving eyewear around during the session will also help blur any lines that may occur.

Avoid These Mistakes:

  • Use eyewear: The skin of your eyelid is very thin and UV light readily passes through it. A towel does not provide adequate protection. UV light is damaging to the eye if proper eyewear is not worn.
  • Remove makeup: If your makeup contains any SPF it is best to remove it or you may not tan evenly.
  • Do not use outdoor lotions indoors: Outdoor lotions typically contain SPF, which is not condusive to indoor tanning.  These types of lotions also create a film on the acrylic which keeps the UV light from passing through to your skin.  Using an outdoor lotion will essentially negate your session.
  • Do not burn first: Do not make the mistake of thinking you have to burn before you tan. UV damage can actually slow your tanning process and has no effect on the production of a tan.

5 Simple Instructions

  1. Prepare your skin: Do not tan in the sun prior to your session to prevent burning. Exfoliation will shed dead skin cells from the body, priming skin to receive a healthy tan.
  2. Select you exposure time and lotion: Consult with our staff to determine the best exposure time and personalized recommendation for lotion. Using a lotion is essential because it provides the moisture and nourishment needed to prime skin for a healthy tan. Lotions also contain ingredients that will allow you to get accelerated results from each session.
  3. Apply lotion: Apply accelerant lotions liberally, paying special attention to dry areas, such as shaved legs. If you are using a lotion with a bronzer, use provided baby wipes to wipe off excess on hand and between fingers to prevent staining. Do not use any tingle products on face.
  4. Apply SPF to lips: Lips contain no melanocytes, so they are unable to protect themselves. We recommend that clients use a SPF lip balm prior to tanning sessions to prevent burning and damage to the lips. Also, UV can aggravate cold sores, so if you have a history of cold sores, SPF for lips is vital.
  5. Protect untanned areas: If you have any areas that have no been recently exposed to UV light you may want to either apply a light sunscreen or cover then with a towel for part of the session. It is important to tan these areas gradually to prevent sunburn or skin damage. Also, if you have tattoos or forming scars you should protect them. We carry SPF 30, special tattoo protective balm sticks, and SPF lip balms for this purpose