Tan Bella
2185 Market Street
San Francisco, CA 94114 (415) 522-1234
- Hours:
Mon-Thu 7:00 a.m.-8:00 p.m.
Fri-Sat 7:00 a.m.-8:00 p.m.
Sun 10:00 a.m.-7:00 p.m. - Price Range: $$
- Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
- Parking: Street
- Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
- By Appointment Only: No
58 Reviews for Tan Bella
One of Tan Bella's Favorite Reviews
Tan Bella lives up to all the hype! I have been a long time customer, I think pretty close to when they first opened. Once, I made the mistake of trying a new place because they were booked (no names, but horrible results nevertheless).
Anyway, Tan Bella has the best artists in the city by far, true Picassoes of Airbrush Tanning. The staff are so amazing, no matter who I get they always do a great job! I'm so excited about the new location, I haven't tried that one yet.
Tan Bella really knows how to make their clients feel comfortable in their spa and treat them with drinks and the occasional munchies (I never want to leave :)
Well, as you can tell I LOVE THIS PLACE and will continue to be a long time client. Great job girls!
Pros: The Staff, The Spa Atmosphere
Cons: Can't think of any.
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The good: They have high quality products. I am fair skinned and the spray tan turned out great. Not orange, not streaky. Beds/standups are nice too.
The bad: They messed up my appointment time. The light was out in the spray tan booth so I had to do it in the dark. The girl told me just to leave the curtain open so I could see. See thru door + open curtain + booth in the middle of the hallway + spray tanning = no thanks.
Hey everyone! I'm updating my review on 6/24/08 because one of the owners, Gregory, took the time to personally contact me and apologize for the lack of air conditioning in his salon. I thought that was *really* cool, so I gave the shop an extra star for putting the extra touch on their service. Definitely a business worth patronizing!
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Original 2nd review:
I am a very pale person and to be honest I was really into it until I accidentally fell asleep in the sun a few weeks ago and now have tan lines. I hate tan lines. Tan lines are trashy. On the flip side, I've also found a new love for my darker than usual skin. It's like I'm glowing. I want to show it off, I want to embrace my tan (sans lines). Thank God I live in San Francisco where we don't even see the sun half the time so I can just wear an elbow length shirt and my tanned arms will show through but no one will see my ugly shoulder tan lines. Oh wait, we're currently having a heat wave here in San Francisco so all I want to do is run around outside with as little clothing as possible on. But like, I have these tan lines (they're bad). I can't be seen with tan lines. So, what's a girl to do? Get a spray tan, of course. It'll fix everything without any of the hassles (of baking in the sun!).
I've been doing spray tanning for special occasions since it hit Union Street back when I was in High School. But, I know my limits. My skin is very pale and very dry, so if I get spray tanned it'll only look good for a max of two days. This works out. I did it the day before prom, I did it the day before our beach BBQ extravaganza... and then after 48 hours I slink into the shadows for a few days while I act and look like a leper.
Tan Bella is a great place. The spray tanning machine is super cool. Don't tell anybody but when I'm in there I pretend I'm Picard from the Enterprise and that the Borg have got me and I'm going through processing. CHUNK CHUNK CHUNK CHUNK CHEW CHEEHCHCE. That's the sound the spray tan machine works. Then you open your eyes and it's just this crazy brown mist. Loves it!
Anyway, be careful if you're a pale white chick, because the odds of this: http://www.yelp.com/bi... happening (that's me!) after 48 hours are very likely. Even with tons and tons and tons of lotions afterwards.
1-star deducted because they really need air conditioning in there.
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I'm scared.
Seriously, I think I am changing and I don't know what's happening to me. I say this because I, stephy s, the whitest, pastiest, palest, glow in the darkiest girl I know, just went to....
A tanning salon.
Good Christ and Sweet Jesus on a bike, who am I?!
I guess it all started after my horrendously awful vacation in Belize last week. I hadn't planned on tanning at all. In fact, I hate tanning, being out in the sun and the way skin looks with a tan. I'm no goth chick, but there is something I have always adored about being a pale girl, but after stupidly laying out (out of sheer boredom) in Belize, I came back with something I hate even more than a tan...tan lines.
Ugh. And so I decided to do something about them or at least try as I seriously consider white boobs the enemy. Maybe it was seeing all of my Dad's Playboys growing up with the dark tanned girls and glowing white boobs, but it just freaks me out and looks awful.
And so I went on Yelp and found Tan Bella and called to see what the dealio was. The girl on the phone was really friendly and very informative and put me and my scared white boobs at ease and after thinking it through, I decided to say, eff it, I'm going in.
Once I got there, I was greeted by said sweet girl and she took me on the little tour and explained the beds and the stand up machine and told me these are the only beds in the city like this and that you won't get burned....or more importantly, in my fear base, orange. She also told me that it would take a few sessions to get some color and we agreed that 2 fake bakes and a spray tan should fix me right up and I gave her my credit card.
Since the lay down bed apparently gives you white spots on your back on certain areas, I opted to go with the stand up thingy as the idea of white dots on my back in addition to the big white dots on my front didn't sound like a win win. From there it was time to strip down, put on a sample packet of lotion and stand in this crazy Terminator/Beam me up Scotty sort of contraption and hope to God I wasn't on America's Funniest Home Videos.
After taking a deep breath and gathering my nerve, I pushed the button and on came the purple lights and I was suddenly transported to what I could only imagine the Tron Tan Disco would be like. I was wearing stickers over my eyes and couldn't really see much, but I did hear loud windy noises, the faint sound of house music from the little Walkman thing and felt warmth on my calves and tried not to have a panic attack and die with tan lines. Hey, priorities man, priorities.
Thankfully, I made it through the 8 minutes (phew) and was sent on my merry way after I made an appointment to return for Round 2 of Operation: I Want My 5 Star Boobs back! Thursday came and I went back in and actually noticed some color on this round and a co-worker even remarked on how "colorful" I looked on Friday. I wasn't sure if this was good or bad since he was smirking. (Thanks Mike Stoppelman!)
Today, I went in for my final session of the spray tan and my oh my, is that an experience. I didn't know whether to hold my breath or what, but the only comparison I can make to describe what that's like is being in an Aquanet chamber and leanin like a chola. Damn Chewy.
As I walked back to my apartment trying not to sweat or shower, I kept looking at myself in the reflection of store windows and couldn't stop laughing. The pale pasty girl with a spray tan. Just hysterical. I guess I have to wait 6 hours now to shower and hopefully what will be unveiled will look normal or at least somewhat natural ;)
All I know is, I'm glad I did this. It was fun, funny and the people working here are aces and super fun and friendly and if they could get me into not one, not two, but three weird chambers and get almost $100 out of me, clearly they are doing something right, hehe.
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Tan Bella is pretty awesome as tanning salons go. I've been a client (or slave) to four tanning salons over the past two years, and Tan Bella's definitely the poshest. When the people at my first salon explained the concept of "high pressure" vs "low pressure" beds to me, I nodded my head and silently concluded it was total BS before handing over my credit card anyway. Flash forward two years - now, after having endured a string of low pressure tans in the crappy stand up bed in my gym, leaving me no more tan yet considerably redder, I recognize the importance of a high pressure bed. Thus my new membership at Tan Bella.
Price: reasonable, considering it only took two sessions to make me look "glowy." Plus there's a 20% off student discount!!
Extras: The place smells vaguely like cookies. Or cookies baked on a beach, at least. The staff are also helpful and knowledgeable. The hot tanning concierge Nick patiently helped me wade through an entire wall of tanning lotions to find exactly what I needed, and nonjudgementally rescheduled me when I was late. Twice. The bio major in me was also impressed that he could throw around a word like "melanocyte" and actually know what he's talking about. Wow. Three cheers for Tan Bella!
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Tan Bella is fab. it has a lovely Castro vibe, it smells amazing in there, and the decor makes you feel all fancy.
when i was a teen i used to fake n' bake, the cancer way, and i have since realized that while the idea of spraying it on seems odd and ridiculous it is so much safer and about 200 times faster- which can also be kind of wierd if you go, say, on your lunch break and then go back to the office all bronzed and your clothes stained (you can get the tinted kind or non-tinted, but if you go non-tinted you can't see it and even it out. the tinted kind washes out of your clothes so don't even trip)
i've been here a few times, before strappy-dress weddings mostly. i think the custy service is great, the guy is always nice and really shows you the ropes on the whole scenario.
the first time was pretty scary and i thought i was going to suffocate in the spray booth. don't try to hold your breath the whole time or you will pass out and then your fake tan will be f*cked. the stuff's totally non-tox so breath normal and quit being a spaz!
the tan washes away in about a week and a half, and may get streaky if you sweat alot, once after the gym i came home to find my feet completely white and my calves still golden. it was my funny little secret for a few days.
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I go to the King St location.
I love the spray tan! It looks so great, I mean SO GREAT! I've done it twice in the past 3 weeks and I get compliments on my "tan" daily. What I hate about tanning beds is they don't tan your face very well and it causes so much damage just to get some color. Solution? SPRAY TAN! It evens out your skin tone so your face looks flawless without foundation. It's insta-celebrity style!
Spray tanning at Tan Bella is awesome! There are 3 levels of color and it looks really good when it's done processing (about 6 hours or just sleep in it and shower the next day). The color is brown with a little red, which makes it look natural like a bronze sun kiss- not a mono-orange-glow.
I totally bought the "Elite" package so I can tan all I want for one price. Here's my personal tanning recipe for success: I like to use a medium pressure bed to keep the melanin active and happy, followed by a high pressure bed 2 days later. When using the beds, I cover my face/neck/chest area for at least half of the time. The next day I am ready for the spray. I think base color is needed for the optimal spary results. If you do this sequence every-other week, or every 10 days, you'll look great.
If you've been curious about spray tanning, but concerned about looking streaky or orange, this is the place for you!!! Make an appt for the spray, it's popular!
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So....
First I was afraid,
I was petrified!
Kept thinking I'd get baked alive
in the stand-up tan.
But I had my iPod on,
And the gay guy said I should dance
So I did
WTF? nude groovin' under high heat UV!
Okay, so I didn't really dance... but the fact you can is pretty cool. The credit system is confusing as all hell, but I guess it's beneficial to the consumer so whatevs. Dale was a sweetie. Didn't expect anything in particular, but definitely not displeased.
I never fancied myself a spray-on tan kind of girl. I mean spray-tans are for Brittany Spears and girls who live in the Marina, right? But I had a vacation planned in Mexico and thought, "what the hell?" Boy am I happy I tried it! Being a fair-skinned blond, I was sure I'd end up looking like one of those "orange people" who grace the cover of Us magazine, but actually it turned out looking extremely natural! It lasted the entire week I was in Mexico. And, though I was smothered in SPF 50 the entire trip, it looked as though I must have been baking in baby oil like it was 1985!
The staff at Tan Bella were awesome. They patiently taught me all the Charlie's Angels moves and the art of "buffing". The price was right too. Only about $35 and you get a second tan free! I'll certainly return prior to my next beach vacation!
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All the staff members of Tan Bella are really nice and helpful. My bf & I decided to get ourselves ready for vacation and shopped around for tanning salons. Where others were a little snooty, Tan Bella has always been very accommodating. Peter is very knowledgeable and helpful and with his suggestions we were able to get the color we wanted! The stand-up booths for about ten minutes a week are the way to go!
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Three simple words: AWFUL customer service.
I've been to Tan Hella before and even bought a package of 5 tans. I've used them intermittently and went there last night to use one of my tans on my prepaid package. I also convinced my boyfriend to join me and get a tan as well. Our reservations were at 7:20. When we arrived we noticed there were a lot of people in the waiting area. We also overheard a girl talking about her wedding and bridal party. Sounded like they were all getting ready for their wedding. We were told by the front desk guy that they were busy and running a little behind. Not a problem.
They were able to get me in right away for a 12-minute session. My boyfriend was not so fortunate. After I was done with my session I noticed that he was still waiting to be seen. It's now about 7:35. I go over to the front desk guy and tell him that I enjoyed my tan but that one of the bulbs in the bed is broken. Explanation: it's not the bulb, it's not the fuse, we don't know what it is. Idea: I'm paying $35 for one tan, you might want to figure it out. It gets better. As we are talking to him about purchasing completely overpriced tans for my boyfriend, one of the girls from the bridal party gets put into the bed I just used. Time is now 7:45 Uh...hello...we have reservations at 7:20.
Then, and this is the best part, AS WE ARE TALKING TO FRONT DESK GUY, another guy walks in and front desk guy stops EVERYTHING he is doing with us, REMOVES THE GIRL FROM THE TANNING ROOM and places this dude in the tanning bed! At this point we tell him that he has very poor customer service and walk out. The dude follows us out to explain that he is giving out free tans because of the delay and that the guy who just walked in had an appointment 5 minutes ago. HELLO! The time is now 7:50! Our reservation was 30 minutes ago!!! Is this dude an idiot?
So, I will not be going back for several reasons:
1. Broken bulbs in "high-end" tanning bed
2. Rude employees that LITERALLY walk into the tanning room and remove you to make sure their other clients are serviced.
3. DEFINITELY, DEFINITELY, DEFINITELY NOT WORTH THE PRICE FOR THAT TYPE OF SERVICE.
One star ONLY because you HAVE to on this site.
Perfect Tan works for me! So, I have been a tanner for many many years tanning at establishments all up the west coast from big corporate places to very small mom and pop salons. Still I was nervous because the first time I spray tanned I ended up looking like a streaky carrot, and I was nervous because I was bigger at that time and not sure I could comfortably be almost naked in front of a stranger. But I didn't not know what to expect.
About three weeks ago I went to visit Tan Bella for the first time; I wanted to get some info on their Mystic, after reading all the good reviews on yelp.
I was helped by this really cute young tan looking guy. I told him it wasn't my first time, and I already tried the airbrush. But he insisted in showing me the booth in the back, saying this would be completely different... Well It actually was!! Booths are much better than airbrush because they're more uniform and give you a more even tan, he was clear about the way the Spray works, answered all my questions patiently and then showed me the pricing, at first the point system didn't really make sense, especially for someone like me, who would have to keep purchasing more, since I do tan a lot. But when I was also given the option of signing up for a membership it was a much better deal to just get a monthly unlimited if I go tan more than 4 times a month, the guy, I think his name was Nick, assured I'd love it.
So I ended up signing up for the $99 dollar one, and bought a lotion. Then I went in the changing room, Nick the guy who helped me first was busy, so I think his name was Peter, also very good looking, showed me all the prep work and then Nick as soon as I was done with the prep; finished showing me all the poses. I was very nervous at first, but it turned out perfect! The tan looked a little dark right off the bat, but then after taking a shower it looked more natural. Now I go back almost every week, definitely taking advantage of my membership since it is so addicting! This Spray tan doesn't make me look orange, and that's all it matters! This is the best Mystic I ever had; it's totally different from the other salons... Definitely well prepared and good looking staff, a little pricey on the point system but definitely worth the try!!!
I am new to Yelp and jumped on to give Tan Bella a great review. But I also wanted to reflect on Rodrigo D's posting because I was appalled to read what he wrote and totally remembered him from last Thursday. I have received only the best customer service at Tan Bella. I was "the girl" that got...what did he say..."removed" from my room and received poor customer service. What Rodrigo doesn't know is that I was given two options and chose to let someone go ahead of me. It was my choice. I also witnessed how rude he and his boyfriend were. I gathered that his boyfriend was new to Tan Bella and a new customer needs to get the rundown of the place (I received the intro when I first joined - it took about 10 minutes and was very helpful). The place was PACKED...there was a bridal party there that the guy was totally accommodating to. Everyone in the lobby seemed cool about the busy situation except Rude Rodrigo. I felt that it was necessary to write a response to him and get him off his soap box. I love my beautiful tan and its definitely worth the $ considering how tan I got in 1 session. I've tanned in many different cities and Tan Bella has been by far the most helpful and quality driven salon. I've done my research and the quality of equipment that they carry is by far the best and least expensive I've seen in the city. Paul or Peter (can't remember the guy's name that helped me) was great to interact with and accommodated everyone in the lobby by even offering free tans for the wait. He actually felt bad for being busy....something that he shouldn't have to feel bad about! Rodrigo should go to a cheaper salon... get a crappy tan/burn ...so he can then write a review about how crappy his $10 tan looks.
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Yesterday it was my first visit at Tan Bella, I went with 2 of my girlfriends to try their spray tan after reading all the good reviews. The staff treated us very nicely.. not to mention how hot the guy employee was.. =) good looks are always a plus
The tan turned out pretty good...
Kinda pricey, but packages can be shared so it turned out cheaper!
P.S. I would've given 5 stars, but the lotions are way overpriced!
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For the first 24 years of my life, my skin never once darkened. Instead it became painfully (and often embarassingly) red when in the sun. If I couldn't achieve a tan in the sun, why on earth would a tanning bed work?
I wish I could tell you why it does indeed work, but I can't remember. All I know is I've been hooked for 3 years now. The staff at Tan Bella, being the knowledgeable folks that they are, can tell you. They really know their stuff AND they're all extremely friendly which is what prompted me to even give tanning a shot. I have never tanned at any other salon and as long as I live here, I never will.
The decor is chic, the vibe is completely relaxing and I said it before, but I have to repeat myself. Everyone is friendly. I have yet to find anyone being snotty. I'm pretty hardcore when it comes it customer service and the owners (who are sweethearts themselves) always do a phenomenal job in hiring their staff. And did I mention they make me dark!??!! That's the most awesome part. Seriously. I grew up having to endure being called Casper, Powder and See-through. Ever seen Kirsten Dunst's legs in Spiderman? Yea, I'm normally THAT pale. So thank you Tan Bella because I'm not one of those "I want to embrace my milky skin" people.
**Also, they offer discounts to those of us who work in the gayborhood and to makeup artists and estheticians. AND, for every 3 people you refer to them you get 1 free tan.
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Wonderful tanning salon!! Just wonderful. I have very sensitive skin and at other tanning places, my skin has turned into what would pretty much look like a human flaky croissant. But not at Tan Bella. Those purple tanning stand up booths are almost like a 10 minute vacation to an exotic sunny island (just close your eyes and listen to really good music--that they provide in the booths). If you don't care for the stand up booths, they also have a spacious space-age looking tanning bed that is out of this world. Not only do you get an even tan, your skin does not feel fried after leaving the salon.
Also, they have a great staff. I met the owners when I first went, and they were more than helpful. Definitely try this place for a great just-went-on-vacation tan.
This is a great tanning salon. Great equipment, products, friendly staff, and it's always very clean and smells lovely. You see results from using a good lotion and a few sessions. Easy to make an appointment-highly recommend this salon!
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Everything about this tanning place is great. The beds/stand up booths are indeed high pressure and the ambience is welcoming. The guys who own the place are super cute and it's hard to resist not getting a tan or at least try a couple of sessions. The tan seem to last but I tan quite nicely naturally without burn....so I can't 100% recommend the salon for people who burn easily.
I gave it 4 stars because the sessions are extremely expensive, lack of parking and the lotions they sell are over priced.
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So despite my once a year or so freak out about having skin cancer, I still tan. I can't help it. I'm slowly cutting back but I can't go cold turkey...
The Tan Bella in the Castro is probably the friendliest tanning salon I've ever been to. The staff is super nice, they're NOT stuck up and fake, and they don't pressure you to buy all these expensive lotions. The last time I was helped by this new really cute and young looking guy, I think his name was Nick (sorry if I'm wrong), but he was super nice. I've been to plenty of tanning salons and I hate it when they give you that attitude where they think they're better than everyone else (you work at a goddamn tanning salon!!) with their cheap boob job and skanky little outfit. Anyway....... I've been going there for a while; I've always been purchasing single sessions..what can I say??? I hate commitments. Lately though they changed the pricing system, so this guy went over it with me, he was very clear and finally made me realize that if I would prepay for more sessions I would save a ton of money, so that's what I did, I bought a bunch of points, that would give me enough for almost 10 sessions, and would never expire. After that he tried to talk me into buying a lotion, In almost 4 years of tanning I always refused to even try one.. Probably it was his persuasive smile that made me change my mind but he told me how darker I could get by using an accelerator, so I decided to buy a sample. As soon as I jumped off the bad, I looked in the mirror, and in all my life I had never noticed such a rapid change of shade in my skin.. never been that tanned, that fast! So when I stepped out he noticed how darker I was and asked me if I liked it, and if i wanted the whole bottle.. with no uncertainties, I decided to buy the whole bottle of this lotion called Darkside. (Btw they store lotions for you)..
I like that they check to make sure that you have your eye goggles.. tanning without them is dangerous! (Not that tanning is good for you.... haha) And I also like that their standing tanning booths have enough room to dance in. The only thing I don't like is that if I would do it, at the same time, I would feel like I'm in a capsule or something about to be launched into space... =/
If you have a membership at 24 Hour Fitness, tell them because they offer discounts!!
So great Staff and great Services! Keep it up Tan Bella...you Rock!
I had my first visit to Tan Bella recently and generally I had a really good experience. I can see why they have received so many rave reviews.
They have a fantastic paint and bake recipe all wrapped up by Peter who I think is one of the friendliest, customer-service oriented people I've met in a long time.
He spent a lot of time with me helping me to understand the options and how to make the most of them. The result for me was a lovely golden tan of the likes that I've never seen on myself before. I went home and giggled for hours with my boyfriend with intermittent glimpses in the mirror. You see, like others on here, I'm your typical pale San Francisco girl.
The place is really popular. Did I mention how popular they are? This maybe the only downside for which I deducted one star because Peter was alone when I was in there and he was juggling all of the education, sales, setup and cleanup, himself for a long trail of customers.
My appointment was at 7:20 and I left there at 9:20 which was a significantly larger time investment than I had assumed. For some reason I figured I'd be in and out in 30 minutes, tops. Yea... not so much but I'm hoping that was because I was new and that's not the typical experience.
Don't get me wrong, I appreciate the time spent educating me because I had lots of questions. And, I'll definitely go back. I just wish that they had informed me when I called to make the appointment and get the low-down of how long it would take. Since the joint is so popular, I'm guessing that folks do some waiting from time to time. Perhaps they should consider menu like "newbie" cards that folks can read while they are waiting.
So you can plan ahead, here's how it went for me:
7:20 -7:35 Showed up and waited
7:35 - 7:45 Got the rundown from Peter on the high-pressure bed, how to make the most of the tan and how their pricing structure works. I paid and he said he would give me a run down on the spray tan when I was done ( I did both in the same visit).
7:45-7:55 Tanned in the high pressure bed
7:55-8:20 Waited for the spray tan while 3 others (who arrived after me) rotated in and out
8:20 - 8:25 Got the low down on spray tanning - how to prep
8:25-8:45 Slathered on tanning gel, barrier cream, changed into robe, but unsightly hair cap and waited again
8:45-8:50 Got the low down on the spay tan machine, the ballerina and "angles" poses and how to towel off and blend, and then got sprayed
8:50-9:10 Toweled off, buffed, cleaned the bronzer out of my ears, nail beds, nooks and crannies
9:10-9:20 Waited and then chatted more with Peter to make sure I didn't have any questions.
Some factoids:
Tan Bella on Market has 1 high-pressure bed , 2 low pressure beds, and 1 spray tan machine.
The price was spendy but fair given the quality of the tans. Plus, for new folks there's a buy one get one free. Their regular price structure basically is built around volume discounts; the more you buy the cheaper it gets. They also have monthly packages.
Hmmm.. I read a lot of great reviews here. What's up? Is it just the decor that's winning everyone over? B/c the spray tan itself sucked.
First, let me say they did a lovely job decorating the place -- it feels more like a lounge than a tanning salon. The boyyyz at the front were cute. But the actual spray tanning experience, not so good.
I'm a spray tanning veteran. In NYC I went all the time -- both booth and airbrush. I'm totally sold that a booth is actually better than an airbrush b/c it's a more uniform application. But I didn't really like the privacy factor here, it's like the booth's in the hallway. The tan color, unnatural. The application, splotchville.
I won't try the UV tanning bed here. My dermatologist says the older UVB tanning beds burn you (obviously bad), but the new UVA booths actually do more longterm damage to your skin cells and penetrate deeper. I guess that's why everyone says UVA lasts longer.
If the flamboyant eye candy and decor mattered more -- maybe this could be my spot. But based on results alone, I'll keep looking in SF. Two stars for the snazzy decorating though.
Anyone have a good reccomendation for sunless tanning? Send me a PM.
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Okay, so I'm a white girl from Iowa with mostly Czech and English blood... pale pale pale. Never meant to have a tan and all my freckles and sun spots will tell you that.
Mostly, I don't really care, besides the stupid sunburns I get and the constant reapplication of sun screen.
Recently I got one of those stupid sunburns from inappropriate sunscreen reapplication during an afternoon of biking. My t-shirt was apparently ganked over to one side, so I had (and still have) this weird triangular pattern on my chest and neck.
This all happened 1 week before I was going to wear a sexy new dress in Vegas. I don't care, but for some reason this new dress brought upon some weird vein attack. I tried applying sunscreen to just that spot and sat out in the sun. It got worse.
So that leads me to Tan Bella. I looked on Yelp for spray tan places and this one got good reviews.
What a weird experience.
MY REVIEW: It's all very LA - Slick, Glossy, Everyone is pretty in a strange, untouchable way. The place was really comfortable and the staff really helpful in explaining all the rituals you have to go through in order to achieve tanness. I left with a fairly even, non-orange tan.
I still had that stupid triangle, but I felt sun-kissed and oddly comforted by the fact that when I looked down at my bare legs, I wasn't blinded.
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I am a dancer in Vegas and usually have my tan hand sprayed by a guy there,I happened to be heading Monday morning and saw Tan Bella on Market, so I gave them a ring and I was immediately told to come on in and get the finest spray ever. So what the hell? I did. A very handsome guy named Steven, showed me the machine they used, talked about how well the tan color result would be, all in a very honest, non pushy, experienced manner. I was so impressed I bought 5 tans, plus a prep gel and a lotion he suggested to maintain my tan. This all before I even tried my first Spray Tan yet. Steven, as promised, walked me through the process, demonstrating as he went, so that the process was not intimidating or confusing, What I was really impressed with was the "blending" method he taught me for after the spray by using the edge of the towel as a tool,I wish I had known that trick before. The final result was beautiful, not a streak anywhere, and the color tone he suggested was perfect. Go to Tan Bella, get Steven to help you, I am thrilled wiith the result and he is so sweet.and knows what he is doing.(pretty eyes too). Great Experience
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Eh - what do I say? I saw all these great reviews and had to try it out. It's true, it's really nice in side, and there is some nice eye candy (mostly for the boys though) - however, I guess for how much it cost I was expecting it to last a whole lot longer, and to be a whole lot darker. There was nothing *bad* per se, but I just didn't think that it was worth the expense. But, I did appreciate the chocolate placed on the towel each time - yum!
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The front of the place looks swanky and high class, but walk to the back where the tanning booths are and it's a whole other story. Tanning beds separated by nothing but flimsy curtains with ladders, cleaning supplies, and old junk laid everywhere. I know San Francisco is tight on space, but there's gotta be somewhere to put your storage. I was also afraid anyone could pull the curtains back and peep in at any time or snag my purse which I had nowhere else to lay but on the floor next to the bed.
It was my first time there & the guy spent all of 30 seconds to point to my bed mumbling something about just hitting a button to turn it on. So I get undressed wait for what feels like eternity for the button to light up so I could hit it. Nothing. Five minutes later I'm forced to walk to the front of the shop in my robe and ask the guy what happened. He gives me this surprised look and says, "Oh yeah. Sorry about that." WTF?!?! So I was just sitting there naked, wasting my time and my tan could've been done by now.
I don't know what everyone's raving about, but I've seen better than their ratty thin towels and slow service. I'm even hesitant to go back and use my free tan coupon.
My friend and I went to Tan Bella last friday. I have only tanned once and that was 4 years ago. My friend however has tanned a few times. However the places he has been to he said that he got burned. I told him about this place and how it got such great reviews off of yelp, so we both decided to go.
Our first impression was how nice the facility was and how their UV tanning beds were very high end. We also liked how the guy up front was very nice and very helpful.
Since it was our first time there, we got the buy one get one free package. Our tan lasted for about 12 minutes and once we were done we were very happy with the results. We both agreed that we would definetly go back. So I made us another appt this friday.
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today was my first time getting a spray tan. after much deliberation, i found tan bella on yelp. i went there not knowing what to expect, but Nick was very helpful and nice and made my first visit very comfortable. my tan looks great and it's very even (which is important) i will be back this week for a second spray. =)
This place is tanning heaven for the fairer skinned. The high pressure beds (like the kind they have in Europe) do not burn like other tanning beds. The staff here is great and happy to answer all of your questions. Make an appointments Friday - Sunday, it gets booked up pretty quick.
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I've only been here once, but I have to say if you have ever considered Mystic Tan...or any spray tan salon.....I would highly recommend Tan Bella. You should go here!! The staff is very good at explaining the do's and don'ts for a uniform, streak free tan. Not only that, this place gives you mists from all four sides: Front, Right Side, Back side and Left side. Unlike some salons that only do front and back. It's very clean and modern. Very convenient location near Bart and Muni.
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I have to admit that the price is high... but if you want a quality tan with great service and a relaxing (non palm tree and neon light extravaganza)... Tan Bella is perfect.
So after one of the cute owners gave me my introduction to this tanning salon, of course I had to try it! The salon itself is chic and has a warm feeling. It doesn't smell like a tanning salon, more on the sweet side:) The beds are NICE and top of the line and the staff is very knowledgeable on tanning, the rays, etc. And if you dig fashion and are waiting for a friend to finish, you can watch the runway and listen to some nice lounge!! Very nice!!
It's a great place! I had a great experience and I definitely recommend it. I think with the types of beds they offer, their prices seem fair.
Then again, I'm not your average everyday tanner. Oh and don't let me forget...right now, they have a buy one get one free tanning special for the newbie, like myself!!
Now go get yourself a tan!!
This is by far the best tanning experience that I have ever had. The service was wonderful. I basically stumbled upon this place when I was about a half an hour early to my hair appointment at Hair Play down the street. I had some time to kill and I thought why not get a tan in my spare time. I walked in with no appointment, a man named Peter gave me a full tour of the facility, gave me great tanning tips, and fit me right in. If your not into the whole UV thing they have the spray tan here, and from what Peter told me "its not the cheep orange stuff that most places use". I totally recommend this place.
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I admit it. The golden tan I sport is not real. So what? I may be fake but at least I'm still going to look 25 when I'm 35. There's also the added bonus of not getting skin cancer. What I find so amazing about Tan Bella is that it definitely lives up to the hype. The spray on tan I get here looks more natural and lasts a helluva lot longer than the run of the mill Mystic Tans you'll find at other salons. Also, the owner lets you share your tans with your friends. That means you can actually split the cost of a package with a friend and save a little money. The packages never expire.
The only negative I could possibly say about this place is that parking in that neighborhood is a nightmare. I always manage to get a spot but my search time averages about 20 minutes. If you can take public transportation to get here, do it.
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Living in San Francisco getting a good tan is almost impossible. Enter Tan Bella a small Tanning Salon in the Castro. I have been utilizing the services at Tan Bella off and on for the past 2 years mostly to get a base tan before going on vacations to Hawaii, or the Greek Isles and not wanting to burn. As I entered the salon my first time I was weary of not wanting to come out like I was fake and baked. This was hardly the case.
The owner (who is very hot as are the rest of the employees) sitting behind the counter was very helpful describing the difference between a the High pressure beds the have and low pressure beds found at other salons. He also talked about the differences between the spray on tan and the tanning beds. After listening to him talk and starring at his beautiful eyes I went home to do some research at home on the two types of pressure beds. After much research I found that the high pressure beds though more expensive that the low pressure beds are much better that the cheaper low pressure. After returning and buying one of the packaged deals I began my Tan Bella experience. After a few short sessions I achieved the tan I wanted. The tan which many people though was natural looked like I had been in the sun. Unlike some of the other tanning beds there was no discomfort or burning.
In addition to the nice beds and friendly and hot staff the decor and ambiance of tan Bella is extraordinaire. The sleek and modern waiting room is comfortable with a upbeat lounge like vibe design. There is a large flat screen t.v and upbeat music playing in the background though very small with one lay down tanning bed, two standing tanning beds and a handful of spraying rooms the smallness makes the whole experience very comfortable.
If you are looking to achieve that perfect tan I highly recommend Tan Bella. Not only for the hot boys but for the experience and perfect tan.
I've tanned at a few diff places and I always seem to get burned or have to go 3 times a week to maintain. I love Tan Bella because the whole bed is the purple bulbs that most beds only have around the face. This gives you a deep tan, no burn, and it seems to last longer than other tans (and I believe it's better for you...)
There are only two actual beds here, a standup and laydown, and they are both the same super strength. I usually need an appt. to score the laydown, but the standup is almost always avail. when I walk in. I like the standup sometimes cause I can hold on to the top bars and dance to the radio (though it only gets like 2 stations) as I tan :)
There's a mystic here too, but I never do that.
The staff is very friendly and non-pretentious, and even babysat my dog when I had walked over from the pet store. The setting is very swanky with a nice lobby if you have to wait.
The place is very clean and there are even changing rooms if you want to strip down before your bed is avail.
The only reason this place doesn't get the full 5 stars from me is it is a bit pricey! You get what you pay for though because it's a really solid tan! I did a few tans in the first week to get a base and now once a week maintains. If you get a package, it gets a lot cheaper, but still around $20-25 per tan.
Other con is terrible parking in the Castro! Boooo...
After a long day of photographing Bay Area hip hop artists, my friend and hip hop magazine co-publisher, Arlene, and I decided to treat ourselves to a nice little tanning session, because when you spend a whole day around a bunch of dudes you'll want to be girly like that.
Arlene wanted to take me to this other place that was down the street in the Castro on Market and Noe, but when we arrived they had already closed. Determined to get some color during these cold winter months, I suggested we walk into Tan Bella since I always see it when I'm around the Castro and was very curious to try it out. Why not?
Wow. The place is quite amazing as a tanning salon. I'm used to the salons where there are a bunch of different rooms and beds and the atmosphere is quite sterile. Not here. The waiting area (more like lounge area) had some comfortable and chic chairs with a giant flat screen TV playing the latest fashion runway show. A very warm and classy vibe.
The guy working the desk, Dale, was a sweetheart and told us about the two for one deal for first-timers. He gave us a mini-tour of the place as I wasn't sure what he meant by "high pressure tanning beds." He was very knowledgeable, friendly and professional.
This place has one stand-up tanner, one tanning bed and one spray tanner. At first I thought, only three machines? What the hell? But after using the bed, I realized this place doesn't need so many machines as it's more of a quality versus quantity salon.
The high-pressure tanning bed is in a separate room with it's own comfortable ambiance. There's a stereo inside the bed so you can choose your own radio station or you can even bring your own CDs to play to pass the time. I was happy to see that there was a timer inside the machine as I hate not knowing how much longer I have to cook. The bottom lights oscillate for a much more even tan and you can control the intensity of the cooling fan. Fancy fancy!
They weren't too busy on a Saturday evening but it doesn't hurt to check if you're short on time since they only have two beds and one sprayer.
During the whole walk home, we couldn't stop gushing about our experience there! While it was a bit pricier that what I'm used to, it was definitely worth every penny. I could see where my money was going (quality!) and I'll definitely be back (especially since a little friendly conversation with Dale help Arlene and I get a discount on future sessions!)
EDIT: Try the "Believe" lotion when you're there. No after-tan stank and your skin'll be nice and cool, not to mention bronze!
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