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Tan Bella
Rating Details »
Neighborhood: SOMA
272 King St
(between 3rd St & 4th St)
San Francisco, CA 94107
(415) 512-8267
272 King St
(between 3rd St & 4th St)
San Francisco, CA 94107
(415) 512-8267
Summer Special
Buy one get one free for first time clients! Parking available in Safeway garage!
- Hours:
Mon-Fri. 8:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Sat. 8:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Sun. 10:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street, Garage
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
- By Appointment Only:
- No
60 reviews for Tan Bella
This business is a Yelp Sponsor
11/3/2009
11/7/2009
10/29/2009
9/29/2009
8/20/2009
6/18/2009
7/10/2009
9/28/2009
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9/23/2008
7/31/2009
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4/11/2008
2/26/2009
One of the Business' Favorite Reviews What's This?
As you can probably tell I don't get out to the sun much and when I do I just burn and peel...hence the Casper look! Argh...
I've been coming to Tan Bella for several months now and I can say I just LOVE the results!
Back in August, I needed to get a spray tan badly for an upcoming wedding. The only tanning places I knew of, would have you stand in your b-day suit while someone manually spray-tanned you...Umm, no, thank you, so I deferred to YELP. I was impressed with all the positive reviews, so had to give it a try. I can tell you I was NOT disappointed.
On my first visit, the staff had recommended using Medium w/ a bronzer. At first I was very scared that it would come out too dark and fake (orange). However, I was wrong. The medium tone gave me the perfect light brown tone that looked very natural. Absolutely, no streaks or blotches.
With the bronzer, you will see color instantly. And, color will continue to develop over the course of 6-8 hours, so no showering! The tan lasts about from 5-7 days.
The process is quite easy:
1) Go into the room and undress
2) Put on barrier cream to places you don't want tanned (i.e. fingernails)
4) Walk into the booth and hit the green button
5) Listen to the prompter and move in the various positions (4)
6) Step out and blotch uneven areas if there are any
The spraying itself takes less than 2 minutes and the entire process about 10-15 minutes depending on how much blotching and rubbing you do.
Cost: Depends on tone color. The darker the tone, the more expensive. The medium tone w/ bronzer was $35. But, if you buy package deals, they can be as low as $17/session.
Tips:
*Make an appointment beforehand. Several times there were walk-ins and they couldn't be seen b/c they were booked.
*IMPORTANT: Exfoliate beforehand. Scrub, scrub, scrub...
*Invest in that prep gel. I believe it was $17 for a bottle and is good for 5 uses. You can leave the bottle at Tan Bella.
*Use the barrier cream on areas you don't want spray tanned...(finger nails, heels, elbows, etc).
*Make sure the cap exposes a bit of your hairline; otherwise you run the risk of having a brown streak across your forehead.
*Medium Tan w/ bronzer is the best way to go for fair skinned. Opt for the bronzer, so you can tell where it's being sprayed and you can blend accordingly.
*To get an even tan, make sure to blotch lightly all over your body.
I am definitely a HUGE fan of Tan Bella and will be a return customer time after time again! So, yes, I invested in one of their packages! :)
I never in my wildest dreams thought that I would ever set foot in a tanning salon. As a California native, I have always had a natural glow from various outdoor summer activities and beach side vacations. However, this past year I missed out on my usual summer lounge sessions as I was unemployed and forced back into my vampire-like schedule bartending to pay the bills.
Desperate times call for desperate measures...and when a Vegas trip presents itself to you, you must do whatever it takes to prepare yourself. I kicked up the gym sessions a few notches, bought a few dangerously short dresses and finally made the decision to give this whole "spray tan" thing a try. I knew I did not want to hit the actual booth...UV rays may make for a long lasting bronze, but wrinkles and skin cancer are not my cup of tea.
A few coworkers recommended Tan Bella and I decided to give them a call. The person who answered the phone was helpful without being judgemental of my idiotic questions "Will there be a huge streak of paint behind me if I jump in the pool??" They also told me there was a special going on for first time tanners, buy one tan get one free. Score, if I liked it, I could use it again for some other important occasion like a skimpy Halloween costume or my high school reunion.
A few days later I arrived at Tan Bella and found the atmosphere to be hip, trendy and yet still comfortable. The gentleman at the counter took the time to answer all my questions and go over exactly what to do when I stepped inside the spray booth. For an extra 6 dollars, I bought an amplifier cream and kicked my tan up a notch.
The tan process was fast and precise. I left feeling confident and glowing. For a total of $38 I scored a rockin' tan with an extra one to use down the road. When I arrived at the airport to meet my friends, they immediately wanted to know where I'd been or what I had been doing to look so bronze. More importantly, I did not blind people with my original shockingly white skin when I hit the pool.
I've been back for my free tan since and, without sounding like one of the Real Housewives of Orange County...I think I'm hooked.
I wish I could say that I don't go to a tanning salon, but I must admit, I do. I'm too loyal to Yelp to not put a review on such a great establishment like Tan Bella. I surf a lot, and as you know, when you surf in San Francisco, you need a wetsuit. Therefore, my face would always be tanner than the rest of my body. Did I justify myself enough? Ehhh . . . oh well.
I've been going to Tan Bella for quite sometime and I will never stray. Sure, they are very pricey but you get what you pay for. The service is outstanding and the tanning beds are of the upmost quality. I don't go into the other tanning beds and I have never used the spray tan. I have only used the high pressure standup bed and it's GREAT! The standup bed is always clean and the establishment is very sanitary. The employee always opens the door for you to enter into your chosen bed and there are goggles, a clean towel and a Jolly Rancher waiting for you. Make sure you lock the door behind you before you start to tan!!!
I am an Elite member at Tan Bella and it costs about $100.00 a month. Yes, I know . . . pricey . . . but it's well worth it. Who wants to be with a guy that looks like his head detached from someone with a tanner body?!
Tips:
1. Don't buy the lotions at Tan Bella. You can get them for almost half the price online. I always buy my tanning lotions off Amazon's third party site: http://www.SealedTanni.... The lotions are all from the manufacturer.
2. Always set an appointment as they are very busy.
The Best Customer service in the city, very pleased with Tan Bella. Try them they keep there word...
Dr. Blu J Morris
I can't imagine a better tanning salon. It shares space with a hair salon so it's spacious and VERY nicely decorated. Too posh for a tanning salon, indeed.
My favorite part of the experience is that when you go into the booth there's always a Jolly Rancher waiting for you (the candy, not an actual jovial rancher which could be awkward). It's silly but free candy makes me happy!
They have a good variety of beds, all state of the art (I personally prefer the standing up one since it gives a more even tan). All have fans built in so you never overheat and they also sell a pretty solid array of tanning lotions.
Love their Hours! Super convenient.
Plus I loved my spray tan! I am already naturally tan but need more color especially when I'm heading out for a special event etc. I've tried both the level 2 & 3 spray tan and I def like the latter since I like to go darker.
It's best to go after you've been professionally scrubbed i.e. try the Burke Williams Savannah Surrender which gives you a great base to work with cause your skin is ultra soft and spray tan ready!
Love Tan Bella so much I signed up for their membership which is a great deal for unlimited spray tans. Want to look cute in your bikini this summer? Stop by Tan Bella and they'll satisfy all your tanning needs.
I have such pale skin that my friends and parents ask me all the time if I'm sick, and why I hate the sun! Well, after hearing this for years, I finally decided to take matters into my own hands and spray tan.
The level 2 spray tan is fabulous!! It looks so natural, and makes your body look like you spent a few days in the Bahamas and got that sun kissed glow. All this in just 5 minutes! It goes on evenly, and only feels a little bit sticky right after.
I loved it so much that I signed up for a 3 month membership of unlimited sprays :)
Tan Bella is the best tanning in the city, hands down! The staff is very knowledgeable and definitely add value to your "tanning experience"; they know a lot about tanning products and individualize it for you. They have great beds and it shows in the quality of your tan, plus makes maintenance tanning easy and *less frequent*, which is a huge plus for me! I have been to many of the SF tanning salons in the past, but now, it's all Tan Bella for me! You'll love the feel of the place too, its like your in a movie or something... very stylish, very cool... ENJOY!
Update - the owner took the time to message me and apologize for any issues that may have occurred during my last experience here. He was both professional in his exchange and eager to rectify the situation. A good sign of a solid business.
Original review -
I've been here twice now and I can't say that I'm the biggest fan.
The prices are high and the last time I came here the spray tan booth wasn't working properly so I had to keep on leaving the room (ie - had to keep on throwing my clothes back on) to ask for friendly - but not the most efficient of help. I must have undressed and dressed about three times.
I do like that they have early and late hours and are usually open on holidays (ie - New Years) - but paying about 40 dollars for a spray on tan - too pricey for me (that also included extra for a special tan last lotion). Normally I stick to Shimmer's tan packages when I have a big event coming up - and want a slight glow (yes - sometimes that does mean an orange glow :) ) However - due to flight issues at the end of December, I found myself pasty white on New Years afternoon and Tan Bella was the only place open.
Tan Bella was very nice on the phone and extremely accommodating - especially when it came to squeezing me in for the day. For that I'm thankful and have to give them props. I also think their spray tan booths are far better than most out there. But....I just can't get over the price.
I have tanned here twice and loved it!
the design is very modern and sleek, but still very usable.
The tanning lotions can be purchased in small packs for one use.
The staff is great- Dulcinea helped me both times.
Little things that make it great-
they cut the top off my lotion pouch for me
they gave me a jolly rancher to suck on while tanning
they showed me all the equipment and tanning options
great place to tan :)
Modern, friendly, efficient, and convenient. What's not to love?
I came in here because I'm going to the philippines next month and I wanted a good base tan before I spend a week in a bikini. So today was my second day tanning here and I already love it. Maybe too much. But let's start with the bad: Price- It's pretty expensive and they have a weird point system that I really don't understand (but that's ok I went for the monthly unlimited). Location- I live in the sunset and well, SOMA isn't exactly close. Hmm what else... There are no mirrors in the tanning rooms... I think those are all the negative things I have to say. So now for the positive: Excellent aroma therapy beds- I didn't burn and am already seeing a nice glow after two 7 min. sessions. Friendly staff- The guy who signed me up remembered my name the second day I came in and has been VERY helpful answering all my questions. Very nice, upscale atmosphere... definitely feels like way more than a tanning salon. Parking is pretty easy, you can park in the Safeway garage and get your ticket validated with a $5 purchase or find a metered space nearby (but make sure to bring a lot of quarters). So far I'm very satisfied and on my way to getting a beautiful bronze!
Not being an expert tanner I read reviews and stopped by this tanning salon in hopes to get tan before my upcoming wedding! I am SO happy that I chose this tanning salon! Everyone who works there is super friendly and knowledgeable! I know I will be tan in no time. Oh and did I mention that I like this place so much that I booked my next hair appointment here?!
Tan Bella is far the best Tanning Salon in the bay area. My tan has never looked as even, and bronze. The beds are really fancy, and very comfortable.
They are open everyday of the week. So, when you pay for unlimited tanning, you get it! The customer service is great, there staff is cheerful and always eager to help.
*They even give you a treat while you tan.
I love this place! Everyone here is super helpful, and genuinely friendly. The spray tan looks great and they offer many packages included medium and high pressure beds to choose from so it can fit into your lifestyle and budget. Heidi was really helpful and patient while I was deciding what would work best for me. They are also doing a special right now for first timers where you buy one tan and get the second for free!
I just joined here and am so far impressed. Great beds, and spray tan that has an optional bronzer. Aromatherapy beds. Hopefully worth the price. Knowledgeable staff.
Update: I am very very happy with this tanning salon. The only thing is, making an appointment useless here.
Tan Bella is a sassy bitch. Ultra modern, gorgeous salon, clean tanning rooms, and perfect location. Everyone is SUPER accommodating. Tan Bella was my first introduction to a sunless tan... and I absolutely love it! It's a spray, not a mist, so you don't inhale any disgusting fumes. The staff is extremely friendly and very willing to help if you have questions. On top of that, they leave a jolly rancher on your towel, sweeeet!
Tips:
If you take advantage of their package deals, you can save a lot of moola!
If you can't find parking, there is a lot at safeway! (buy some coffee for 5$)
I'm eager to try their stylists too, that would be my next step!
These guys know what they are doing!
I went into a cheap bed without any knowledge of how long I should of stayed in the bed with snow white skin. I was so badly burnt that it lasted a week and a half. Not good when you are off to Hawaii in 3 weeks.
I went into tan bella and am on my way to getting a gorgeous brown without burning. The staff was helpful. Hawaii here I come.
I've spray tanned for the last six or seven years on and off from NY to CA so I definitely know the difference. But after a four year break from it I decided to give Tan Bella a try.
I tried Tan Bella yesterday at 1pm . By 4pm people were asking me where I came back from... as in what island !
Honestly I can say nothing but good about this place as so many others have as well.
I'm just sorry I didn't come here sooner.
They have a two for one for first timers.
And if your a student they always give an extra 10% off. Cosmetologists a bit more !
The spray tanning booth is the best I've seen (multiple angles and instructions, dries you afterwards), but careful not to show up without an appointment. The night before Halloween, they were booked solid for two hours. Very pricey too, compared to Sacramento's California Sun Centers (edit: alas, competitive to SF). I'll keep my visits to special occasions or touch-ups only (edit: until I can purchase more credits at once which brings the overall cost down).
Update: I was very impressed by their personal touch - one of the owners reached out to me to find out how they might improve customer service based on my critique. Wow! Good to know they take feedback very seriously.
YAY! Tan Bella opened a salon in my 'hood! And they carry Bumble and Bumble, so I can refill bi-annually. You just have no idea what great news this is for SoMA.
I like this location better, but the spray tan machine and changing room format is really the cincher for me. At the other location, the machine is outside the dressing rooms, so you have to walk in a robe back from the machine, dripping your luscious tan on the linoleum. At King Street, however, the machine is located inside a secret dressing room so you can strip, pose x4 and then dress. It's much faster and more convenient! I also like this machine better because it has a drying function and talks.
I am so addicted. This is a bad sign for me, but a good one for Tan Bella.
Man oh Man!
First, i have been patronizing Tan Bella for about 4 years now. First on Castro, and then when their beautiful location opened up in the southern parts of the city on King I was all about it. I must say..i moved out to Marin and now its not convenient to frequent this place anymore...tear.
1. Customer Service is Stellar
2. Place is clean as a whistle
3. Ambiance is relaxing
4. Beds are fantastic!!! A+++++ I have never burned..2 visits to the high pressure beds leaves you feeling like a golden goddess...im not kidding!
5. Spray tan is also very high quality! Very high end equipment!
6. I have never been let down, by this place. Never! Its amazing to live in a big city setting and be able to walk into an establishment where people recognize you and call you by your name (shameless cheers plug)...but this place, if frequented enough...will offer you this kind of "down home hospitality"....
word!
So since moving from southern California to sf, I have lost that natural glow from the hot sun.. I never do tanning beds but have heard such great things about tan bella that I thought, "why not give it a try?!"
the salon is very nice and upbeat and also offer hair services which is great. The receptionists Dulcinea and Heidi were very friendly and professional. Dulcinea was very helpful in explaining their packages and how their point system works. After going through the options I chose to do a high pressure tanning bed( I believe that's what it's called). She explained to me I'd be there for 9 Min's and suggested a bronzer lotion to help accelerate my tan. The bed was spacious and super clean. The 9 mins were a breeze and the tanning bed offered headphones for music, a jolly rancher to suck on(my fav), and a fan that can be adjusted if you get too hot! I was very satisfied and will definitely be going back I already noticed my tan instantly so I very excited for my next session.!
I like the location b/c it is in my neighborhood and easily accessible via the muni rail or car (I park in the Safeway garage and spend $5 in groceries to get validation).
The metro guys that work there are super nice and adorable, really knowledgeable about their products/services, and helpful. The interior is beautiful (shared with a salon), and appears to be very clean. They answered all my questions (I rarely tan), and helped me get my much-needed tan just in time for my Halloween costume (slutty french (korean!) maid.
Their prices seem reasonable to me, not cheap, but just average.
Most importantly, my tan came out great!
It works!
Even *I* got tan.
The guys that run this spot will tell it to you straight, will not try to sell you on anything that you have doubts about, and I haven't had a problem going in to tan any time of the day I want to.
If you drive, park in the Safeway lot & don't forget to buy at least $5 worth of stuff to get your parking validated for up to 90 minutes for FREE.
I will be back.
Ahh, a gorgeous San Francisco day, and I have a few hours for myself. What to do... hmm. Visit best friend and have lunch? Nah, if I see her anymore I'll be sharing a room in her vagina. I ran through my friend's list, and realized they were either busy working or sick, and I was not in the mood to visit cray-cray friend who is rapidly turning into the Church Lady. I'm afraid she's going to start saving holy water and splashing it on me with the way she was going on about CSI episodes being pornographic. Huh? Note to self: start watching CSI.
Anyway, what's a princess to do? I got on yelp, and saw that Tan Bella was having an event, and decided to walk there and check it out. Score! Exercise, and a goal!
I walk in, and this is a bustling, busy place. Greg fit me in for a spray tan, even though I didn't call ahead, and I was excited about trying it. A while back, I used to grit my teeth and try Mystic Tan, and really hated it. Mystic will spray you in a really scary, alarming way, and you are stuck there in this enclosed capsule, and forced to breathe these horrible fumes. I always ended up bursting out of there, gasping for air, and my body was streaky from the way the spray came out. With brown nasal cavities - that can't be good.
So I stopped going. Especially after my ex told me that I look too "ethnic" with a tan. Oh really? Well. Did you know that your lack of hair makes you look too "bald", Mr. Clean?
The other owner, Peter, led me to the room. Both Greg and Peter assured me that I was going to love this spraying machine, and that it was vastly superior to Mystic in that it does all 4 sides of your body, and also dries you at the end. Not to mention that the booth is open, so you can actually breathe, a novel concept.
Also, did you read the other reviews and people said that the owners were hot? Very true.
So here I am in the enclosed room with Peter, who is taking me through the prep process of putting on the barrier cream, striking a pose, blah blah blah, and my thoughts were pretty much in another dimension. I think I was thinking about the wee little puppy that I just petted at Starbuck's next door.
"Do you have any questions?" asked Peter, smiling. I wanted to say, YES, yes I do. Have you ever gone to the Dark Side, and if not, would you like to try RIGHT NOW and get naked? Or Greg? Either or. Both? One? (Please don't read this review).
Instead I mutely nodded my head no, and disrobed alone. FAIL.
Anxiously I waited for the spray to violate my nostrils, and make me panic. But that never happened. It was just as Peter promised, pleasant and high quality. I had enough time to hold my breath, and since it was all open I wasn't choking on fumes.
I emerged, and a lady who just had her hair done (which looked very fabulous, by the way) asked me if I had just done the spray tan, as I looked like I was "kissed by the sun". I wanted to say, lady, I was not only kissed, I was molested by the sun, you should see my ass.
One of these days, I will lose that self-censure ability, and people will run screaming from me in the street. But at least I'll be looking hot and tan. Check this place out, about $70 a month buys you unlimited spray tanning, and if you sign up now you don't pay until after May 15th. Go!
I may spend the majority of daylight hours yelping indoors, but you'd never guess from my glowing tan! Thanks to Tan Bella, I look like I've been yelping poolside in Hawaii.
In preparation for my Three Miss Yelps Hit the Vegas Strip trip (sorry guys, no videographer coming with us), I made a visit to Tan Bella's new location on King Street to try out their UV-free spray tanning booth. Apparently it's the only one, or one of the very few, of its kind in the area. Tan Bella shares the same space with re:do salon, but the rooms are very clean and the decor is very cool and artsy.
Greg, one of the owners, was really informative and thoroughly explained and demonstrated how the spray tanning booth worked. He even took the time to show me the other beds, and let me try out the high pressure UV stand-up tanning booth for a few minutes (which was amazing) during another visit.
Greg advised that I should go with a level 2 spray tan with a bronzer, which turned out perfectly! I'd never been in a booth like theirs before - following the initial tanning mist and patting myself dry, I stepped back inside and was sprayed with an anti-wrinkle moisturizing mist.
I went in the evening (I exfoliated before my appointment), so I woke up the next morning with a flawless golden tan! It's been a week since my spray tan, but I still have some color and it hasn't been fading all blotchy or spotty as I've experienced in the past from other salons. I'm going back next week before we head out to Sin City. Over the weekend, they had a free tanning event for new clients (may still offer that?), and they have really awesome deals which I'll be taking advantage of.
Vegas, baby, here we come!
Aww Tan Bella- how grateful I am to have found you!
Maybe it's because I feel like I'm back home in LA when I'm here...
Maybe it's because everyone is so friendly here...
Maybe it's because the prices are super affordable and there is NO weird pressure selling (VERY RARE for tanning salons)...
Or maybe it's because I am fascinated by the whole SOMA "world" and I like my taxi cab endeavors there...
Whatever it is - I love this spot and am definitely coming back.
i LOVE Tan Bella. I just moved home to San Francisco and have been trying to find a great tanning salon with reasonable prices. I should have tried Tan Bella weeks ago! The salon is clean and well maintained and the staff is extremely helpful and knowledgeable. I have been tanning for a few years now and am so happy to find a great bed selection with high quality beds here.
Besides the amazing facility, this is the absolutely best deal in town. Unlimited tanning for $39 a month? You cant beat it. And the staff is very friendly and didn't try to push a tanning package on me which can be frustrating for someone just shopping around for packages. Well look no further, Tan Bella is the best package you can get with the best service!
I had a big wedding to attend and needed to get tanned fast. So instead of going to my normal Brown Sugar location, I decided to give Tan Bella a try. The 2 main differences is that Brown Sugar has a person to MANUALLY spray tan you, while Tan Bella has a high-tech tanning machine that will do all the work. (it even washes and cleans it's own booth when you're done!) Another obvious difference I noticed was that the machine does an all-over even spray with less mistake of spraying too much on a certain part of your body. When a person does the spraying, they move and you move....and so you may come out with some uneven patches of dark and light.
I was also very pleased to see how clean and updated Tan Bella was and how my tan turned out! It literally took 1 minute to give me that golden "I just came from the Bahamas" look. I bought 1 spray tan session for $35 plus I get one complimentary session when I come back! Score!
2 stars for the creepy-friendly, WAY too talkative owners. I really didn't need a 45 minute tutorial on how to spray tan. Friendly, yes. Thorough, yes. But irritatingly inefficient.
1 star for that ridiculous points system. What in the world are they talking about?
1 star for charging me $5 for the use of a pre-tanning lotion out of the sample bottle. $5 for 2 oz of lotion?!
1 star for forgetting my request to turn off the bronzer. If he hadn't gone on so long about the points system, maybe he would have remembered.
Excellent tanning salon. My favorite in all of the bay (okay, I've only been to about a half dozen, but this is FOR SURE my favorite!).
You name it, they are it. Classy, very very very reasonably priced, great location, kind and knowledgeable owners and staff, THE BEST beds I have ever seen. Go ahead, try your $3000 local tanning bed, then drive to the city, and try one of the BMW-priced machines.. there is quite a difference.
All of the rooms have their own AIR CONDITIONER in addition to the standard fans. They of course have car stereos built in, but that is not the point. The point is, while most salon beds are comprised of these long chintzy bulbs, the entire beds at Tan Bella are made up of the small (but EXPENSIVE) facial lights.
And all this is wonderful, but to frost the cake, THEY ARE EXTREMELY REASONABLY PRICED.
I joined Tan Bella yesterday and was very impressed.
The staff is very professional, friendly, and not pushy with the sales.
The prices are very reasonable.
The beds are amazing and the spray tan is unlike any other I've ever gotten.
Very even, and not blotchy or orange at all. A nice bronze.
I liked the fact that they were very informative and educated about each and every product.
I would highly recommend Tan Bella to anyone who is looking for a new tanning salon.
I went here after checking my trusty friend yelp.
I have spray tanned in the past, but not since moving to SF and I was tired of my "so white I'm blue" look.
Despite the claims this is very different from Mystic Tan, I didn't notice a big difference. It took a while to get in the booth, but to be fair, I think I came a little early. Everyone was very nice. I really liked that the machine dries you off a little.
I was happy that I could see color immediately. My only concerns:
1. The walls of this place freak me out. It has a hair salon too and the walls look like they have human hair glued all over them.
2. They have haircutting videos playing the whole time while you're waiting. Since I have long hair and have no interest in having it cut, watching these hair dressers aggressively cutting these models' hair ALSO freaked me out.
3. The woman who helped me walked in on me while I was sans clothes. This happened because try as I might, I couldn't get the lock to close. But she knew I was in there so I was confused. It turns out she got the little rooms mixed up??? However, the worst thing was, in my panic to hide, I nearly sliced my finger off closing the lock.
Anyway, they were nice and got me a band aid. Just be careful locking the door.
I will update after I see how my tan "settles in." But I can no longer see every vein in my body, so that's progress!
You can park at Safeway and as long as you do a little shopping ($5) you can get your ticket validated within 90 minutes.
update:
The prompt email response I received from Greg after posting my review is much appreciated & proves how dedicated they are to the best customer service possible. The 3 star review is now a 5!
Pros:
Fun/hip atmosphere
Friendly & informative staff
High quality beds (i worked in a tanning salon for 2 yrs, they're good)
They'll store your lotion for you
Cons:
Bed is never ready at scheduled time (usually wait 10-15min)
Beds could definitely be cleaned more thoroughly
New DVDs are needed for the flat screens
With the sun always lacking in SF, I needed some much needed color! I went to Tan Bella and noticed it was sh-eek, clean, hip atmosphere. The person at the front desk welcomed and educated me on all the beds. I decided to try the "fun bed". It was a fancy bed that actually talks you through the tan and provides a water spray to cool you down while your tanning. I absolutely love this feature and it has made me a regular client! My only suggestion is a CD or radio feature added.
Try Tan Bella you will be hooked!
I went to Tan Bella right before my Vegas trip and tried the spray tanning level 3 --- worked wonders for my pale skin! The color turned out great, no streaks or orange marks, and I loved the spray tanning booth (especially when it dried me). The staff was very friendly and helpful. The only thing that keeps me going all the time are the prices which are a little high, but I will keep going when I need quick color.
Clean, nicely decorated, air conditioned place. They have the Matrix bed, which I used in the past at Sole di Paradiso on the Pennisula and worked great for me. Like everyone says, it is pricey, but it is better than places where the beds burn you or don't seem very clean.
The staff was also very friendly and helpful. One guy gave a nice introduction to their place. The credit system is more complicated than most places, but in the end, I think the pricing is on par with most of the "higher end" tanning places.
We luuuuuurrrrrveeeee Tan Bella!
We've been going here about a month and half and from the very start our service has been awesome. Greg took the time to explain all the promos, the equipment, the lotions, you name it. The only things that TB is missing is the martini bar, beach umbrella, grape-boy and then we'd be set. (hint-hint Greg).
I signed up for the unlimited promo and my bff is signing up for the mid-level...we love it here. I always use the standup cos I can dance to the tunes on the radio annnnnnd get a tan at the same time. Greg knows my preferences, greets us by name, turns on the A/C, the fan, and sets out my lotion for me. Now that is service!
The salon at the front is smallish, cuts in the front and color in the back but in all the times I've been there I 've seen some great cuts..and now am pondering a trim myself.
They have great products both in haircare (Bumble and Bumble Kerastase and top of the line tanners). All in all, this is the best tanning experience ever had-a luxurious, and pampered environment. I'll never go back to hum-drum again.
Tip: Be sure to make an appointment in advance so you can guarantee your spot, Tan Bella is pretty busy but worth it!
Uh Greg, I'll take an Apple-tini with that tan please.....
I'm from a tropical climate and having almost made it through a lovely SF winter, was quite mortifed at the pastiness of my skin!
I stopped in at Tan Bella and got some wonderful advise from the staff on which beds, what lotions, how often etc.
After just 4 sessions, i'm back on track to a sunny golden tan and delighted with the results.
I'm addicted and I recommend!
