By Camille Sperrazza
If you long for a California tan, you don’t have to board a plane. Park Slope now has its own Pacific Tanning (376 9th Street, 718-499-5274). The shop contains top-of-the-line tanning beds, says Maria, the shop’s co-owner. This means you can build a tan in 15 minutes, she says, about five minutes less time than many of the other tanning beds on the market. In fact, “Most people don’t even need the full 15 minutes” on the tanning bed, she says. “They tan so quickly and so well,” because this entry level tanning bed is “superior to many of the other beds at other places.” Maria says that she and co-owner, Scott, who happens to be her fiancé, promote “moderation” at Pacific Tanning. “We follow the manufacturer’s usage,” she says. Moderation is always the priority at Pacific Tanning, which is why Maria says that she and her brother, Danny, who also works at the facility, took certification courses. Incredibly, Maria says that some people who work at other tanning salons are not certified because such courses are not required. Still, they felt “it was important to learn” everything they could about skin types and skin care. This way, they are knowledgeable, and can provide guidance and advice to people who patronize the salon. “We can determine a person’s skin type,” says Maria, and this information is beneficial when it comes to tanning. Clients are also provided with eye ware during the tanning process. “Many people are unaware that they can damage their eyes,” she says. Some customers don’t believe wearing eye ware is necessary, but Maria educates them. “It’s little things like this that provide clients with extra service and care,” she says. For those who prefer, Pacific Tanning offers MYSTIC TAN. A tanning cartridge is placed inside a machine and patrons stand still while the machine moves up and down, and from side to side, spraying a wonderful bronze tan in “less than a minute,” says Maria. “It’s like a self-bronzer, but more natural,” she says. “It lasts longer, too.” People like MYSTIC TAN because it can provide “a wonderful tan without exposure to the sun or a tanning bed,” she says. “It also helps darken an existing tan by turning skin brown.” The mid-level and high-level tanning beds at Pacific Tanning offer customers “differences in the intensity” of their tans,” Maria says. The mid-level bed also allows patrons to stand upright, as opposed to lying down. Pacific Tanning is a brand new facility, with hardwood floors, and lots of space. There are areas that allow customers to tan in private. There are also places where customers can keep their belongings. Getting a tan makes you feel good, says Maria. “It’s especially good during the winter because a lot of people can’t take a vacation.” But they can look like they did. Maria compares tanning to getting one’s hair done. “When you walk out, you feel good. It’s a mood enhancer.” Pacific Tanning is the only tanning salon in Park Slope, says Maria, who grew up in the neighborhood, moved to Manhattan, then returned to the area to build this business. The reception has been wonderful, she says, as people in the neighborhood are glad they don’t have to travel to other parts of Brooklyn to get a bronze glow. They are also delighted with the quality of their tans. Maria says she makes it a habit to ask customers if they are happy with the experience. “They say they have never gotten a tan like this out of a basic bed,” she says. “They believe they are getting value for their money.” First time customers are offered a “buy one, get one free,” special, says Maria. When you’re ready for a healthy glow, come to Pacific Tanning Mondays through Fridays, from 8 a.m. until 10 p.m.; Saturdays, from 9 a.m. until 9 p.m.; and on Sundays from 10 a.m. until 8 p.m.
