I worked in a tanning salon, and then managed a hair and tanning salon as a licensed cosmotologist from the time I was 16 until I was in my mid-twenties. My parents also own their own bed...so here is my experience on it all:
***How long you stay in depends on the BED. There are 10 minute beds/booths, there are 20 minute beds/booths, and there are 30 minute beds booths. See what kind the bed that they have is. If you don't normally tan-I recommend starting with HALF of the maximum time limit. If you show no signs of burn/pink/itching at all...the next time go up an increment-by 2-4 minutes. If you burn, go down an increment, and stay at that one until you can go in the bed at that time with no pink/burn/itch at all.
***There are also many differences in the beds themselves-what strength of bulbs that they use, how new they are, how many bulbs are in the beds (more expensive beds have more bulbs, etc.) For instance, if you get a tanning bed catalog to buy one for your house-you can buy a 16 bulb bed, or you can buy a 24 or 32 bulb bed. It makes a big difference-so if you ever "change" where you are going to tan from one salon to another-always go back to the "half" time when you switch. 20 minutes in one bed doesn't always equate to 20 minutes in the salon across town.
***Wear your goggles!!!!!!! I cannot stress this enough. If you are worried about the racoon eyes, they don't show if you wear any makeup at all on your eyes!!! If you are worried about the little elastic strap, you can find stick on eye protectors online and in some salons. WEAR them!!! Also, take out your contact lenses!!!!!!!!
***Don't go all the time. There is absolutely no reason to tan every, or every other day for long periods of time-unless you are in a bodybuilding competition.
I remember the Seinfeld episode where George was talking about the woman he was dating, and how she looked "like a carrot".
When you go to get your "base" tan, it is fine to go every other day for the first two weeks to achieve the color...after that-once a week, maybe twice-is PLENTY.
***Don't use outdoor tanning lotion/oils. They sometimes contain sunscreens, which you don't want-and they often contain properties in them that RUIN the bed acrylics. Only use lotions meant for tanning beds. Please-acrylics are expensive!!!!!!!!
***Be aware, that while your tan may look great now-in 10 or 20 years you might be sorry that you did it. I have seen many a patron who are 40 and look 55...or who are 50 and look 70. Don't overdo it, lest you end up looking like a dried fig later on in life. At my 10 year class reunion a few years ago, all the former tanned cheerleaders all looked older than I did...
***If you are using a lay down style bed, the best way to prevent the white marks on your sides and armpits is to lie with your arms down next to your sides (not touching though) for half of the time, and put them above your head for half of the time. Then your armpits and sides get more exposure.