As a tanning professional, it’s important to know how your accessories and add-ons interact with your technology. Everything from the lotion you sell to the quality of your tanning mitts can make a difference in the outcome of your clients’ tanning experience.
I am the proud founder of Twilight Teeth, the original UV-reactive tanning-friendly tooth whitening system being sold at salons across the country. Since we began our business, we have seen an exponential growth in demand for tooth whitening throughout the tanning salon world.
And of course, we’re happy to offer that service at a price that is affordable for both salon owners and clients alike. However, as an expert in tan-friendly tooth whitening, I’ve noticed growing misconceptions about my product as well as products similar to mine.
For everyone’s sake, I put together a quick “question and answer” article you can use to help train new users.
Can tooth whitening kits sold at tanning salons work at home?
For the most part, this answer is yes. However, that doesn’t mean it will work as effectively as it would in a tanning booth. Twilight Teeth, for example, is designed to work best in a UV tanning booth. The UV light enhances the whitening powers of our formula.
With that said, it’s important to check with your distributor about how effective your whiteners are without UV light. Other teeth whitening products might work just as well in a UV bed as they would in a regular home—though they may not give professional results the way UV-ready gels would.
Are tooth whiteners sold at tanning salons safe to use?
Yes, they are safe to use. All tooth whiteners being sold in the United States have to undergo testing and approval by the FDA.
Are tooth whitening products sold at tanning salons the same as the ones used in dental offices?
Technically, the answer to this question is no. Dental offices have specialty equipment and products administered by professionals that can be more aggressive than most whiteners sold in tanning salons.
Those whiteners are not sold in stores because they can actually burn if applied incorrectly. Whiteners sold in salons are designed to be safer for casual use.
Can you get professional whitening results with salon-bought whitening products?
Believe it or not, the answer is YES! Twilight Teeth recently created the P6 Whitener, which features 25 percent stronger whitening agents than most other whiteners on the market. If you go to your dentist’s office, you’ll get treatments that are just as powerful as a P6 Whitener.
The only differences? It takes a longer amount of time to do while at a salon and you wouldn’t be able to administer it on your own. Dental office whitening also tends to cost as much as two to three times as much as a single round of salon-bought whitener.
Salon attendants can help boost sales by mentioning this to clients who are curious about whitener effectiveness. Of course, how effective whiteners are can vary from product to product, so it’s best to read your product brochures if it’s not something as well-known as Twilight Teeth.
Can you share your salon whitener with a friend?
Regardless of what whiteners your salon sells, it’s absolutely essential to warn your customers against sharing whiteners. There are several reasons why you should strongly discourage others from sharing..
First, this reduces how much whitening agent they get—which, in turn, can decrease the effectiveness of their whitening session. Second, sharing is not sanitary. While whiteners have antibacterial properties, there’s always the chance that sharing could transmit diseases.
Finally, sharing whiteners simply doesn’t work with the way that most whitening kits are supposed to be used. Sharing may result in uneven distribution of whitener, which could make your smile look a little stained.
Can I use whiteners if I have periodontal disease?
Tanning professionals should warn people who have bleeding gums or other signs of periodontal disease to skip whiteners. Research has shown that whiteners can exacerbate gum-related issues, so try to (politely) ask them to wait until they’re treated.
Should my salon carry tooth whitening kits?
Yes! Even if you’re not using Twilight Teeth, your salon should strongly consider selling tooth whitening kits behind the counter. Studies have shown that tooth whitening is one of the most sought after beauty treatments in America.
If you’re not selling whitening, you’re leaving money on the counter…and life is far too short for that, don’t you think?
