Eye Pro, Inc.

July 2021 –EYE PRO, Inc., world leader in disposable eye protection and makers of Ultra Gold WINK-EASE, Lash Room WINK- EASE and WINK-EASE Dark, wants salon operators to know it’s simply smart to protect tanners’ eyes from any intense light by offering eye protection for every type of session.

Eye protection is not required by law for red-light sessions, but IS required in hybrid tanning units emit- ting UV. “Hybrids are super bright, because they are UV AND red light. So tanners can wear our disposable Ultra Gold or Lash Room styles, or they can really diminish the bright light with WINK-EASE Dark,” explained Eye Pro President, Brenda Fishbaugh. “Because of its custom fit, WINK- EASE Dark leaves maximum eye area exposed so the user receives the full benefits of red light, as well as protection from the extreme brightness.”

“Tanners love our original disposables; however, when they want a quick lunchtime nap, or they suffer from migraines or even have hangovers, the unanimous choice is disposable WINK-EASE Dark,” adds Fishbaugh. “They still provide FDA-compliant eye protection, but is considerably darker than our Ultra Gold style. It helps tanners nap more easily, avoid light-sensitive headaches, and is the perfect choice for hybrid sessions,” she continued. Continue Reading »

You’ve heard from me before with my ideas for getting tanners to protect their eyes, but let’s go to salon owners around the country and ask them how they present a convincing eye protection case to their salon guests. So many operators shared their tips, this will be a multi-part series!

Kristin Lee Smithers, owner of Sunny Shores Tanning & Treasures in North East, PA, starts with a personal connec- tion. “I was dumb when I was younger and didn’t use eye protection. Now, I barely have night vision,” she explains. “Most of us understand that we should wear sunglasses outside, but it’s even more critical to wear eye protection in a sunbed.” Kristin tells them that it’s a state and federal law, as well as a require- ment of her insurance coverage, but she wants them to know how she damaged her eyes before becoming a salon owner.

Longtime salon owner, Rhonda Culligan, relocated to a new state and started all over with Sunsational Spray Tan Spa in Chattanooga, TN. She echoes Kristin’s approach. “I burned my retinas and corneas, so I am emphatic about tanners using eyewear!” she exclaims. She starts with, “Eyewear is required by law.

Keep it clean and easy at your salon and make sure your tanners know how you’re doing it!

June 2021 — EYE PRO, Inc., world leader in eyewear and makers of Ultra Gold WINK-EASE, Lash Room WINK-EASE, and WINK-EASE Dark, wants salons to understand the benefits of offering disposable eye protection!

Since the pandemic began over a year ago, we have all looked for ways to keep things clean. No one wants to be sick or get anyone else sick. Salon owners want to keep their doors open and clients safe. Sometimes we don’t realize how simple keeping things clean really can be. Just look at the options of eye protection.

“In the tanning industry, eye protection is REQUIRED,” reminded Jackie DeWald, EYE PRO office manager.  “It is important for salon owners/staff to offer a variety of eye protection so clients may choose what is best for them. Along with offering options, it is also important to communicate to your clients how you are ensuring the eye protection options you offer are clean.”

“If your salon PROVIDES eye protection, it is very important that the tanner knows what cleaning procedures are in place,” said DeWald. “If your salon SELLS eye protection, the tanner also needs to know what THEY should be doing to keep their eye protection clean.”

“One of the easiest solutions to making sure you have a clean eye protection option is to offer disposable eye protection,” DeWald continued. “Disposable eye protection has to be manufactured in an FDA-compliant facility that is inspected, providing tanners with the knowledge that each pair is carefully manufactured. Disposable eye protection is also meant to only be used once. EVERY pair is fresh and clean for the tanner!” Continue Reading »

Eye Pro, Inc., world leader in disposable eye protec- tion for indoor tanning and makers of Ultra Gold WINK-EASE, Lash Room WINK-EASE and WINK-EASE Dark, is offering salon operators a selection of fun ads they can use to promote their businesses and enhance their pro-tanning presence on social media.

“With today’s world driven so much by social media, we want to help support the salons and our industry in any way we can,” stated Eye Pro President, Brenda Fishbaugh. “We have created a ton of positive and fun seasonal tanning memes that salons can have at no cost to post on their Facebook, Twitter and Instagram accounts to help promote tanning during spring sales season.”

“Social media has changed the way businesses communicate and relate with their customers and tanning memes are a way to make an immediate connection,” sug- gests Jackie DeWald, Eye Pro Office Manager. “Spring is a great time to extend your sales season and stay in front of your tanners as they start going outside to get tan.” Continue Reading »

I’ve asked salon operators this question: If you run out of everyday bed/goggle-cleaning solution, do you have a substitute product? “Cleaning” solution is a misnomer – since it kills pathogens, you really need to call it disinfectant. With COVID-19 still a daily concern, we all need our facilities to be as clean as possible.

Robert Ashe, owner of Sun Seekers in Stratham, NH says that he always re-orders bed disinfectant when his supply is about half gone. “I would not consider being out of tanning bed disinfectant!” he exclaims, citing three main reasons: 1) he doesn’t want to use any chemical on his acrylic shields that would harm them and block UV transmission; 2) he doesn’t want to risk irritating his tanners’ skin with products not made for skin contact; and 3) he wants to ensure the solution is killing any pathogens and other possibly transmitted diseases. Perfect answer, Robert!

Many salon operators are unaware that acrylics can’t be exposed to any product containing alcohol or ammonia, as these agents (and many similar compounds) will cloud the material and affect the transmission of UV light to the tanner. So, using Lysol, rubbing alcohol, vinegar with water or Barbicide (a common beauty salon disinfectant) could ruin an acrylic shield, even if the solutions are diluted. Many products might sanitize a surface, but they don’t meet hospital disinfection standards and aren’t meant for contact with skin or acrylic material. And keep this in mind: you are required by law to use a hospital-grade disinfectant certified by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on any surface in the salon that someone will stand on with bare feet or lay down on naked, and you can be subject to local fines if you don’t.

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March 2021 – Eye Pro, Inc., world leader in disposable eye protection for indoor tanning and makers of Ultra Gold WINK-EASE, Lash Room WINK-EASE and WINK-EASE Dark, is offering even more support to salons to help them beef up their professional social media presence. 

“Salon operators love to display our personalized ‘Eye Protection Expert’ certificates in their facilities and show guests that each staff member has been trained in all aspects of eye protection,” states Eye Pro President, Brenda Fishbaugh. “Now, salons can receive a FREE ‘Eye Expert Salon’ badge to post on the salon’s website and social media pages, letting potential and current tanners know the professionalism of the salon before they ever step foot in the door!” Continue Reading »

I’ve been in the indoor tanning industry for 30 years pushing the importance of eye protection. I thought I’d heard all the excuses tanners gave for not wearing it … but a few of these even surprised me over the years!

Dana Branson, District Manager at The Tan Company in Columbia, MO had a guest tell her that she didn’t need eyewear because she SMOKED SO MUCH WEED. “I told her, ‘Ma’am, that’s good for glaucoma, not preventing cataracts,’” Dana laughed.

Kelly Priebe, of Sun Spa UV & Spray-Tanning Studio of Owen Sound, Ontario, Canada, had a tanner claim after her session that she had forgotten her goggles, and USED A SOCK over her eyes instead of hollering for Kelly to bring her some. But Kelly doubted the tanner was able to use even a completely inadequate “UV-blocking sock” … for a stand-up session!

Salon operators have used some creative methods to combat tanners’ crazy excuses. Crystal Martin, of Sun Spot Atlantis in Colorado Springs, CO offered a once-a-year goggle exchange.

Click here to read more or download PDF of entire article.