Nearly half of all tanning businesses sell protective eyewear to clients, no longer providing sanitized re-usable eyewear in the salons for customers to use free of charge, according to the results of a June SmartTan.com poll.

According to the poll, 85 percent of stores sell eyewear to clients as a mandatory purchase before tanning — with 48 percent selling eyewear as the only option. Another 37 percent of stores sell eyewear and/or provide eyewear free of charge in the store. Only 14 percent of stores do not sell eyewear to clients, according to the poll — providing free eyewear (either sanitized re-used eyewear or disposable one-use forms) for their customers.

“This has changed considerably from the early days, when very few clients had their own eyewear,” Smart Tan Vice President Joseph Levy said. “Stores have learned that selling the product, either in a disposable, one-use form or as personal eyewear, allows clients to better learn the importance of using government-approved protective eyewear while tanning.”

It also shows that today’s indoor tanning client is buying more than just time in a bed to brown their skin — but rather the entire tanning experience in the store, which includes personalizing the experience with eyewear and skin care products.