Her Body Bronze counterpart agrees. "There's a difference between tanning and burning," says Wayne J. Scott.

Body Bronze's equipment is the most up-to-date available, Scott says, and shoots out the lowest percentage of the harmful beta waves possible, one-tenth of one percent. Tanorama claims to be the latest also, but its percentage of harmful beta waves is considerably higher, 2.8 percent.

"We don't want lawsuits," Scott says. "With other equipment, it's very easy to burn someone."

Enough of the scientific stuff. How much does it cost, and what does it feel like?

You can find out a lot by going in for one of the free trial sessions offered by the salons. Body Bronze will let you lie in brightly lit splendor for 15 minutes, and Tanorama will give you eight, just so you can see if you like it. And, much as you may resist, you probably will.

Packages of sessions are pretty cheap, although rates change with the seasons. Student discounts can bring the cost of a 15-minute session down to as little as $2.90 at Body Bronze. Tanorama's rates are slightly more expensive.

It's warm, quiet, and comfortable in the curved acrylic bed. A self-contained fan system swirls cool air around your tingling epidermis as your head and feet rest on soft pillows. Goggles make it safe for your eyes. You can listen to music, sleep or just let your thoughts wander, secure in the knowledge that double timer systems will turn the lights off automatically.

Try it. It's tantalizing.