Written by Victoria Espinoza

Genine Chiano wants to change what people think about tanning, adding in a mix of education at her new business, the Amped Tanning Salon and Juice Bar in New Hyde Park.

The location just had its grand opening on Nov. 1, and Chiano made it clear that what will set her apart from other tanning salons in the area is her approach and view on tanning.

"Orange is a bad word that I never want to hear in my salon," she said, referring to the laughable spray-on look. Chiano says that education on tanning is her main goal, she wants patrons to know that tanning in moderation is not bad; tanning can still look natural, beautiful and healthy.

When you first walk into Amped Tanning, you are not just quickly thrown into a tanning bed. You receive a skin analysis as soon as you arrive before Chiano and her team determines how long you should lay in a tanning bed. Everyone who works at Amped is certified with the Smart Tan Network and will perform an individual evaluation.

The interior of the business was designed by Laura Mosca, a friend of Chiano  with a very specific goal in mind: "The two words I told her were urban and funk," Chiano said. "I basically wanted to bring Williamsburg inside."

Mosca then made use of rustic bricks and the color palette of the saloon.

"I think they did an outstanding jobs on the renovations," New Hyde Park Mayor Robert Lafaro said.

Amoed Tanning uses Ergoline brand tanning beds, "which are basically the Cadillac of tanning beds"  Chiano said.

There are four different rooms, with one standing bed, and then another room for airbrush tanning. Customers receive complimentary eye-wear and a water bottle as they enter a tanning room, due to the emphasis on healthy and safe tanning.

Chiano was also trained for the past seven years in airbrush tanning, another service she herself exclusively offers for customers.

The location directly below the Twin Park Fitness Center is one of Chiano s favorite aspects of her business due to the grouping of like businesses in the same area. An entrance in the tanning salon leads directly into the fitness center and Smooth Touch Medi-Spa is just a few doors down. Chiano said that the same type of customers that go to the gym and visit spas will be interested in tanning and trying new healthy juices.

"This tanning and juice bar will go very well with the other businesses here, they compliment each other," Lofaro said. "Clients of one business will be clients of another." 

In addition to tanning beds, Amped also has a full juice bar that features recovery shakes and fruit smoothies using low fat ingredients and extra protein. There are seven different recovery shake combinations and six different smoothie flavors, however customers can add any extra ingredients they like to any smoothie or shake.

Chiano developed each of the different flavors, coming up with fun names like "The Hot Mess." The most popular smoothie during the opening is called "Whey Better Than Reeses" which has chocolate whey protein, chocolate almond milk, lowfat peanut butter and low fat chocolate syrup.

Get New Hyde Park Patch on Facebook   

Subscribe