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By Angie Slade, for the SNAP

Jamie Barringer’s dream of opening a tanning salon started five years ago while thinking about how to become her own boss.
Before deciding to become a business owner, Barringer worked in healthcare as a CNA at Atrium Health for 12 years, where she obtained a variety of skills in customer service, leadership, management and problem-solving skills.
“Last year, I started in the nursing home working with activities, and my creative side came out. I was making all kinds of craft,” said Barringer.
A series of events like this sparked the decision to research, plan and open a tanning salon.
That idea led to the creation of Lux Tanning, which opened in January at 108 E. Church St. in Richfield, next to Davis & Davis, Attorney at Law.
While searching for a location, Barringer created the name “Lux,” which was taken from the word luxury, as she envisioned the makings of a tanning salon.
The ambience inside is layered with a blend of contemporary designs with gold and cream color schemes and infused with the fragrance of cashmere and amber.
The compact space offers 15-minute sessions with two Ergoline beds at Level 2 in a private room. The shop also offers monthly packages, which include unlimited tanning, for $70 per month. Clients that want only one session will pay $12. Pfeiffer University students, military, and police officers receive a 10% discount with ID.
“This is the only tanning salon in Richfield for the past 15 years. I want to stay in Richfield and expand,” stated Barringer.
Expanding the business would offer spray tanning (sunless tanning) and red light therapy, which helps to improve skin conditions, promote detoxing, lessen scar tissue and stimulate collagen cells production without exposing clients to UV light.
She wants the community to know they have an option to get tanning services locally and not limited to the neighboring counties for the same services.
The salon is open 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday to Thursday, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday. Contact Lux Tanning at 704-850-4015 or on Facebook.

Angie Slade is a freelance writer for The Stanly News & Press.