POULSBO — Like its name implies, Le Soleil is not your average tanning salon; it’s a relaxing oasis located on the edge of Poulsbo Village.

Le Soleil is French for “the sun” or “sunshine” and the salon offers both state-of-the-art tanning equipment and relaxing massages and facials.

“I wanted a name that reflected the quality of service and atmosphere we offer and one that wasn’t so run-of-the-mill,” remarked Le Soleil co-owner Lori Hoover-Tanksley.

Hoover-Tanksley, who owns the business with husband James Tanksley, has had dreams of opening her own salon since becoming a licensed massage therapist.

“I started out renting a room down at the marina, but I always had bigger dreams than that,” she explained.

One of those dreams came true after four years of preparation, when Le Soleil opened its doors in December.

“I also worked at a salon that had tanning equipment and I’m glad I had that in my background when I decided to open this store,” she said.

By combining tanning and massage therapy, Le Soleil offers the best of both worlds and caters its services to individual needs and desires, Hoover-Tanksley said.

“We don’t offer package deals because someone who wants a facial may not want a tan, but we tailor our services to whatever someone decides they want,” she explained.

While massage therapy is one of the key offerings of the salon, the tanning component has taken on a life of its own, which is not surprising, Hoover-Tanksley said.

“Tanning has been our most popular service and it’s also good for your health,” she said. “People can get their Vitamin D from tanning if it’s done correctly.”

Tanning is much more than just achieving a bronzed appearance and it can be an instrumental part of a person’s overall wellness, she continued.

“In the past, tanning has received a bad reputation because people were overdoing it,” she said. “Anything can be bad for you if you do it too much.”

Part of the services the salon offers is an education on the proper way to tan and the benefits of tanning, along with top-of-the-line tanning equipment to ensure customers get the most value for their money, she noted.

“We do our best to offer the best product possible without breaking the bank,” Hoover-Tanksley said.

Among those quality products are Le Soleil’s own line of skin care products, which are identical to what major department stores sell.

“We get our products from the same factory as they do and as a result, we’re able to offer the same product at a discounted price,” Hoover-Tanksley said.

Le Soleil also has an esthetician on staff to assist customers in finding exactly what they need to maintain healthy skin, she noted.

“I think we can do good business without gouging the customer in the process,” she said.