Welcome to the Shade Academy

were we Turn your passion in a thriving spray tan business

Join The Shade Academy, where artistry meets entrepreneurship.

At The Shade Academy, we understand the journey of aspiring spray tan artists. Founded by Lindsay, a seasoned esthetician with over 17 years of experience and 5 years as the owner of a successful spray tan business in San Diego CA, our academy is dedicated to equipping you with the skills and knowledge to excel in the spray tanning industry.

Hybrid courses

Sign on a beige brick wall that reads "Master Spray Tan Training" in black capital letters.
A collection of medicine bottles and containers on a concrete floor near a mirrored surface with caster wheels.

Our 3-Phase Hybrid Master Class is designed to give you the perfect balance of flexibility and hands-on learning. You’ll start by mastering the fundamentals at your own pace with our self-guided materials, giving you the freedom to learn on your terms. Then, during the live Zoom theory class, you'll get personalized 1:1 attention, ensuring you fully understand the material before moving on. Finally, the in-person hands-on session gives you the opportunity to practice and perfect your technique with direct feedback. This structured approach helps you absorb critical information without feeling overwhelmed, making sure you’re truly ready to hit the ground running.

Why Our Training Is Worth It:

Let’s be real, high-quality training goes beyond a quick two-hour group class. While low-cost options may seem tempting, we offer something far more valuable: personalized 1:1 attention, real-world techniques, and ongoing support. Our comprehensive, hands-on training is designed to help you excel in the field.

Investing in quality from the start means you won’t need to take another course later to fill in gaps, something we see often. Choose the best now, and set yourself up for long-term success.

With lifetime access to our exclusive student portal, you’ll always have access to learning materials, guides, and discounts, ensuring you stay ahead in a constantly evolving industry. Plus, you’ll receive extended mentorship with Lindsay, so you’ll always have support from someone who’s seen it all and actually cares.

Success stories

  • A woman with long blonde hair holding a certificate that reads 'The Art of Spray Tanning' and congratulating her for completing a spray tanning course.

    Lily

    SWELL SUNLESS

    With a background in graphic design and branding, Lily's creative passion led her to explore new opportunities in the beauty industry. After discovering us on TikTok, she recognized spray tanning as the perfect side business to complement her day job. Following her training with us in 2023, she put her newfound skills into action immediately. Drawing on her artistic background and our comprehensive training, she successfully launched Swell Sunless, her own studio in San Diego's charming Bird Rock neighborhood.

  • A woman smiling and holding a framed certificate of completion for a Master Spray Tan Training program, standing in front of beige curtains.

    Inbal

    SUNLESS BEAUTY BY INBAL

    As a makeup artist expanding into spray tanning, Inbal made history as both our first international student and our first graduate of 2025, traveling all the way from Israel for training. While she had already been offering spray tanning services, she sought to elevate her expertise in client consultations and application techniques. Through our comprehensive training program, she gained the in-depth knowledge and confidence she was looking for. Today, she's applying these advanced skills to provide exceptional service to her clients at Sunless Beauty By Inbal.

  • Woman holding a certificate that reads 'The Art of Spray Tanning' and smiling for the camera.

    Hannah

    SUNRAE SKIN

    As a licensed esthetician in Los Angeles, Hannah aimed to enhance her established skincare practice, Sunrae Skin, with clean spray tanning services. After completing our training in 2024, she seamlessly integrated her new skills into her business, with clients immediately noticing the elevated quality of her technique. Her expanded service offerings continue to thrive, showcasing how our comprehensive training program helps beauty professionals confidently grow their practices.

  • Woman smiling and holding a certificate that reads 'Master Spray Tan Training'. She is standing in front of a beige wall and dressed in a black sleeveless dress.

    ALYZZA

    AESTHETICS BY ALYZZA

    A newly licensed esthetician in Las Vegas, Alyzza sought to expand her fresh-from-beauty-school practice with professional spray tanning services. After completing our training, she confidently launched Aesthetics By Alyzza, where she now delivers exceptional sunless tanning experiences to her Nevada clientele. Her journey from recent graduate to successful business owner demonstrates how our comprehensive training provides both technical expertise and business acumen to beauty professionals at any stage of their career.

  • A woman with black hair styled in a messy bun holding a certificate that reads 'The Art of Spray Tanning' and 'Melissa DeHoyos', smiling lightly against a plain white wall.

    MELISA

    BARE TONES BY MISSY

    As an established business owner running a floral shop in downtown San Diego, Melissa was ready to expand her entrepreneurial ventures into the beauty industry. After learning about our program through a friend, she recognized the opportunity to diversify her business expertise. Immediately following her training with us, she confidently launched Bare Tones by Missy, her spray tanning studio. Today, she successfully balances both businesses, thriving in both the floral and sunless tanning industries—a testament to how our training can help even experienced entrepreneurs branch into new, successful ventures.

what graduates are saying

  • Hannah, 2024 graduate

    “My training with Lindsay at Shade was absolutely one of the best decisions I made for my business and for growing my knowledge of spray tanning. Lindsay is extremely knowledgeable, so welcoming, and is passionate about the art of spray tanning. You can feel her love for the confidence it brings people, the excitement people feel post-tan, as well as her drive to educate others on offering the highest quality service. This training taught me EVERYTHING I needed to know to integrate it into my business, as well as the ins-and-outs of product lines and materials, a flawless application technique, and helpful information on gaining clientele. Her technique is easy-to-follow and remember and truly just makes sense! My clients noticed a major difference in my application technique and have absolutely loved the results since taking the training. If you are new to spray tanning or need a major refresh, I could not recommend Lindsay's training more. It will give you the confidence to offer the highest quality service to your clients, while providing so much value as well. You and your clients will be SO grateful for the knowledge you will gain by training with Lindsay!!!” - Hannah

  • Jenevieve, 2025 graduate

     “My training experience with Lindsay at The Shade Academy was so informative and exciting! Lindsay is extremely passionate in teaching and helping others succeed in the sunless industry. It was a such a fun and collaborative atmosphere at the studio. I learned so much in such a short amount of time. I’m so excited to be launching my spray tan business soon! Thank you so much, Lindsay!” - Jenevieve

  • Alyzza, 2024 graduate

    “Training with Lindsay was THE best decision I have made in my beauty career. I did the Master Spray Tan Training course, which was broken down into two days. The first day was all theory, and the second day was the hands on portion. I loved how she structured her course that way, because I didn’t feel so overwhelmed going into the actual spray tan training. Lindsay is SO knowledgable! I pretty much went into this course blind, knowing absolutely nothing about the sunless tanning industry. But let me tell you! She opened my eyes to spray tanning and taught me everything I needed to be successful. I like how she makes it relatable by telling her experiences and what trials and errors worked for her business. I drove all the way from Las Vegas to San Diego for her course, and I highly highly highly recommend it! Like I would take her course all over again! Thank you so much Lindsay for this opportunity!” - Alyzza

  • Lily, 2023 graduate

    “Getting to learn the art of spray tanning from lindsay shaped my year in a way i could never have imagined. Back in the spring of 2023, 1 began looking into new side hustle opportunities as I was feeling burnt out from working behind a screen full-time as a freelancer. I craved working with people in person again in a way that I could still use my creative eye. In my research, I came upon spray tanning. There are so many things about being a spray tan artist that checked off the boxes of what I was looking for in a new career path: having clients that feel like friends, no need to go back to school, short appointment times, flexible schedule, and so much more. Finally in the fall of 2023, I decided to take the leap and do a spray tan training with Lindsay. The experience itself was beyond what I expected.

    As an educator, Lindsay is patient, clear, and a true expert in her field. Above all, you can tell she genuinely WANTS to see you succeed. She instilled a confidence within me that made me feel excited to pick up my spray tan gun and start building my cliente. I felt fully equipped with all of the knowledge and technical skillset to provide a luxury spray tan experience; something that is hard to come by in the industry. Upon completing my training, I immediately began seeing clients offering mobile spray tan services. By January 2024, 1 moved into my first studio space in La Jolla and have growing Swell ever since. I can never say enough good things about my training experience with Lindsay. The information and wisdom from our time together has stuck with me to this day.” - Lily

  • Brooklyn, 2024 graduate

    “I can honestly say my training experience with Shade Collective was the best I’ve ever had. The level of professionalism is unmatched and Lindsay went above and beyond to ensure I received nothing but the best support. From Lindsay accommodating my special financial and motherly needs, to the professionalism of her course layout and follow up zoom call, to the actual hands-on training on models she provided, to her promptly answering all my little random questions post-training, it has all been such a great experience. Thank you so much Lindsay! To anyone considering taking her course, I 100% recommend it!.”

  • Roxanne, 2025 graduate

    Where do I even begin? As a single mom on the path to self-rediscovery, self-love and being the best example I can be to my son, I decided to take a leap of faith and start my journey as a spray tan artist. Unlike most students that may have experienced this training, I do not have any prior experience in the beauty industry other than methods I've used on myself. This training was straightforward and easy to understand even for someone who doesn't have industry exposure. Lindsay made me feel so comfortable and she tailored this experience to suit my needs and aspirations. She has been extremely patient and helpful to me as I navigate becoming a spray tan artist. I would highly recommend her program!