A Northwest Indiana Life in the Spotlight: Julie Scollard

It’s been a chilly stretch in Northwest Indiana, but Julie Scollard is working to bring a bit of summer glow back to the Region — one spray tan at a time.

From her home-based studio in St. John, Scollard owns and operates Sun Kissed Tan, an appointment-only sunless tanning business built around a personalized one-on-one service. What started as spray tanning for her daughter’s cheer team has grown into a full-time career centered on confidence, care, and connection.

“Most of the time I spray tan girls for really important moments — weddings, competitions, big events,” Scollard said. “I just want them to feel absolutely special on that day.”

She earned her core sunless certification in 2019 and became Norvell Master Certified in 2020. The process required completing a set number of spray tans and demonstrating her technique in front of a certified instructor, who evaluated both skill and consistency.

Scollard runs her business out of her home while also offering mobile services. That flexibility is one of the most rewarding parts of being self-employed.

“I like doing it on my own schedule and being able to give each client 100% of my attention,” she said. “I answer all their messages, I follow up with them — I want them to have the best experience possible.”

Independence is what allows her to take full ownership of the client experience – from preparation instructions to aftercare guidance.

“I educate my clients on how to take care of their spray tan because I can spray you, but I also want to give you the information on how to maintain it,” she said. “The proper steps help it last as long as possible and look its best.”

For Scollard, education is an important part of the job — both for clients and for the industry itself. She’s intentional about addressing misconceptions surrounding spray tans.

“Spray tanning can get a bad reputation; people think it’s always orange or patchy,” she said. “I want to change that. A spray tan should never look like you have a spray tan. It should look as natural as possible.”

She emphasizes skin preparation and aftercare, walking clients through each step to ensure results last and develop evenly.

Much of Scollard’s work centers around milestone events — weddings, proms, competitions, vacations — moments where confidence often matters most.

“Brides are trusting you on the most important day of their life,” she said. “All they’re going to have left are these pictures. They have to look absolutely 100% perfect.”

That responsibility is what drives her attention to detail and commitment to each client.

“I want them to feel that they can trust me 100%,” Scollard said. “I also want them to feel good about themselves. The most rewarding part is when my clients send me pictures and tell me I made them feel confident. It’s just a simple service, but it can make somebody’s day. Confidence comes from within, but that extra little boost — that’s amazing. It makes my heart happy.”

Scollard is focused on building long-term relationships with clients who return for life’s biggest moments. She hopes they continue coming back for all of their special events.

That personal connection extends beyond appointments, as she often checks in with clients afterward to make sure they’re satisfied.

“I text all my clients to make sure everything is okay,” she said. “I like that personal touch.”

Scollard credits much of her confidence in building her business to support from longtime industry professional, Ivy Potter, who encouraged her early on.

“She’s really helped me tremendously, and I’m forever grateful for her pushing me to do this,” Scollard said. “It was never a competition. It was women helping other women. We’re all in this together.”

As she continues growing her business in St. John, Scollard says she remains focused on the same goal she started with: helping people feel confident in their own skin.

“I’m grateful to all of my clients who trust me on the most important, special days of their life,” she said.