March 30, 2008
Carissa had done her research and spoke to various spray tanning salons in California, Las Vegas and New York City. Once learning more about the equipment needed and getting a better understanding of the State of Michigan’s requirements she called Julie Nostrand of South Seas Skincare. Julie was kind enough to take the time and suggest the best machine and solution.
Read moreJuly 23, 2008
Carissa had no idea that 10 years later SprayChic Airbrush Tanning will grow to the point that it has. She filed the LLC paperwork without any assistance with the intention of simply doing it right to be sure it was official and legal. She wanted to ensure that clients would feel even more comfortable knowing that it was a legit business since she was offering it out of her apartment and as a mobile business.
Read moreMay 6, 2010
By 2010 Carissa had used various solutions and found that Norvell was the most consistent and provided the best results for her clients. What she and her husband saw in the industry was that other than Norvell, there weren’t a lot of contenders. They also saw the chance to grow on a national level if they manufactured their own solution. It was an exciting adventure that ultimately didn’t pan out due to change in ownership of the manufacturing company. As the saying goes, “everything happens for a reason,” and now Carissa is a grateful to be a Brand Ambassador for Norvell.
Read moreOctober 7, 2011
Carissa attended her first industry trade show in Chicago at the Island Sun Times Tanning Expo. There, she completed the Norvell University Master Technician Training Program, with hands-on guidance from Norvell Vice President, Brandon Cardinal. Achieving the Norvell Master Certification was a significant milestone. To qualify, Carissa first had to complete the Basic Certification and have a minimum of one year of spray tanning experience—requirements she exceeded, having already been in the industry for three years. Carissa was determined to continue refining her skills and distinguish herself from potential competition.
Read moreDecember 13, 2011
While developing and manufacturing her own solution Carissa realized that it may be necessary to register the name SprayChic as a trademark.
Read moreJuly 17, 2012
After 4 years of being a home-based business it was time to find a space that would be more suitable for the growing business. The 450 sq ft space required was a simple open floor plan, so 2 rooms were built to allow for spray tanning.
Read moreOctober 17, 2012
With the addition of the Norvell Arena and the Norvell Revolution Stadium (seen here) clients could expect a more comfortable and professional environment. Each unit was built as extraction units for overspray reduction to create a more pleasant experience. The bonus feature of the Stadium was that it also warms and dries the client while getting their spray tan.
Read moreApril 23, 2015
At the 31st Annual Award Celebration, Carissa was honored as an Outstanding Achiever — a milestone reflecting her dedication to growth and excellence. Support from Oakland County CEED empowered her to strategically elevate SprayChic Airbrush Tanning on two separate occasions, strengthening its path toward scalable expansion.
The evening also marked a defining moment as CEED introduced its new name, Great Lakes Women’s Business Council, reinforcing its mission to advance women-owned businesses throughout the Great Lakes region.
August 12, 2015
Every year, since 2010, SprayChic Airbrush Tanning has competed in the WDIV Click On Detroit 4 the Best contest, and has placed in the TOP 5. The tanning category proved to be a tough one. Other tanning salon nominees have tanning beds and one of them has 13 locations! Once the contest added the Special Touch category under Weddings, SprayChic nabbed their 1st Place spot! They truly have the special touch when it comes to weddings.
Read moreDecember 1, 2015
The Oakland County Executive’s Oakland Together 40 Under 40 program recognizes and spotlights dynamic leaders under the age of 40 who are making a difference in Oakland County and beyond.
Read moreAugust 25, 2016
SprayChic was able to offer more appointments from 2012 – 2016 in their first storefront in downtown Farmington. During that time the demand for spray tanning increased. They also improved on training additional staff and required more space to keep up with the demand. Nearing the end of the lease in Farmington, Carissa began the search for a larger space. One that was affordable and could be outfitted for better air filtration. The new location was a former salon/spa that had been empty for…
Read moreSeptember 8, 2017
In August 2017, SprayChic Airbrush Tanning owner, Carissa, was announced as the new Norvell University Salon Specialist. This title is such an honor as Carissa has been a devoted Norvell customer for almost 10 years. Training others in the art of spray tanning has been an evolving passion for this seasoned entrepreneur. Norvell University holds a time-honored place as the industry’s premier public facility of higher learning. By teaching the basics of how sunless works, how to become a Master Sunless Technician and lastly, how to give clients everything they want and need. As…
Read moreJanuary 1, 2018
SprayChic Airbrush Tanning is proud to be selected as the Norvell University Certified Academy for Michigan and Ohio. With only 14 Academies in the US, Carissa is thrilled to be able to pass on her knowledge to others that are passionate about the spray tanning industry.
Read moreJune 14, 2018
On June 14, 2018, SprayChic Airbrush Tanning received a special surprise visit from Brandon Cardinal, Vice President of Sales and Norvell University, alongside his wife Tennille Cardinal, Distribution Sales Director for Norvell.
During their visit, they interviewed Carissa and toured the SprayChic salon live on the Norvell Facebook page, highlighting SprayChic’s commitment to excellence in the sunless industry.
The tour concluded with an unforgettable announcement: Carissa was officially named a Norvell Brand Ambassador — a dream she had worked toward for many years. This recognition affirmed her dedication to professional education, product expertise, and delivering exceptional spray tanning results.
July 24, 2018
In honor of 10 years of business, SprayChic Airbrush Tanning invited clients, friends, and family to celebrate for an evening of food, drinks, desserts, and giveaways. Thank you to Alex’s Pizzeria, Buttercream Bakeshop for the food and desserts!
Read moreApril 11, 2025
Carissa graduated from the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses Program at Wayne State University, a transformative experience that elevated SprayChic’s strategic direction. During the program, she refined the growth plan, strengthened financial forecasting systems, and developed a scalable model to support future locations and sustainable expansion.
