Tiana Romkee of Newport Beach on Life, Lessons & Legacy

We recently had the chance to connect with Tiana Romkee and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Tiana, thank you for taking the time to reflect back on your journey with us. I think our readers are in for a real treat. There is so much we can all learn from each other and so thank you again for opening up with us. Let’s get into it: What battle are you avoiding?
The battle I’m facing right now is settling into my 30-year-old self. I’ve always had a youthful, carefree spirit — the life of the party, spontaneous, booking trips on a whim, staying out late with nothing to lose and my whole life ahead of me.
But the past two years have been deeply transformational. As I’ve reached new milestones and prioritized my mental health, I’ve found myself enjoying quiet mornings, raising my son, building a meaningful business, and nurturing relationships with people who add real value to my life.
I love that I’m refining myself while staying authentic, but it can still feel like an identity shift. I’m trying to find the balance, yet sometimes it feels like I’m not fully ready to grow up — even though I’m grateful for who I’m becoming.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Tiana, and I’m the owner of SALT Beauty Co., a lash studio in the heart of Newport Beach. When I picked up my first pair of tweezers five years ago, I never imagined it would lead me to opening a studio I could call my own. What surprised me most along the way wasn’t just the work — it was the relationships. My clients became so much more than appointments on a calendar; many have turned into lifelong friends who’ve grown with me through every season.
This past year brought a new kind of transformation. Pregnancy and maternity leave required me to step back from being a full-time provider and focus on protecting my health, peace, and growing family. It was the first time I wasn’t behind the lash bed every day, and surprisingly, that space allowed me to see my business from a different angle. I realized I’m not just a lash artist — I’m a leader, a creator, and the visionary behind a studio that’s ready to grow far beyond my own two hands.
Now that my son is here, I’m stepping into one of my favorite titles right behind “mom”: entrepreneur. I’m excited to evolve into the role of boss and studio owner, expanding SALT Beauty Co. into a thriving space filled with talented contractors and providers who share the same heart for beauty and connection. While we currently focus on lash and brow services, I’m dreaming bigger — envisioning a full-service beauty studio, and maybe even a wellness branch, inspired by the same passion that drew me into aesthetics in the first place.
This next chapter feels like the perfect blend of who I’ve been and who I’m becoming — a mother, a businesswoman, and someone building something rooted in purpose, community, and passion.

Okay, so here’s a deep one: What breaks the bonds between people—and what restores them?
I’ve come to believe that what breaks the bonds between people isn’t usually conflict — it’s growth. Different seasons pull us in different directions, and this past year has felt like a major shedding season for me. I had to let go of some close friendships, not out of anger, but because I was growing somewhere they could no longer follow or understand. As I mentioned earlier, settling into my 30-year-old self has been transformational. I love who I’m becoming, but that doesn’t mean everyone will be on the same path. And that’s okay.
My mom always told me that people come into your life for a reason, a season, or a lifetime. I’m finally beginning to understand what she meant. Letting go of certain parts of my life has made room for something better aligned with where I’m heading. It’s opened up space for friendships that feel grounding, supportive, and reflective of the woman I am now.
I’ve also learned that what can repair bonds — and even preserve them during change — is a deep understanding of each person as an individual. Just because we’re no longer in the same season doesn’t mean we can’t respect one another, appreciate what we shared, or cheer each other on from different directions. Seeing people for who they truly are, not who we expect them to be, has taken so much pressure off my friendships.
I love the way I’m viewing relationships now. It feels lighter, healthier, and more compassionate. Letting go of expectations and embracing people exactly as they are has been one of the most healing shifts in my adult life.

Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
The time I almost gave up was actually not that long ago. Early in my pregnancy, during a brutally difficult first trimester, everything hit me at once. I was dealing with the physical realities of pregnancy — the body changes, the hormonal swings, the constant nausea, and the waves of anxiety — while also facing a truth I didn’t want to admit: I needed to shift gears in my business far earlier than I had planned.
Going from a full-time service provider to someone who had to hire and trust others with the business I built was overwhelming. When you’ve poured years into something and formed deeply meaningful relationships along the way, the idea of handing the reins to someone else feels almost unthinkable. And beyond the emotional part, there were the logistics: redefining my role, deciding which positions to hire for, finding people I believed in, building their schedules, opening my studio to talent outside myself, and trusting them with my clients — my community.
Everything compounded, and for a moment, I genuinely questioned whether I should walk away. I thought about starting over, becoming an employee somewhere else, and creating more space to raise my son without the weight of ownership. It felt like the easier path.
But then something shifted. The challenge pushed me to rise, to do the hard things, and to hold myself to the standard I knew I was capable of. Looking back, I can’t imagine giving up what I’ve built over the past five years. I’m grateful I stayed the course and allowed myself to grow through it, because now — on the other side — I’m thankful every day that I have my own studio waiting for me when I’m ready to step back in fully.

Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. What’s a belief or project you’re committed to, no matter how long it takes?
I’ve become deeply committed to keeping health and wellness at the center of everything I do — in my relationships, in the way I run my business, in how I show up as a mother, and in the daily habits that shape my life. The more I grow, the more I realize that wellness isn’t just a category… it’s a foundation. It influences how I love, how I lead, and how I move through the world.
And looking ahead, I’m especially excited about bringing that passion into my professional life. One of my long-term dreams is to open a dedicated health and wellness space — a place that feels like an extension of everything I value. Even as I think about expanding my current service menu, I feel myself naturally gravitating more toward wellness than beauty. It might sound cliché, but I truly believe that when you take care of your mind and your body, it shows. Beauty becomes a byproduct of balance, alignment, and care.
That’s the direction I see myself — and SALT Beauty Co. — evolving toward. A blend of beauty and wellness, built from the inside out.

Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. Have you ever gotten what you wanted, and found it did not satisfy you?
Yes, I absolutely have. There was a period when I was running on fumes, chasing every dollar I could. I was juggling my business while cocktail waitressing at night, convinced that maximizing my income would somehow translate into happiness. But it didn’t take long to realize that the paycheck wasn’t what filled me up — it was the lifestyle, the balance, the peace.
What actually made me feel rich were the quiet evenings at home with Manny and our family, the simple routines, the moments I wasn’t rushing through. That time is priceless. And choosing my loved ones over making more money than I truly needed is a decision I would make again and again, without hesitation.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://Saltbeautyco.glossgenius.com
• Instagram: Saltbeautyco.nb
• Yelp: Salt Beauty Co.
• Other: TikTok
  Saltbeautyco.nb

Image Credits
Laiken Joy