Education is certainly tantamount to success if you look at the career span of native Californian, Calma Yom. Born and raised in Los Angeles, this learning-minded Lash Stylist has constantly sought to improve herself and her services throughout her life. After graduating high school, Calma enrolled in Cal State Long Beach where she achieved a Bachelor’s Degree in Fashion Merchandising. From a young age, she had always been interested in skincare and makeup, though so she followed this four year degree with an education at Alhambra Beauty College, where she completed the required coursework for her Esthetician’s License. Calma continued on to the International Dermal Institute to pursue a Post Graduate Certification, requiring an additional 100 hours of work.

With an extensive educational background, coupled with 10 years of experience as a professional Makeup Artist (3 years with MAC Cosmetics and 7 freelance), as well as on the job training at a Medical Spa in her esthetics field, this knowledge seeker still didn’t slow. “As a Makeup Artist, I’ve always been obsessed with makeup and lashes,” she says. When she heard about eyelash extensions, it seemed the perfect skill to add to her growing repertoire of services. Calma researched various lash extension companies and selected Xtreme Lashes® for her education, “because of the training and certification procedure and the commitment the company has to products and training.” She completed her Lash Stylist Training in June of 2006. Of course, one class is never enough for an education fanatic so she returned in February of 2008, and again in April of 2008, for Certification and Xtended Education Training.

Calma currently splits her time styling Xtreme Lashes® and performing her esthetics services out of the LA hot spot, The Parlour on 3rd, and an office she shares with a Registered Nurse in Torrance, CA. She plans to get further training still, as she heads back to school for her own RN License. Her immediate goal is to be able to add Laser hair removal, photo facials and injectables to her set of skills. She also teaches, furthering the education of others, with PCA skincare, travelling around to various esthetic schools in the area.

Even with the addition of more services, though, Calma isn’t going to be giving up her lashes any time soon. “I see the difference in people. How appreciative they are and it makes them feel great. It makes them feel flirtier and happier,” she says. “I definitely want to keep doing lashes.”Her client roster has included some of the top movers and shakers in Hollywood including studio execs, PR agents, entertainment reporters and the occasional celebrity. She has worked on singer Fantasia Barrino, Judie Itzin (wife of 24’s Gregory Itzin), Angelica Castro (wife of film & TV star Cristian de la Fuente) and Crissy Guerrero (recently divorced from actor/comedian Dave Foley).

Most of her clients come from being listed on the Lash Stylist Directory and referrals from happy clients. Her biggest tip for stylists working in salons, like she does: Keep the staff in lashes! Calma maintains the lashes of all the girls at the Parlour and says they are a huge source of referrals for her. “It takes a time investment but it pays off,” she says. “You have examples of different lashes on different faces, right there to show potential clients.”

While her life is fairly consumed with school and work right now, Calma does manage to find a few moments for herself. She enjoys playing tennis, cooking, baking, trying to restaurants and hanging out with friends and her two four-legged companions, Peanut and Bear.

As Calma looks ahead to the future, it seems ripe with possibilities. She is interested in using her RN degree to work under the supervision of a Doctor and perform new, more advanced services. The Parlour is considering opening a second location and she hopes to extend her time with them in a larger space where she can build an even greater client following. And, ultimately, she would love to own her own medi-spa and salon down the road where she could offer a “one-stop shop for all your beauty needs,” as she says.

True to her educational background, Calma would like to pass along some advice to those who are new to the field of Xtreme Lashes®. “Learning to do the lashes isn’t overnight. It takes a lot of patience and you have to have it in you. It can be frustrating at times but if you just stick with it, you’ll get really good at it in time and it’ll pay off in the long run.”

We’re happy to see that it’s paid off for this dynamic lady. Her services were recently written up on Tara Met’s Blog. Tara is one of the top 10 LA bloggers and has been named one of the 20 most influential people in LA by MostPublic:
“…the end result looked pretty dramatic. Something to think about for my wedding in September...”