MENU
SEARCHCreated by Julie Hightower and Mireya Villarreal, Beauty Gives Back 2025 brought together over 1000 salon pros, students, educators, and brand leaders for a high-energy day of education, connection, and community.
photo courtesy of Beauty Gives Back
photo courtesy of Beauty Gives Back
Beauty professionals from across the U.S. gathered on September 15 at the Hilton Chicago/Oak Brook Hills Resort & Conference Center for the third annual Beauty Gives Back™, a sold-out event that once again proved it’s more than a conference—it’s a movement shaping the future of the beauty industry.
Created by Julie Hightower, Executive Board President of the Daisie Foundation, and Mireya Villarreal, Founder and CEO of the Pink Pewter Foundation, Beauty Gives Back 2025 brought together over 1000 salon pros, students, educators, and brand leaders for a high-energy day of education, connection, and community—with a mission to Inspire. Develop. Empower. Give.
photo courtesy of Beauty Gives Back
The 2025 event delivered a curated lineup of 25+ speakers and sessions that offered real-world strategies and heartfelt storytelling—bridging technical skill with business acumen and emotional resilience.
Featured Sessions Included:
Breaking Cycles, Building Empires: A Latina Founder’s Road to Impact – with Nadine Ramos, LASIO
Beauty Beyond the Chair: Cultivating Community and Wellness in Your Career – a panel presented by Ulta Beauty, featuring Dani Darmanin, Beto Sanchez and Bianca Donahue. Moderated by Kelly Ehlers, founder of The Evoke Agency and co-founder of The Tease.
Building a Beauty Community with SalonCentric #ItTakesAPro – led by Siiri Parks, SalonCentric
Redefining Beauty Standards: Driving Change in Hair Care Legislation & Culture – presented by Amika, and featuring Gianne L. Doherty, Keya Neal, Cara Crafton, and Jody Tyvela (PBA)
From Craft to Career: Lessons on Leadership & Client Loyalty – featuring Dimitra Louro, Mailá Extensions
Beauty on Your Terms: Entrepreneurial Journeys from Every Angle - featuring Jesse (Kirby) Perez Gil, Steve Wren, Dylan Pritchard and Kim Roxie. Hosted by Corey Gray from Hairdustry Podcast
The Psychology of Beauty: How Your Work Impacts Client Wellness & Confidence – featuring Dr. David Camacho, UI Health
Legacy Through the Clippers: The Ripple Effect of Barbering – featuring Larry Roberts
The emotional high point of the day came when North Lawndale (IL) College Prep senior Jessica Thurmond, who gained attention for styling classmates’ hair in her school bathroom, was awarded a full-ride scholarship to Pivot Point Academy, valued at over $22,500. The audience gave her a standing ovation, underscoring the event’s core mission of creating tangible change for aspiring professionals. Beauty Gives Back also celebrated incredible moments of giving, from scholarships and grants awarded to students and professionals. A full-ride cosmetology scholarship was given from Larry’s Barber College valued at $14,939. To date, Beauty Gives Back has awarded $170,000+ to students and industry professionals.
photo courtesy of Beauty Gives Back
Whether from the main stage or in hallway conversations, and at table sides, the emphasis was clear: Beauty Gives Back is setting a new standard for what professional development looks like in the beauty industry.
“We’re not just teaching skills—we’re offering access, mentorship, and real stories that show what’s possible,” said co-founder Mireya Villarreal.
“This isn’t about a moment; it’s about building momentum,” added Julie Hightower, co-founder. “When the beauty industry comes together like this, the impact is exponential.”
Beauty Gives Back featured:
25+ industry speakers and panelists
Scholarships and grants awarded
Countless moments of connection, confidence, and community
photo courtesy of Beauty Gives Back
As Beauty Gives Back™ continues to grow, it remains grounded in its mission: to create opportunities for emerging beauty professionals—especially those facing financial hardship—through events, education, and ongoing support.
This shared recognition celebrates the strength of industry collaboration in advancing professional mobility.
In Dubai, a salon visit isn’t an appointment. It’s a weekly routine, and clients can spend $800 to $1,400 a month on it, according to Gaurav Tripathi of MADI International. On October 6-8, 2026, the market behind those numbers opens its doors as Beautyworld Dubai marks its 30th edition at the Dubai World Trade Centre, bringing together distributors, brands, stylists and salon owners from all over the world.
The Good Patch is a leading wearable wellness patch brand, offering wellness and skincare patches that support everyday needs including energy, sleep, relaxation and more.
Four publications for beauty industry professionals to enhance their leadership skills, financial awareness, professional growth, and joy!
Ulta Beauty has announced its partnership with Black Beauty Roster to launch the pilot of All Textures Certification (ATC). The new program is aimed at addressing gaps in education within the beauty industry and raising the level of skills and guest satisfaction for all.
Mireya Villarreal, founder of From Chair to Boss™, is bringing together beauty industry leaders for a new one-day educational event designed to help salon professionals strengthen the business side of their careers. From Chair to Boss Live! will take place September 28 at the Hilton Oak Brook Hills Resort & Conference Center in Oak Brook, Illinois.
Salon owner, tech founder, and educator Universe Walker will bring her signature workshop, The Art of Dry Cutting, to Brooklyn on July 20, offering stylists a chance to deepen their understanding of shape, movement, texture, and dry cutting.
As part of our ongoing commitment to sharing resources that help beauty professionals stay informed, we thought it was worth introducing our audience to The Chatter and the unique perspective it brings to industry conversations.
Celebrating 60 years in haircare, Dippity-Do is honoring its styling heritage with its Girls with Curls collection, a reimagined Light Hold Gelée inspired by the brand's original 1965 styling gel.
Covet & Mane has expanded its Pro Color System with the launch of Color Boost Drops, completing what the company says is the first professional color system engineered specifically for hair extensions.
The 2026 Beauty Changes Lives Legacy Award has been awarded to Sam Villa for his trailblazing contribution, advocacy and mentorship that has profoundly transformed and elevated the professional beauty industry.
CND is relaunching its SHELLAC system with a new CND Visible Light Lamp, updated packaging, and an expanded shade offering.
Curl Cult founder Janine Jarman, a hairstylist, salon owner, educator, and product creator, is opening a community investment round that gives hairdressers and clients the opportunity to own a stake in the company they helped grow.
The night honored the artists and collections shaping the future of professional beauty during PBA NAHA 2026.
The ultra-lightweight, handle-free dryer is designed to reduce wrist strain while delivering powerful performance behind the chair.
Aura Salonware is proud to announce its 2026 scholarship recipients. This first-time scholarship in partnership with the Professional Beauty Association awarded three different scholarships to support beauty professionals at every point in their professional journey.
SalonCentric has announced its expansion into Alaska, marking the distributor’s presence across all 50 states and bringing additional access to professional beauty products, education and business support to licensed salon professionals in the region.
