Beauty professionals across the country are invited to unite for a transformational day of inspiration, education, and empowerment at Beauty Gives Back™ 2025, taking place this coming September 15, 2025, at the Hilton Chicago/Oak Brook Hills Resort and Conference Center.
Now in its third year, Beauty Gives Back is an event that bridges career development with heartfelt mentorship. Created by industry changemakers Julie Hightower, Executive Board President of the Daisie Foundation, and Mireya Villarreal, founder and CEO of the Pink Pewter Foundation, Beauty Gives Back gathers some of the most respected names in professional beauty — across hairstyling, barbering, retail, education, and entrepreneurship — to share actionable insights, personal journeys, and the tools to thrive in today’s evolving industry.
“Beauty Gives Back is a movement, not a moment,” says co-founder Mireya Villarreal. “It’s the industry coming together to support the next generation of stylists, barbers, and artists with resources that are practical, inclusive, and rooted in real success.”
Beauty Gives Back co-founder Julie Hightower says, “We’re pulling back the curtain on what it really takes to build a lasting career in beauty.” She adds, “this day is about exposure — about showing salon pros at every level that they’re not alone, and giving them the blueprint to elevate both their craft and their confidence.”
Importantly, proceeds from Beauty Gives Back directly fund scholarships and grants for emerging beauty professionals facing financial hardship, reinforcing the event’s mission: INSPIRE. DEVELOP. EMPOWER. GIVE.
A Curated Experience with Industry Influence and Impact
The 2025 program features a full day of thought-provoking panels, personal success stories, and networking opportunities designed to foster both professional growth and personal well-being.
With more than 25 speakers, including artists, educators and leaders in the industry, Beauty Gives Back 2025 promises to provide inspiration for all who attend. Attendees can look forward to presentations from leaders from Ulta Beauty, amika, SalonCentric, and independent salon pro entrepreneurs, and they will walk away with strategic tools, plus renewed purpose!
Featured Sessions Include:
- Breaking Cycles, Building Empires: A Latina Founder’s Road to Impact — with Nadine Ramos for 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
- Building a Beauty Community with SalonCentric #ItTakesAPro, led by Siiri Parks
- Breaking Into Fashion & Beauty as a Hairstylist, featuring Naeemah LaFond
- From Beauty School to Viral Success: Turning Your Craft Into a Career, featuring Jeremy Pugh
- Redefining Beauty Standards: Driving Change in Hair Care Legislation & Culture — presented by amika, and featuring Gianne L. Doherty, Jody Tyvela, Keya Neal, Cara Crafton
- From Craft to Career: Lessons on Leadership & Client Loyalty, featuring Dimitra Louro for 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 the Hairdustry Podcast
- The Psychology of Beauty: How Your Work Impacts Client Wellness & Confidence, featuring Dr. David Camacho for UI Health
- Legacy Through the Clippers: The Ripple Effect of Barbering, featuring Larry Roberts
Beauty Gives Back Event Details
- Date: Monday, September 15, 2025
- Time: 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM
- Location: Hilton Chicago/Oak Brook Hills Resort & Conference Center
3500 Midwest Road, Oak Brook, IL 60523
Grab your tickets here. For more information, visit beautygivesbackfoundation.org.
