When I first started out as assistant editor of Beauty Launchpad, I was under the assumption that hairstylists simply cut, colored and styled hair, working in the salon day-in and day-out. I was quickly humbled and exposed to how expansive — and welcoming — the industry was. One of the first people I met, who embodies everything this industry truly is and stands for, is Mireya Villarreal (@mireya_villarreal). She is a CEO, philanthropist, motivational speaker and entrepreneur — but she’s more than her titles. She’s also compassionate, brutally honest, driven, funny and caring. To learn more about the many multitudes of this empowering beauty pro, read on. You’ll laugh, cry and surely feel inspired.
Bound for Beauty
Born to be a trailblazer, Villarreal was the first in her family to attend college, but she wasn’t the first to find her way into the beauty industry. At the insistence of her mother, who is also a hairstylist, Villarreal attended cosmetology school. College by day, beauty school by night, she gave up her social life for an education.
“In that process, something unexpected happened,” Villarreal recalls. “I fell in love with making people feel good. That connection and transformation lit a fire in me that’s never gone out. The beauty industry became my home.”
In the years since she’s joined the industry, she launched her first business and a 501(c)(3) non-profit, published a book, toured all over the world as a motivational speaker, developed an online business education course and changed the lives of countless beauty pros through grants, scholarships and mentorship opportunities.
Looking back on it all, she reflects what she would tell the younger version of herself, saying, “Trust your gut. Don’t shrink to fit in. And don’t let fear of judgment hold you back. You’re going to face setbacks, but each one will teach you how strong you really are. Stay kind. Stay curious. And protect your peace — it’s your greatest asset.”
Pretty in Pink
While still working behind the chair, Villareal hand-made hair accessories. This passion turned into her first business — Pink Pewter.
“Pink Pewter started as a creative escape during one of the hardest times in my life,” she says. “While my husband was recovering from open heart surgery, I began making hair accessories for my little girl. It was just a hobby — something to bring a little light and joy into a difficult moment – but that small act of creativity turned into something much bigger.”
Pink Pewter is now an international brand carried by top distributors, retailers and salons around the world. The brand sells hair accessories — such as scrunchies, hair ties, hair/head wraps, barrettes and hair clips and special occasion hair pieces – as well as salon tools and hair oil. You may be familiar with her patented “Never Let Go” comb collection.
However, the brand is more than just its products. It also has a corresponding 501(c)(3) non-profit called the Pink Pewter Foundation. A portion of all the proceeds from Pink Pewter products go directly to the foundation, which supports beauty pros in need.
“The Pink Pewter Foundation was born out of a deep need I saw in our industry —especially during the pandemic. Beauty professionals were struggling, and there weren’t enough resources to support them,” Villarreal says. “In 2020, I launched the foundation to provide emergency financial relief, mentorship and education for beauty pros facing hardship.”
The foundation is more than grants and scholarships. Villarreal shares that she wants to go a step further in how she supports beauty pros, offering programs and opportunities for mentorship and empowerment for beauty pros in all phases of their career.
“We physically show up in places others tend to overlook,” she adds. “We speak directly to students and professionals who need support the most and make sure they know they’re not alone on their journey.”
Get Involved
To support the Pink Pewter Foundation, you can donate or purchase Pink Pewter products, with a portion of the proceeds from your purchase going directly towards the foundation. If you want to get involved further through events, you can sponsor, attend or volunteer. To help the foundation reach more pros in need, you can spread the word on social media or create a connection with local schools in your area.
“Whether it’s time, resources or connections — every bit of support makes a difference,” Villarreal shares.
To learn more, you can visit the Pink Pewter Foundation website.
Beauty Gives Back
If one philanthropic endeavor wasn’t enough, Villarreal found another opportunity to provide much needed support to stylists, barbers, students and educators, equipping them with the tools they need to thrive at every stage of their beauty journey.
Now in its third year, Beauty Gives Back is a partnership between Villarreal’s Pink Pewter Foundation and Julie Hightower’s Daisie Foundation. The one-day event gathers some of the most respected names in professional beauty — across salon, barbering, retail, education and entrepreneurship — to share actionable insights, personal journeys and the tools to thrive in today’s evolving industry.
All proceeds from the event fund grants and scholarships for students and beauty professionals, with a focus on artists facing financial hardship.
Showing Up and Showing Out
If it wasn’t clear, Villarreal has a clear philanthropic spirit. She cares about giving back and lifting up others. But where does that motivation come from?
“I’ve lived the struggle. I know what it’s like to have a dream but no roadmap. Every time I walk into a school or connect with a beauty pro who’s just starting out, I see myself in them,” she says. “My motivation comes from knowing how powerful this industry can be when we invest in the people behind the chair — not just their skills, but their confidence, mindset and future.”
At a recent tour stop at a cosmetology school, Villarreal broke into tears — but to be clear, there was not a dry eye in the house — when a student was gifted a free booth at Beauty Gives Back and America’s Beauty Show after sharing a powerful story about how she entered the industry and started her own product line after the death of her brother.
These moments speak exactly to who Villarreal is as a person. She cares about the beauty pro, not just for their abilities or their financial means but their whole being. It’s this behavior that Villarreal believes needs to be at the center of all of the beauty industry’s philanthropic endeavors going forward.
“It’s not just about the scholarships. Beauty professionals need guidance, role models and real conversations about how to grow in this industry,” she explains. “One of the biggest gaps I see is the lack of support reaching the overlooked areas of our industry — the schools and communities where access to mentorship, education and resources is limited.”
From Chair to Boss
From her Beauty Gives Back event to her visits to cosmetology schools, Villarreal is a big believer in continuing education. She sees how access to proper education can make or break someone’s career, which is why she launched her own education platform “From Chair to Boss: From Dreamer to Doer – Shaping Tomorrow’s Leaders” based on her experiences in the industry.
“I created ‘From Chair to Boss’ after speaking with thousands of students and new beauty professionals while touring beauty schools across the country. I kept hearing the same thing — they felt unprepared for the business side of the industry. That’s when I knew I had to create something real, practical and empowering to fill that gap,” Villarreal says. “This course is designed for students and new beauty pros who want to become entrepreneurs. Two of the most important focus areas are understanding your numbers — so you can price, plan and profit with confidence — and developing a strong, success-driven mindset. Without those two things, it’s hard to lead and grow.”
The 20-hour online business education course is packed with videos, worksheets, printable tools and real-world strategies to help pros build and grow their business with confidence.
“The course covers everything from branding and business foundations to finance, client retention and more — skills most beauty pros were never taught in school,” she adds. “What makes it different is that it’s not theory — it comes directly from my experience building a global brand, managing teams, navigating failures and scaling my business from the ground up.”
Words of Wisdom
With such an expansive and well-rounded career under her belt, Villarreal is bound to have plenty of advice to share, especially for the next generation of beauty pros.
“This industry isn’t just about talent — it’s about consistency, connection and courage. Show up every day ready to work hard, build relationships and keep learning,” she says. “Understand that social media is important, but what will really set you apart is how you treat people. Invest in your education — not just in technique, but in business. Learn how to manage your money, grow your brand and protect your mental health. Stay grounded, stay hungry and never forget why you started.”
For beauty pros who want to learn more about Villarreal’s story, she delved into her roots, humble beginnings and journey in the beauty industry by writing a memoir.
Entitled “Next Level Mindset: Crush the Barriers to Success,” Villarreal provides a raw, unfiltered look at what sacrifice and failure really look like, as she opens up about how she picked herself back up and came back stronger than ever.
“People often see the highlight reel but not the full journey. I wanted to share the truth — the struggles, setbacks and lessons that shaped me — not just as a business owner but as a human being,” she reflects. “The book is filled with personal stories, photos and raw moments I’ve never shared publicly before. I made sure it was easy to read and relatable because I wanted anyone picking it up — whether they’re a student, a new entrepreneur or someone feeling stuck — to feel seen, understood and inspired.”
Staying Grounded
For any beauty pro, it can be difficult to manage all the responsibilities on their plate. From work behind the chair, outside business ventures, maintaining relationships with family and friends and so much more, burnout feels more like an inevitability than anything else.
Yet, Villarreal, with all her endeavors, manages to find time to care for her mental health and wellness.
“Nature is my reset. I reconnect with the five elements of life to stay grounded — earth, water, fire, air and energy. Whether it’s taking a walk outside, sitting in the sun, breathing deeply or listening to the wind — those small moments bring me back to myself,” she says. “I’ve learned that true wellness isn’t just about bubble baths or spa days — it’s about protecting your inner peace. I spend time in nature to clear my mind, reconnect with purpose and remind myself what really matters. When I’m aligned with the elements, everything else flows.”
Her advice for other beauty pros in need of some self care and wellness tips?
“Get quiet, get outside and pay attention to what fills your soul. You don’t need a perfect routine — you just need intention and connection.”
