Beauty Gives Back Event Uplifts and Supports Hair and Beauty Pros

Salon pros and students dove deep into motivation, business, and next-level mindset, at the 2024 Beauty Gives Back event on Sunday, September 15, 2024, in Oak Brook, IL. The JAM-PACKED event brought together beauty industry leaders, talented artists and innovative brands to support beauty professionals at all career stages. Panelists from across the beauty industry and more shared their achievements and their failures in a straightforward, dynamic way to a captivated audience. This one-day industry movement supports beauty professionals at all career levels through development, networking and connection. Attendees got access to the tools, guidance, inspiration, knowledge and motivation needed to succeed at every stage of their journey.

Beauty Gives Back is presented by Daisie Foundation and Pink Pewter Foundation. Proceeds from the event were awarded to current and incoming beauty professionals by way of grants and scholarships, totaling $60,000 from Beauty Gives Back, and through partnerships with Larry’s Barber College, Tricoci University, Marlo Beauty, Shades by Shan and America’s Beauty Show.

Julie Hightower, founding Board member of the Daisie Foundation, and Mireya Villarreal, founder of the Pink Pewter Foundation, inaugurated the event in 2023 by coming together after partnering for many years with their non-profit organizations.

“We began with a foundation of touring and visiting thousands of beauty professionals and students to get them excited and motivated about Beauty Gives Back,” says Hightower. “Now after our second year, Beauty Gives Back is bigger and better with more impact, inspiration and empowerment. We have a huge opportunity to grow, and to bring this community along with us on that journey.”

“Setting the right foundation was critical, we wouldn’t be here if our industry and brands didn’t believe in our mission which is to give back,” added Villarreal. 

Beauty Launchpad was a media sponsor and had the opportunity to attend the event. We covered all the action in our feed and stories (@beautylaunchpad), but in case you missed it, here's a recap of the day, which was jam packed with education. 

Morning Kickoff 

The event opened with visionaries Villarreal and Hightower, as they welcomed a packed ballroom of attendees to the event. 

Ben Mollin, celebrated for his dynamic presence and serene approach, captivated the audience by blending energizing and soothing elements into his opening presentation. Mollin was also at last year's event, where he shared insight on developing a warrior mindset and overcoming self-doubt.

Career Paths in Beauty

Saloncentric Career Paths in Beauty panelCourtesy of Beauty Gives Back

The first panel of the event was presented by SalonCentric and led by Kareema Wilson, Vice President of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, and featured: Brooke Fletcher, Digital Marketing, Social Media & Influencer expert; Brea Retic, distinguished barber and member of SalonCentric #ITTAKESAPRO team; Mireya Villarreal, Founder and CEO of Pink Pewter and Beauty Gives Back visionary; and Christopher Aaron, a L’ANZA Healing Haircare artist and #ITTAKESAPRO team member.

This panel was a great opportunity for attendees to learn about how to develop their social media presence as an emerging stylist, opportunities for collaboration/partnership with a brand and more! 

"At the end of the day, you don't have to copy anybody," shared Aaron about establishing your social media presence as a hair pro. "I know it seems like we do, but I don't want to be anybody else but me. I've just learned that I have to be comfortable."

Journey Outside the Salon Chair 

On the next panel, experts from Ulta Beauty shared their insights and innovative business strategies for going beyond traditional salon services. The panel featured the Ulta Beauty Team: Anna Manukyan, Senior Director of Education & Creative at Ulta Beauty, Bianca Donahue, dedicated stylist at Ulta Beauty's Rockford, IL salon and Beto Sanchez, a seasoned stylist with 18 years in the beauty industry.

Multiple Streams With Bridal Beauty Launchpad attends the Bridal Hairstylist Connection at Peer Beauty in Chicago the day after Beauty Gives Back.

Moderated by Angela Cattaneo, founder of Beyond the Ponytail, this panel explored the dynamic possibilities of the bridal industry and featured panelists Annette Waligora, acclaimed freelance bridal hair artist; Caidy Brasure, stylist and owner of Caidy Marie Beauty; Dana Fountain, entrepreneur and beauty advocate; and Ashunta Sherrif-Kendricks, renowned makeup artist and founder of Ashunta Sheriff Beauty.

Each of the panelists discussed how they got their start in bridal, how they built their bridal businesses and offered words of wisdom for aspiring bridal stylists. 

"Starting in the bridal business really grew my financial position, and I really started to meet other like-minded professionals," shared Fountain. 

The next day, Fountain welcomed Chicago-area beauty pros to her space Peer Beauty, where she held a panel with Cattaneo, Waligora, Brasure and Villarreal. The stylists answered questions about the industry and how to create a proper work/life balance as a bridal professional. 

From Passion to Purpose 

Presented by Nicole “Coko” Taft, a dedicated educator from OLAPLEX and a prominent voice in the textured hair community,  she shared her journey of following her passion, becoming a textured hair specialist, becoming an industry influencer and the impact of positivity and education in the beauty industry.

Viral Visions: Crafting Trends with ‘Miss OMG’

Presented by social media sensation Olivia Thompson, also known as “Miss OMG," her dynamic session was on making waves in the digital world, how to create viral content, how to harness the power of media and public relations to boost business and drive sails. It was a chance to learn from the ultimate #hairbestie.

Thompson shared her director's blueprint for hairstylists, telling them to think of their life like a TV show or movie. To learn more about Thompson's method, you can watch her presentation below. 

The Journey of the Climb 

Jason Yates, President of JPMS, and Nick Stenson, SVP of Store and Service Operations for Ulta Beauty and founder of Nick Stenson Beauty, dove into their journey and shared key lessons and adventures that shaped both of their illustrious careers. 

'The Texture of Change’ and Inclusive Education

Hosted by Erica Roberson, Vice President of DE&I Business Development for L’Oreal PPD, she shared the impact of “The Texture of Change,” a movement to ensure equitable access to textured hair education. The audience learned how her efforts are transforming the beauty industry, making it more inclusive for all stylists, students and beauty enthusiasts. Jason Yates, President of JPMS, and Nick Stenson, SVP of Store and Service Operations for Ulta Beauty and founder of Nick Stenson Beauty, dove into their journey and shared key lessons and adventures that shaped both of their illustrious careers.Courtesy of Beauty Gives Back

To advance its initiatives, The Texture of Change partnered with the Professional Beauty Association to form the Texture Education Collective to influence inclusivity of all hair types and textures in cosmetology state board licensing and beauty school curriculums.

Roberson shared that the Texture Education Collective has a goal to help all 50 states pass legislation to require mandatory training, education and testing on all hair types and textures in order to earn a cosmetology license. They have held engagement meetings with 11 states, with three states passing TEC legislation into law: New York, Minnesota and Connecticut. 

"Our ambition is to get all 50 states across this country making this a law and making it mandatory that stylists, who are entering into our industry and who are the future of our industry, are learning on all hair types," Roberson said. 

Barbers Raw, Unfiltered

Beauty Launchpad Associate Managing Editor Gabby Bach poses with Olivia Thompson, Ivy Ann Miller and the Hairdustry and Industry Alligned teams at Beauty Gives Back.Hosted by Corey Gray, founder of Hairdustry podcast, this panel dove deep into the gritty realities of the barbering world in an unfiltered session. Panelists included Retic, Larry Roberts, founder of Larry’s Barber College; Jessie (Kirby) Perez Gil, Artisan Hair Sodality; Steven Wren, award-winning barber and Andis global educator; and Sam Nolan, licensed barber who is passionate about mentoring the next generation.

Gray and the panelists brought the energy into the ballroom, as they shared how they are using their platforms to mentor and give back to the next generation of barbers and hair pros, what they've learned throughout their journeys, how they've overcome obstacles throughout their career and so much more. 

"We all get the same 24 hours a day, but it's tough because we wear so many hats," shared Wren about developing proper time management skills as a barber. "I'm who I am behind the chair, I'm who I am as an educator, I'm a father, I'm a husband, I'm a son. That's so much. I could give all of me and be left with just a piece of me. So, in this particular season, the last year or so, I've been making sure to take that time for myself. I call it a hard stop." 

For more phenomenal nuggets of wisdom like this, make sure you check out the full panel below! 

The Science of Skincare and Haircare for Beauty Professional

Presented by Dr. Elizabeth Kiracofe, Board-Certified Dermatologist, she dove into the science of skincare and haircare, providing expert insights that are directly for hairstylists, estheticians, barbers and makeup artists.

Crafting Success in Hairstyling and a Path to Opportunities

Marlys Mendez, Dreamcatchers Hair Extensions & NSG Hair Replacement, discussed her experiences as a hairstylist and how she discovered and seized opportunities in the industry that aligned with her passions.

The Finale 30 remarkable individuals, each of whom has illustrated a compelling financial need for a grant, were awarded during the finale of Beauty Gives BackCourtesy of Beauty Gives Back

In the grand finale, “Beauty Gives Back” concluded with give back. It was with great excitement the unveiling of the selection of 30 remarkable individuals, each of whom has illustrated a compelling financial need for a grant, poised to propel them further along their unique paths.

“These individuals had been carefully chosen to receive a grant, a true reflection of their unwavering commitment, resolute determination, and relentless pursuit of excellence,” said Mireya Villarreal, in giving grants to the individuals at the conclusion of “Beauty Gives Back.”

In addition, two full-ride cosmetology scholarships were given from Larry’s Barber College. You can watch the tear-jerking moment that one of the students, DeVante Talley, received his scholarship. 

For More in 2025 

Plan for even more empowerment and GIVE BACK next year, as “Beauty Gives Back” will celebrate the salon industry together in 2025. Be sure to #BeautyGivesBack and follow @beautygivesbackfoundation for more information.