The 5th edition of the StyleSpeak Beauty Conference 2025, presented by Sothys, proved to be nothing short of extraordinary. Held over 7th and 8th April, 2025, at the Bombay Exhibition Centre in Mumbai, this flagship event drew an impressive crowd of over 195 beauty professionals, salon owners, brand leaders, and skincare specialists from across the country.
With over 37 thought leaders and industry veterans taking the stage, the StyleSpeak Beauty Conference became a buzzing hub of knowledge-sharing, networking, and trend-spotting. Curated by a seasoned advisory panel comprising Samir Srivastav, CEO of Looks Salon, and Vaishali Shah, Founder and Director, LTA School of Beauty, the event built on its rich legacy of championing education, innovation, and excellence in the beauty and wellness space.
A Legacy of Fostering Beauty Industry Dialogues
StyleSpeak Magazine, India’s leading voice in beauty and salon business, has long been committed to bringing the industry together. Since its inception, the StyleSpeak Beauty Conference has served as a pioneering platform—bridging knowledge gaps, encouraging professional development, and sparking fresh conversations around growth and innovation. This year’s conference at the 7th edition of HBS 2025 carried forward that tradition with even greater impact.
Day 1: From Trends to Tech—Shaping the Future of Beauty
The conference opened with a ceremonial lamp lighting followed by an inspiring keynote by Sandhya Chipalkatti, Founder and Editor of StyleSpeak Magazine. Setting the tone for the two-day experience, she highlighted the evolving needs of the Indian beauty industry and the role of collaboration in addressing them.
The day’s first session tackled the increasingly diverse beauty needs of different generations—from Gen Alpha to Baby Boomers. Samir Srivastav, CEO of Looks Salon, chaired a compelling panel featuring Vipul Chaturvedi (CEO, Lakme Lever) and Deepak Praveen (CBO, Green Trends), discussing how brands and salons can adapt to ever-changing consumer expectations.
Premiumization emerged as a central theme in the next session. Chaired by Prannay Dokkania, CEO of Lloyds Luxuries, the panel explored how luxury, hospitality, and personalized service are redefining the salon experience. Esteemed panellists included Sneh Koticha (Director, JCB Salon), Kiran Bawa ( Founder and Chairperson, Iosis Spa & Wellness), and Aankith Aroraa (Founder and CEO, Streamline Beauty India).
Technology took center stage in a thought-provoking discussion led by Vikram Bhatt, Founder of Enrich, with insights from Sachin Kamat (G.M. India, Middle East and SouthEast Asia, Zenoti), Sahil Gupta (CEO, Bodycraft), and Dhruv Gupta (Founder, Try My Style). The group explored how tech and data are transforming salon operations—from customer engagement to business management.
Skin health was a key highlight as well. A candid conversation between Marisa Goel (Managing Partner, Serena’s Salon and CEO, The Skin Inn) and Jalpa Rana (Manager, Category Growth, Lodha Group) helped attendees decode the differences between acne and rosacea—a common and often misunderstood skin condition.
The afternoon saw two live demo sessions that captivated the audience. Disha Meher, Brand Strategist at Sothys India, decoded the Sothys Glass Skin Ritual which was demonstrated by Sothys India Trainers, while renowned cosmetologist Krupa Vora showcased the trending BB Glow treatment, both drawing enthusiastic participation and insightful Q&As.
Day 2: A Deep Dive into Aesthetics, Marketing & Men’s Grooming
Day 2 opened with a powerful panel on preventive skincare, chaired by Nalini Kalra (General Manager, CVPro India), with Dr. Madhuri Agarwal (Medical Director and CEO, Yavana Aesthetic Clinics) and Neeru Radhakrishnan (Founder, Play Salon) sharing actionable protocols for slowing early skin ageing.
In another standout session, Dr. Apratim Goel (CEO and Director, Cutis Skin Studio) led a dynamic discussion on men’s evolving beauty needs. With insights from Dr. Vinaya Bagwe (Skin and Spa Head, Enrich Salons) and Shweta Ghadge (Head Coach – Skin, Lloyds Luxuries) , this session challenged traditional gendered perceptions of skincare.
Aesthetic treatments were front and center next, with Vaishali Shah (Founder and Director, LTA School of Beauty) chairing a panel of skin experts including Dr. Vijaya Salunkhe (Beauty and Wellness Industry Expert, Cosmetologist and Business Consultant) and Sharmila Shetty (National Creative Director – Skin, Lakme Lever), who discussed why and how non-invasive beauty solutions are entering mainstream salon menus.
Discussing powerful marketing and customer retention strategies by using digital tools, the afternoon session delivered insightful practical know-how. Samir Srivastav returned to moderate a business-oriented panel featuring industry leaders Kapil Sharma (Founder, Kapil’s Salon), Vandana Bhardwaj (M.D., Marie Claire Salons), and Akshay Poorey (Co-Founder, DINGG).
The final session ended on a high note with a dynamic discussion on salon-brand partnerships, led by Rahul Bhalchandra (Co-Founder, YLG Salons) and a panel including C.K. Kumaravel (CEO, Naturals Salon), Rayed Merchant (Director and Co-Founder, SSIZ International), Ankit Virmani (Director, Esskay Beauty Resources), Dheeraj Arora (Managing Director and CEO, Hygienic Research Institute)and Yashesh Bharwada (Director, Absolute Beauty Concepts). The panel explored how collaborative relationships can drive mutual growth and innovation. This final panel brought a wealth of experience and knowledge to conclude the Conference.
The StyleSpeak Beauty Conference brought together 37 speakers and 120+ delegates who discussed, debated and fulfilled its endeavour of transforming beauty services in Indian salons.
What the Industry Had to Say
“This is the only platform where stylists, brands, educators, and industry veterans come together to learn, share and grow. You walk away with inspiration, strategies, and meaningful connections.” – Vikram Bhatt, Founder, Enrich
“I am fortunate to be a part of the 5th edition of the StyleSpeak Beauty Conference. This time the panel was diverse with salon owners, salon professionals attending the conference. The topics chosen were relevant to the Indian audience. Education is important for a hairdresser or manager and conferences like this pave the way for education.” – Samir Srivastav, CEO, Looks Salon
“The conference has evolved in a positive way in the last 5 years. Lot of education is happening here in the form of panel discussions. My experience has always been great.” – Prannay Dokkania, CEO, Lloyds Luxuries
“The StyleSpeak Beauty Conference gives a great exposure to what’s happening in the beauty industry. I really enjoyed my time here and will come back whenever I get the opportunity to be here.” – Vipul Chaturvedi, CEO, Lakme Lever
“At the conference I had the opportunity to meet all our colleagues. As a panel, we feel it is our responsibility to make the audience aware and help them learn from our mistakes. You also get to meet someone who is ready to revolutionize the industry at such a conference.” – Sneh Koticha, Director, JCB Salon
“A powerful mix of science, style, and strategy. Where else can you meet dermatologists, entrepreneurs, and brand leaders under one roof?” – Dr. Apratim Goel, CEO and Director, Cutis Skin Studio
In an ever-evolving industry, staying relevant means staying informed. The StyleSpeak Beauty Conference isn’t just about listening—it’s about interacting, exchanging ideas, and being part of a growing tribe of professionals who want to lead, not follow.
Whether you’re running a busy salon, launching your own product line, or planning your next move in the beauty space—this is the space where you learn from the best and connect with the right people. If you weren’t at the 2025 edition, you truly missed out. But here’s the good news—StyleSpeak Conference will be back on the 13th and 14th April, 2026 – and this time, it’s only getting bigger.
