Wella’s sixth Annual 2008 Trend Vision Awards

Wella's sixth Annual 2008 Trend Vision Awards. THE VENUE: Lisbon, Portugal.

THE DETAILS: The competition was fierce at Trend Vision as 25 colorists and 56 stylists from around the world interpreted one of Wella's Trend Vision looks from the 2008 collection. D'Nae Udall from Hob Salons in London won the gold for "Color Master" and Fumiaki Sato from Cut's in Japan won the gold for "Young Talent" for color artists 30 and younger. Judges included Sassoon International Education Director Stephen Moody; global trends forecaster Catherine Rame; and Wella Professional Global Creative Directors Eugene Souleiman and Josh Wood.

SNEAK PEEK: The 120 members of the international beauty press who attended the three-day event got a preview at Wella's new looks for 2009 and were introduced to the new Wella Professional Global Creative Directors Eugene Souleiman for care and style, and Josh Wood for color. According to a press spokesperson, "This event unveils a brand-new Wella equity with new products and technology to come, such as a relaunch of the Koleston Perfect Color line this winter. Josh and Eugene will bring the excitement of the new Wella to the salon."

THE BUZZ: "This event is one of the most important showcases in Wella Professionals' calendar for us," says Gabi Schupp, Global Wella Professional General Manager. "Nurturing fresh talent is one of the cornerstones of our business." THE LAST WORD: United States finalist Erwin Gomez, owner/make-up artist and creative director at Erwin Gomez Salon and Spa in Georgetown, Washington, D.C., found the entire experience rewarding. "This was first-class from beginning to end," he says. "It was a perfect agenda, and we received perfect treatment. It was incredibly intense; a fantastic journey and five star all the way!"

Photography: Markus Schmidt

Wella debuted its new image worldwide at Trend Vision in Lisbon. American salons get the first taste of the new brand with the relaunch of Koleston Perfect this winter.

Judging both the Wella "Young Talent" and the Trend Vision Color competition: Trend forecaster Catherine Rame, Wella Professionals Global Styling Ambassador Eugene Souleiman, Sassoon International Education Director Stephen Moody and Wella Professionals Global Color Ambassador Josh Wood.

Wella's '09 "Utopia" trend, interpreted commercially for the beauty press at a special conference in Lisbon.

Jean Jekel of the Erwin Gomez Salon in Washington D.C., who qualified for the international Color Trend Vision competition by winning Wella's U.S. Master Colorist award, preps her model backstage. "Trend Vision is a big playground for artists," she says.

Salon owner Gomez supported America competitor Jekel as make-up artist and wardrobe stylist for her entry based on Wella's 2008 trend, "Industrial Beauty.

Robert Jongstra, president of P&G Professional Care Global, welcomes the international beauty press to a gala reception in Lisbon. "We hope you are as excited about the new Wella as we are," he says.

Nick Berardi, Wella artist and owner of Salon5 in Fort Lee, NJ, led the team that unveiled the '09 "Virtual Life" trend to more than 2,500 attendees from 60 countries at Wella's Trend Vision.

The total look from Nicole Obert of NY's Arrojo Studio and "Shear Genius 2," who represented the U.S. in the "Young Talent" category.