Rise and SHINE with Aluram
Shine Time: Aluram’s High Shine Line Delivers Moisture and Shine with Clean Ingredients
Sponsored by Aluram
This is Next: Modern’s Photoshoot with the Winners of the 2015 Sebastian’s What’s Next Awards
Sebastian’s What’s Next Awards (WNA) is an annual competition inviting artists to submit photos based on a collection created by the Sebastian team to be used as inspiration. This year the collection was called “Totemic,” ...
July 30, 2015
2 min to read
Sebastian’s What’s Next Awards (WNA) is an annual competition inviting artists to submit photos based on a collection created by the Sebastian team to be used as inspiration. This year the collection was called “Totemic,” and featured exaggerated shapes highlighted by weaving and roping.
Hundreds of artists entered in either the Professional or Student categories. Among the prizes was a photoshoot with MODERN in Roberto Ligresti’s Water Street Studios in New York City (MODERN’s Beauty and Fashion Director Maggie Mulhern was one of the judges). The winners were invited to use the 2015 Meta-Morphik Collection as inspiration and use the freshly launched Eruptek and Resintek styling products to complete their finishes.
Carole Protat, North America creative director Wella, Sebastian, Nioxin and Clairol Professional; and Christina McCarver, director of education for Sebastian Professional, joined the artists for support and guidance. This feature is the result of that session.
“Getting to work with amazing models and an incredible photographer to show my interpretation of Meta-Morphik has been truly one of my favorite moments as a hairdresser.” —Oliver Shortall, Sebastian Design Team Member and winner of the What’s Next Awards, Professional Category
THE PROFESSIONAL
Oliver Shortall of the Harlot Salon, Venice, California, winner in the Professional Category, used his talent to highlight a combination of powerful textures including matte lengths and highly shined sides. These strong finishes define his creativity and talent.
THE STUDENT
Samantha Peters, a freshly licensed artist working at jcp Salon in Escondido, California, won in the Student Category with an intricate but elegant finish created with intense micro-crimping and conflicting textures. “My design featured a lot of variety,” Peters says. “I grew up with horses. I was always braiding!” Winning this competition has given her confidence. “It’s has confirmed that I should always go for it and get out of my comfort zone. It has demonstrated that there are no boundaries.”
“I love mixing up textures and putting in touches of the unexpected. Combining matte and small areas of super shine adds to the drama.” —Samantha Peters, jcp Salon Escondido, winner of the What’s Next Awards, Student Category
Photography: Roberto Ligresti
Makeup: Eric J. Allen
Fashion styling: Rod Novoa assisted by Dennis Pinto
Fashions: Alice and Olivia, Armani, Joanna Mastroianni, Donna Karan, Calvin Klein
Subscribe to Our Newsletter
More Galleries
Shampoo, Rinse, Repeat: Salon Clients Face a Water Cycle Crisis of Mineral Buildup on Hair
Neutralizing the damaging effects of water benefits the hair from texture to shine to color longevity, and it’s the science behind Malibu C products.
Sponsored by Malibu Wellness
Meet Wella's New BlondorPlex 9 with Built-In Metal Purifier
Meet the next generation of lightening with cleaner lift, less breakage, and built-in Metal Purifier Technology.
Sponsored by Wella
milk_shake Presents “LAMINAR” Collection by Shelley Lane, milk_shake Global Artistic Ambassador
milk_shake proudly celebrates Global Artistic Ambassador Shelley Lane and her latest editorial collection, LAMINAR.
Meet Wella's New SmoothFiller Service
Less frizz. No restrictions. Up to 3 months of smooth. Wella Professionals' SmoothFiller is the smoothing service your clients (and your revenue) have been waiting for.
Sponsored by Wella
Perfect Celebrity: Ulta Beauty Artists on Treating Every Client Like a Star
Justin Toves-Vincilione and Mat Wulff, creative directors and the hair, makeup leads on this Ulta Beauty shoot, say the goal of each service is to provide the client with star treatment, while also remembering that the beauty professional is a star in their own light.
by Anne Moratto
EDGE Academy Unveils “GlassCandy,” a Six-Look Collection That Blends Precision With Ease
Building on last year’s Neon Arcade, GlassCandy shifts from neon to daylight with softer movement, confident shape, and wearable polish, created by Creative Director Anthony Edge and the EDGE Artistic Team.
by Anne Moratto
Golden Threads: Oribe’s Gilded Gift Sets
Each year, Oribe turns its holiday gift sets into works of art and 2025’s “Golden Threads” collaboration with Finnish artist Kustaa Saksi is no exception. Inspired by mythology and master craftsmanship, the limited-edition collection blends luxury with meaning, transforming salon retail into an elevated client experience. See how Flaunt Hair Salon brings the collection to life with immersive displays, team engagement, and record-breaking holiday sales.
Sponsored by Oribe
Celebrating an Icon: Oribe Dry Texturizing Spray
Fifteen years after its debut, Oribe’s Dry Texturizing Spray remains a true styling icon. From backstage at fashion week to behind the chair, this cult favorite continues to define volume, texture, and effortless glam for a new generation.
Sponsored by Oribe
A-Temporal 01: A Collection by Sebastián Forner and Víctor Fernández
Sebastián Forner and Víctor Fernández present A-temporal 01, a hairdressing collection born from the pulse of the street and the wealth of experience gained through years of observing, listening, and adapting to real clients.
Lloyd Court’s “Raw” Inspires Colorists with Creative Placement and Storytelling
An award-winning British colorist, Court says this collection was created to help colorists "utilize natural lift to create beautiful images."
by Anne Moratto
Olivia Garden Unveils Dream Hair Lookbook: A Vision of Timeless, Effortless Beauty
Classic meets current in a lookbook designed to inspire — and achieve — the hair of everyone’s dreams.
Peter Gray Elevates Men’s Grooming in New Editorial for OWAY
In one of his most recent project, Gray directed the hair for an OWAY Men’s Editorial, a striking visual story captured by photographer Stockton Johnson.
by Anne Moratto
No Glam Wasted: Mentorship Meets Sustainability in a Forest-Set Photo Collection
Beauty, fashion, and environmental consciousness converge in a cross-discipline collaboration at Bankhead National Forest.
Gaining Momentum: NAHA Finalist Collection for Styling and Finishing
Breanne Gershon, a Canadian hairstylist, makeup artist, and educator, is a finalist for Styling and Finishing.
by Anne Moratto
Spirited: A Colorful Collection by Carol Ritchie
Bold and bright, this is UK stylist Carol Ritchie's Spirited collection.
The 2025 CHI Harmony Collection by Mego Ayvazian
Farouk Systems' Mego Ayvazian, Vice President of Education and Shows, is proud to introduce the 2025 CHI Harmony Collection.