Wella's 2015 Regional Trend Vision Awards in Minneapolis was full of excitement, anticipation and a glorious unveiling of the Gold, Silver and Bronze winners in the Student, Young Talent and Color categories. The Gold winners in each category will advance to Wella’s prestigious North American Trend Vision Awards.

Approximately 350 salon professionals gathered at the Depot Renaissance Hotel in Minneapolis to see 23 contestants show off their models portraying one of two of Wella’s 2015 trends: The Journey of Enlightenment (for Spring/Summer) and The New Frontier (Autumn/Winter).

MORE PHOTOS AND VIDEO COMING MONDAY, 4/28/15! STAY TUNED!

THE TRENDS:

The Journey of Enlightenment trend features fluidity of lines and movement, three-dimensional color featuring a monochromatic palette of rose sand, albino seashell, ivory and natural tan enlightened with an outstanding clear blue. This trend’s goal brings inner beauty to the surface – and features looks dominated by graphical shapes, asymmetrical fringes, puckering and coiling techniques and futuristic design.

The New Frontier trend is inspired by the elements and their influence on hair. The trend features styles that are wild, strong and adventurous — a new kind of beauty with the raw sprit of the untouched. Haircolor looks are inspired by marbled, earthy tones and spice colors that reflect the landscape and translucent light of the North. Three-dimensional color, braids and frothy texture were unmistakably trends seen at the Regional Trend Vision Competition.

THE PRESENTATIONS:

The night began with a parade of the contestants followed by an introduction of esteemed judges: Carol Protat, Wella Creative Director North America; Brenton Lee, 2014 USA Trend Vision Winner in the Color Category and MODERN’s Web Editor Lauren Salapatek.

Between each of the segments, there were presentations by Wella, Sassoon and Sebastian Professional.

The Wella presentation featured Top Artists Justine Hornick and Eric Lindsey who showed off ready-to-wear looks from The Journey to Enlightenment trend. Looks encompassed prism color and styles with layers upon layers of three-dimensional color.

The Sassoon presentation focused on education and classic haircutting skills. They came out with pre-cut models and during their performance they focused on detailing. Most important of all, they showcased three of their collections: Ivy League (which incorporated classic elements of barbering in women’s looks – this included undercuts, and well-finished styles), Vassar Girls (which focused on “disheveled elegance,” and working with natural texture in the hair), and Karma Bombs.

Sebastian Professional’s performance was energy-filled. With the music pumped up high, Anthony Cole and Omar Antonio of Sebastian’s International Design Team brought to life a number of looks that stole the finale of the show. (Videos coming soon!)

THE FINAL WORD:

Gold winners in each of the categories will proceed to the next round – the North American Trend Vision Awards in Las Vegas. Silver winners received 2-day education vouchers to the Wella Studio facility in New York and Los Angeles. Bronze winners received 1-day education vouchers to the Wella Studio facility in New York and Los Angeles. Silver and Bronze winners in the Student category received recognition and gift baskets.

Student: (To be qualified for this category, students are either in school or are recent graduates).

GOLD: Christina Van Allen from Hays Academy, Concordia, KS

SILVER: Jamie Arrington from Regency Beauty Institute, Circle Pines, MN

BRONZE: Nicole Woszcyna from Regency Beauty Institute, St. Charles, IL

Young Talent: (Under 30-years-old, less than 2 year’s experience)

GOLD: Erika Nash from Root Salon, Minneapolis, MN

SILVER: Samantha Balagat from Ergun Tercan European Salon, Denver, CO

BRONZE: Mary Grace Miller from Capitol School, Omaha, NE

Color: (Age 30+ and up and work in a salon.)

GOLD: Stacie McIlwain from CCU College, Nashwauk, MN

SILVER: Jamie Dowling from Ergun Tercan European Salon, Wheat Ridge, CO

BRONZE: Raymond LeyvaOkazaki from Bijin Salon, Kansas City, MO

The International Wella Trend Vision Awards will take place in Berlin! To top it off, it will be Wella’s 135^th anniversary!