Recognizing both emerging stylists and masterful colorists within the industry, competitors from across the nation were tasked with showcasing their talent and creativity by reinterpreting Wella's Spring/Summer 2014 Urban Native trend or the Fall/Winter 2014 Borderline Beauty trend. As a judge, and Wella's guest, MODERN was given exclusive backstage time with the competitors as they prepared their presentations. And, judged alongside Shirley Gordon and Mika Quinn.

Behind the scenes, MODERN got the scoop on Urban Native: SS14 and Borderline Beauty: AW14 from Full-time Education Expert, Mary Lenock. When creating the Urban Native look, "think beautiful blondes, soft pastels, rich brunettes and effortless updos," she says. "We're seeing this popular trend on the runway from the Spring/Summer 2014 collections and being reinterpreted into clothing with the resurgence of floral prints."

On the flip side, Borderline Beauty is very architectural. "When we usually talk about structural shapes and styles, what immediately comes to mind is Vidal Sassoon. Those styles are very applicable right now, but with a softer edge to them," says Lenock. "Instead of that extreme v-line, we are looking for a combination of sharp and curved lines."

Check out the winners in the Color, Young Talent and Student categories.

STUDENT

1st Place: Cortnee Christine Farris, Regency Beauty Institute, Kansas City, MO

TREND: URBAN NATIVE

Farris was immediately intrigued by the "salon friendly" quality of the trend. "This is something that she would be comfortable wearing on a day to day basis," says Farris. Using a combination of pastel purple, pink and blue tones, she created a slightly undone textured look with loose waves and a braided headband.

2nd Place: Nicole Bennett, Minnesota School of Cosmetology, Woodbury, MN

TREND: URBAN NATIVE

3rd Place: Dorlissea Darnee' Price, Regency Beauty Institute, Houston, TX

TREND: URBAN NATIVE

The inspiration for Price's look was a picture of a purple sunset setting on a blue lake. Price reinterpreted the beauty of nature with shades of purple ranging from light purple gray at the uppermost portion of the model's head to violet purple at the jawline.

YOUNG TALENT

1st Place: Mariah Lynn Joseph, Buzz Salon, Iowa City, Iowa

TREND: BORDERLINE BEAUTY

2nd Place: Alexander Royce, Ficocello's Salon, St. Paul, MN

TREND: URBAN NATIVE

The inspiration behind Royce's look was the ocean. His main goal was to create a natural looking design that resembled waves crashing into each other. In addition to the color, the cut features an asymmetrical design with shorter sides. To achieve the intense blue color, Color Touch was used in addition to high lifts to tone.

3rd Place: Ashleigh Kathleen Leick, Ficocello's Salon, St. Paul, MN

TREND: URBAN NATIVE

"My design aesthetic is the done up but not perfect look. Honestly, I wanted to create a look that she could possibly create by herself," says Leick. For this particular look, she used a variety of textures including micro crimping and braiding for additional volume. The copper and cool grey hair color design was created using the new Illimuna color shades.

COLOR

1st Place: Julie Beth Mustoffa, The Parlour, Denver, CO

TREND: BORDERLINE BEAUTY

A brooding storm was the color inspiration behind Mustoffa's Borderline Beauty look. Grey is the new neutral declares Mustoffa. "What's scary today can become so beautiful tomorrow," she says. "I've seen many trends come and go. Punk and grunge are now the new norm. If you don't see a bank teller with color in her hair than something is wrong." Mustoffa's goal was to challenge this idea by creating the representation of a gender-less beauty.

2nd Place: Libby Ann Antonson, The Parlour, Denver, CO

TREND: URBAN NATIVE

"We're talking about things that were once attractive but aren't anymore," says Antonson. The inspiration behind her look was rusty cars, decaying plants and paint peeling off walls. The idea was reinvented with a color palette of rich deep colors and muted matte colors. 

3rd Place: Ergun Tercan, Ergun Tercan European Salon, Denver, CO

TREND: URBAN NATIVE