The sixth annual What’s Next Awards (WNA) hair competition from Sebastian Professional took place at the Cooper Design Center in downtown Los Angeles on Sunday, February 25, 2018. The exciting event crowned four hairstylists in an electrifying club décor.
Omar Antonio, in the zone, finishing a dramatic statement
A photo-based competition, every year the What’s Next Awards releases a hair collection (this time around that collection was Twisted, evocative of underwater realms) to inspire contestants. To become what’s next in the world of hairstyling, stylists from the around the world submitted a photo of their “Twisted”-inspired look.
Models from the International Category
Fourteen finalists were selected out of 1,600 entries from seven countries, and they then created an entirely new look on a preselected model for the live finale in one of four categories; Student, Professional, Affiliated Artist and, for the first time, International. The panel of judges included Sebastian Professional Creative Visionary Robert Lobetta, Celebrity Stylist Dominick Serna, Stylist and Salon Owner Erik Gutierrez, Sebastian Professional International Artist Latoya Velberg and Modern Salon’s Editor in Chief Alison Alhamed.
Marianne Medeiros, General Manager Coty Canada, and Davy De Bondt, Senior Trade Marketing Director Coty
In addition to the competition, the evening showcased an awesome line-up of powerful artistic presentations from some of the most daring talents in the industry, including Sebastian Professional Global Art Director Shay Dempsey and Sebastian Professional International Top Artists Diva Poulos, Omar Antonio (who went all-out with a gender fluidity hair and high-fashion statement), Marylle Koken and Anthony Cole.
Meredith Mauceri, Yasmin Grothé, Editor-in-Chief Salon Magazine French, and Sal Mauceri, Senior Vice President North America Coty
Congratulations to the 2018 winners from the Sebastian’s WNA!
INTERNATIONAL: Rosallie Asmar, Björn Axén, Stockholm, Sweden
AFFILIATED ARTIST: Jonathan James, The Harlot Salon, Los Angeles, CA
PROFESSIONAL: Keisha Mines, Nirvana Hair Salon, Richmond, VA
STUDENT: Rachel Alvord, Bellus Academy Poway, CA
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