The 2018 Wella Professionals North American TrendVision Awards may have happened in Las Vegas this year, but these details are definitely not staying in Vegas—the creativity and talent were too exciting to keep secret! BTC had a front-row seat for the incredible hair at Caesars Palace, so keep reading for the winning looks.

North American TrendVision Awards Deets

More than 3,400 hairdressers from the U.S., Canada and Puerto Rico entered Wella’s annual North American competition (the biggest yet!), but only 37 advanced to the finalist round to compete live on stage. The winners of the Creative Vision and Color Vision categories will move on to Wella’s International TrendVision Awards in Lisbon, Portugal, and the Student category winner earns a chance to spend the week at the Wella Studios shadowing Top Artists.

It wasn’t an easy task for the judges, who included:

• Sonya Dove, Wella Top Artist and color icon 
• Briana Cisneros, a global educator and BTC Team Member
• Lena Ott, a celebrity colorist with clients like Jemima Kirke and owner of Suite Caroline Salon in Soho
• Luis Pacheco, a celebrity colorist from Toronto with clients including Meghan Markle (!!!)

This year, Wella Professionals hosted the Journey to the Stage Challenge, an open call to all Wella family artists to earn a chance to present at the 2018 North American TrendVision Awards. Wella selected three teams from across the U.S., Canada and Puerto Rico. Artists created and named their team, and submitted a presentation proposal based on the theme “New Beginnings—Exploring the Pure Art Form of Hair.” The winning teams presenting at NATVA 2018 are a mix of Top Artists and Brand Educators:

• The Expressionists: Anna Holaday, Whitney Parr, Janet Algeciras
• Introspectra: Caroline Kim, Brenton Lee, Danny Lozada, Stevie Smith
• Northern Lights: Dana Lyseng, Paul Nasrallah, Antonio Quintieri, Eryn Wall, Emily Murphy

Click through the slideshow to see what we spotted backstage and on the runway! (And keep scrolling to watch the entire show!)

Keep reading for all the winners!

Color Vision Category:

Focus on color choice and expert placement, with the color palette and technique complementing the cut and style.

GOLD US: Emma Hancock, @masterpiecehair, Altamonte Springs, Fla.

GOLD CANADA: Daniel Grieco, @danielgrieco75, Salon Gaboa, Woodbridge, ON

GOLD PUERTO RICO: Rafael Ortiz Cotto, @rafaelortizhairacademy, Rafael Ortiz Salon Academy, Caguas, PR

SILVER US: Taylor Roles, @tayroles, Bijin Salon and Spa, Prairie Village, Kan.

SILVER CANADA: Frank DiCintio, @salongaboa, Salon Gaboa, Woodbridge, ON

SILVER PUERTO RICO: Carol Mojica, @carol_mojica_beauty_expert, Carol Mojica Beauty Expert, Caguas, PR

BRONZE US: Jamie Gonzales, @jamiegonzales.hair, Union Salon South, Pasadena, Calif.

BRONZE CANADA: Veronica Tadros, @hairbyvickytadros, The Strand, Waterloo, ON

BRONZE PUERTO RICO: Ramon Torres, @rlthairstyles, Saline Salon, San Juan, PR

Creative Vision Category:

Hair with an editorial feel, beautifully crafted and finished, demonstrating expert skills in styling and dressing.

GOLD US: Edison Lu, @to_be_thrill_edison_lu, &Hair Lounge, New York, N.Y.

GOLD CANADA: Robert Rella, @hairbyrobrella, Salon Gaboa, Woodbridge, ON

GOLD PUERTO RICO: Jaileen Vélez Huertas, @jaileen_velez, Modern Hairstyling Institute, Bayamón, PR

Student Category:

Open to students and recent graduates with a focus on the overall look.

GOLD: Julissa Alonzo Blanco, @julissa.alonzo.71, Modern Hairstyling Institute, Bayamón, PR

SILVER: John Michael Burgos Mejias, @johnmburgos_, Modern Hairstyling Institute, Bayamón, PR

BRONZE: Taylor Deyon, @taylor_deyon, Ogle School of Hair, Skin & Nails, Stafford, Texas

Major congratulations to everyone who competed, to the amazing artistic teams and especially to the winners! We’ll see you in Lisbon!

Watch the 2018 North American TrendVision Awards!