#natva

“The work I saw at ITVA was out of this world, and I can’t tell you how honored I felt to be competing in the same category as them.”

While competitors prepare the same look at NATVA, ITVA is a totally different game.

“Preparing for ITVA was almost as challenging as preparing for NATVA. What's nice is you already know what your look will be. You are more just trying to perfect it and really dig deep on what inspired you and how it went with the trend. You're stepping it up a notch.”

And through this experience especially, Cena’s learned that building confidence isn’t a solo gig. She was mentored by past NATVA winner, Alisha Basham, who “always had the right words to say!”

Now she’s more motivated than ever to pass on her mentorship to others. “To me, mentorship is such a rewarding job. You are preparing a person to succeed. There’s nothing that can make you feel better than that.”

So to our next NATVA stars – you might just be seeing Cena soon. “I would really love to put a class together on preparing for NATVA and ITVA combined. I am determined to help the U.S. win!”

So what’s next? Cena’s currently entering more competitions and working towards opening her own salon! Her favorite advice is “do what makes it fun” – which she’s clearly taken to heart.

The first time Basham entered NATVA was in 2011 and her entry photo was her first ever photo shoot! No big deal. And get this - she was a finalist that same year. Fast-forward to this year’s award show, Basham took home the gold in the Young Talent category and let’s just say it definitely wasn’t beginner’s luck that got her there. History tells us that when this creative force enters competitions, she’s in it to win it.

What’s her secret? Hard work, dedication and knowing you are always capable of more than you think.

“I think you need to always continuously set goals and go for them. I’m always hard on myself and think no matter how well I do something it could always be better. That doubt can be a positive thing though, making me push myself to always improve. I still continue to take classes, every single month and I think that’s so important.”

Important indeed. Just as important as reminding yourself why you love this craft - why we all love this craft - and where your creativity stems from. Taking your vision from the salon to the stage is a huge accomplishment and starts with believing in your true potential.

Basham finds inspiration everywhere; from other people, to nature and music. She can’t turn it off. A (good) problem many of us have! There is no doubt she is influenced and inspired every single day from her surroundings. Being present and aware of your true potential is something that isn’t always easy, but will set you up for major success. Need proof? Let these photos speak for themselves…

What advice does this stylist have for other driven competitors like herself?

“Always pursue your goals and continued education. Listen and have conversations with your clients. Yes, they are there to hear your professional opinion, but if you don’t first listen you’re not really giving them a quality consultation or experience. And stay inspired; whatever that means for you. For me, it’s not looking up inspirational quotes, it’s having real life experiences.”

Because with education, good ears and lots of practice, your client’s vision will come to life - thanks to you. 

Big things to come for Basham! She recently attended ITVA in Berlin this year representing North America - #proud! Also, her next goal is to enter into NAHA (North American Hairstyling Awards) for 2016. This daring stylist has a bright future ahead.

Manselle went to college and got her bachelors degree in Biology, planning to go into medicine. After a short stint in a hospital job, she realized it was not her true calling. So, she got a job at a nearby coffee shop and did a lot of soul searching. What happened next, you ask? Well, let’s just say the #WellaFamily is glad that this year’s 2015 NATVA gold winner experimented with the right mix of ingredients.  

One evening, she went to a salon down the road from her coffee shop to see a guest color artist and the rest is history. Just kidding, but she literally fell in love with the industry and Manselle has never been happier.

She made a hypothesis - if she explored this field and went to school for hair, it would be just the thing for her heart.

“When I met the color artist, something in me instantly responded. I enrolled in hair school six months later. That was nine years ago, and I can honestly say I have only loved it more each year.”

From biology to beauty, consider that hypothesis proven accurate!

Winning the color vision category at NATVA helped Manselle learn and connect with artists that have succeeded before her.

“It reminded me that you never really ‘arrive’. Meaning, more than ever I feel a desire to explore artistic ideas with excellence. But mostly, there is something really special about achieving a goal because it satisfied that particular goal but ignites a completely new passion.”

Now that her experiments involve hair formulas, what advice does Manselle have for young stylists?

“Enter contests!  Even if you never win, you will grow your portfolio and your abilities.”

And where does this talented artist see herself in the near future?

“On a bigger scale, I have a heart to go further in editorial work and would love to collaborate with more top artists in that field. I have my eyes set on a few artists who I would love the opportunity to learn from, and I am doing all I can to position myself to do so.”

As 44 different teams across the U.S. and Canada competed for three different categories, each one represented groundbreaking entries across all spectrums of color, texture, technique and beyond. It was an evening full creativity and inspiration. It was a celebration of handcraft in its most innovative form. From the students and young talent to the color vision professionals and international leaders, each individual and team showcased an astonishing amount of talent and we could not have been more proud. Picture this: a room full of electrifying passion, capability and grit - what more could you want and need from our industry’s leading trendsetters?

Let’s talk Sebastian. Is it really a surprise that they haven’t lost their edge one bit? Always looking effortlessly cool, their performance on stage – the finesse that international style icons Michael Polsinelli and Shay Dempsey have perfected – was just as on point as their black à la mode apparel.

It also looks like the Brenton Lee Legacy continues to run in the family. Not only did Lee place for a second year in a row winning the silver medal for Color Vision, but his beautiful wife, Julie Richard received a shiny gold medal in her Student category! If their offspring is anything like his or her parents, watch out Wella world!

But wait… there’s more. Topped off with a presentation by the Wella Education team fearless leaders – Carole and Fabio. Yes, they did hair, on stage!

We want to whole-heartedly congratulate every individual that entered the North American Trend Vision Awards this year and we applaud our winners for their next chapter in Berlin!  

Let’s review all of our brilliant winners one last time:

Color Vision: GOLD - U.S.: Katie Manselle CA: Ilona Garson Silver - U.S.: Brenton Lee CA: Suzanne Pack Bronze - U.S.: Michael M. Haase CA: Damien Carvery

Young Talent: GOLD - U.S: Alisha Basham CA: Paige Ingram Silver - U.S.: Erika Nash CA: Vanessa Vandenbroucke Bronze - U.S.: Taylor Roles CA: Cristina Prioletta

Student: GOLD - US: Julie Richard CA: Angelica Grasso Silver - US: Elizaveta Solovyeva CA: Michael Sauvagoet Bronze - U.S.: Randi Green CA: Melina Tzinevrakis

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#NATVA 2015 was one for the books! There was no shortage of creativity, inspiration and thrill. If you joined us in...

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