The Sebastian Professional What’s Next Awards turned six years old this year, so the brand—founded in Los Angeles in the early ’70s—brought the competition back to where it all began. Fourteen finalists from seven countries had less than four hours to create impressive hair for the chance at career-changing prizes, all in the heart of downtown LA. Keep reading for a look at the winning hair and the artistic presentations that inspired the 600-plus attendees!

The Contest: Shape Your World

The finalists spanned four categories:

• Student
• Professional
• Affiliated Artist
• International

Chosen for creating exciting looks based…