LIMITLESS CREATIVITY: ENTRY INSPO FOR #BEA2021

get ready to spread your wings & fly

This year’s Beauty Envision Awards theme is Chrysalis, leaving the door wide open to interpretation in order to encourage your ultimate creativity. As artists, we constantly draw inspiration from the world around us, sometimes making it difficult to narrow our focus. However, a bit of direction from a friend or mentor can ground us and help our greatest visions come to life.

We asked Wella Company’s NA Senior Manager of Portfolio Education, Jessica Guastella (@theguasisextra), to break down this year’s theme and tell us how salon pros can incorporate it into their entries. Here’s what she had to say!

bea 2021 inspo q&a

What we LOVE to see is something new and interesting

Photo via Pinterest

How did the Wella team concept the inspiration for this year's competition? 

Jessica Guastella: First, we wanted to acknowledge that 2020 has been incredibly challenging, especially in our industry. We wanted the design and story elements to symbolize a reawakening.

From a hair design perspective, we thought the bright colors and tearing elements provided a cool creative concept. Specifically, the tear treatment symbolizes tearing through to reveal a new norm.

We are super hopeful that we will have a live show this year for the finale. We have some AMAZING ideas that incorporate this theme even further!

What does “chrysalis” symbolize?

JG: A chrysalis symbolizes the protective covering something or someone creates in order to protect themselves until they emerge into a new stage of growth. We thought this was the perfect metaphor for our journey through 2020. We, as artists, have no choice but to emerge bigger and better than before. Our hope is that BEA is the perfect outlet for pros to really shine.

If you could describe this year’s inspiration in one word, what would that be? 

JG: Powerful.

What are some things that really speak to you…

Photo via Pinterest

What is included in the ideal entry in order to advance in the competition?

JG: We judge entries based on online votes, technical ability, creativity, and the link to the inspiration and theme. What we LOVE to see is something new and interesting—a technique that makes us go, “Wow, how did they do that?!”

How would you recommend incorporating the inspiration into an entry? 

JG: The purpose of a theme is to give the artist a starting point, and then for the artist to bring their own creativity or take their own spin on it and make it theirs. Art is often considered to be the process or product of deliberately arranging elements in a way that appeals to the senses or emotions. 

Where would you recommend people to draw inspiration from for their entry? (Pinterest, movies, shows, celebrities, etc.)

JG: Anything really! I think the most inspirational things in life usually trigger an emotion. What are some things that really speak to you; things that make you stop, look and wonder? Take notice of that feeling and try to translate that into an amazing look.

enter the next stage of competition

Just like the life cycle of a butterfly, the ultimate competition of creativity emerges again. We can’t wait to see what you create, salon pros!

For #BEA2021 visual inspiration, check out the Pinterest mood boards for the categories you plan to enter. If you’d like to meet with a mentor to discuss your look, Wella Studio Signature Artists are available to meet with you for virtual 1 on 1 sessions via wellaed.com. If you have quick questions or need any help, we’re just a DM away on @wellaeducation.