Shropshire Star

In pictures: Brilliant bouffants at Telford College hair and beauty contest

Aspiring hairdressers and barbers got a chance to show off what they have learned in their studies, as Telford College hosted its popular annual competition.

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Hair styles from the weird to the wonderful were on show at the annual Telford College hair and beauty competition

With two new awards this year, the competition as part of the hair and beauty courses at Telford College was the biggest yet - and the best according to organisers.

This year's event, the fourth of its kind, involved 65 hair and beauty students tasked with giving a model of their choice a new eye-catching look.

They competed in categories including avant-garde, prom, rainbow and, for the first time, barbering. The avant-garde models in particular stood out, with bright and bombastic hairstyles seen around the college throughout the day.

Head of the hairdressing department Kerrie Treharne was impressed with the standard of competition. She said: "I say this every year but I just think the technical skill this year is so much better, the standards are unbelievably high.

"We've included for the first time categories for barbering and for the mood boards, and it's amazing how much effort they have put into their mood boards. I am dead proud of all of them."

Loren Weaver and stylist Megan Jackson

The contestants assembled on the day in the college's sports hall, and were given time from an hour-and-a-half to three hours to prepare their model for judging. The judging itself was done by three former Telford College students, all of whom are now professionals in the hairdressing industry.

Darren Garbett is a L'Oreal colour specialist, and this year was his third time judging the hairdressing competition. He said: "It is fantastic really.

"You can see that they've worked really hard to get to this point. They've stretched themselves and they get better and better every year."

The other judges were Louise Price and Neomi Owen, and they had half an hour to mull over each category's entrants before making their final decisions.

Alongside a competition judging men's style, the other new addition was a category on the mood boards every stylist also had to create. These set out the ideas behind the stylists' concepts, and students pushed the boat out to decorate their boards with lighting, props and decorations.

The annual Telford College hair and beauty competition

The contestants were thrilled to see the culmination of months of preparation, and they were all determined to enjoy the day regardless of their nerves.

Eleanor Conway, from Newport, is on a level 2 vocational course, and she was competing in 'hairstyles through the ages' with a retro look.

The 23 year old said: "A lot has gone into it over the months. I had the initial idea for it back in November and have been perfecting it ever since.

"I want to get through the judging and then just enjoy the day."

Megan Jackson got her friend Loren Weaver to be her model in the prom category, and the teenagers were both pleased with the final look.

Megan, 16, said: "I think it's great that we are all part of something like this. It took a couple of months to come together and a lot of effort."

The annual Telford College hair and beauty competition

Susanne Parry, aged 33, said: "The whole thing has been quite nerve-wracking but I've really enjoyed it. It's something different."

And Telford native Emma Dawes said: "I'm pleased with how it has turned out. Everyone seems to have gone to town, it was exciting thinking last night about what everyone would be doing with theirs."

The winners and runners up in the various categories bagged prizes donated by Wella, Ellisons and College Kits Direct including hairdriers, irons, vouchers and a clipper for the winner of the barbering competition.

Prizes were presented by the college's principal, Graham Guest.