TWO Inishowen students proved they have a head for heights when the scooped the top prizes in an International Hairdressing Competition.
Tara Henderson from Buncrana and Breege Grant from Clonmany won the awards at the Blackpool International Hairdressing show.
Following gold medal successes against professional stylists in the Northern Ireland wide competition earlier in the year, Level 3 student Tara impressed the judges at the Blackpool competition by scooping the 1st prize in both the Senior and Junior Creative Fantasy sections.
Tara took the title as UK champion just ahead of lecturer Susan Cassidy who placed second in the Senior event.
Just behind Tara in 2nd place in the Junior competition was Breege Grant, Clonmany, a Hair & Beauty combined student, also studying at the College’s Strand Road Campus.
Breege’s achievement was also based on a win at the NI event before Christmas. The College’s success in Blackpool was capped off by Jackie McColgan from Carndonagh, who was entering her first ever competition – and placed 8th in the Junior event.
Next Monday 4th April the Corinthian Ballroom at Derry’s City Hotel will be transformed into a vibrant competitive arena as hairdressing students from North West Regional College’s three campuses in Derry, Limavady and Strabane come together for the first ever cross campus competition.
From 3pm onwards the ballroom will be a hive of colour and creativity as Level 2 and Level 3 students compete in seven different competitions.
Head judge at the Blackpool competition, Steven Jones, commended the College for its exceptional results.
“To win 1st and 2nd in the Senior section was fantastic but to win 1st and 2nd again out of over 70 competitors in the Junior event was just amazing!
“Both staff and the students are to be congratulated as it must take such skill and dedication to prepare such amazing Fantasy pieces. As Manager of the N.I World cup team I have to say the work really is World class.”
Visitors to the College’s Cross Campus event on 4th April will have the chance see the stunning and intricate creations of not only Tara and Breege, but the talented stylists across the College’s full and part-time courses for themselves.
The event will include a Cut and Blowdry competition, Bridal styles, Upstyling, and a Barbering event, as well as the much anticipated Avant Garde Creative Fantasy competition.
At 8.30pm the event will conclude with a fabulous performance piece by the College’s Performing Arts students and a stunning catwalk showcase of all the looks created under the intense competition conditions.
A panel of experts and professional stylists from salons across the North West will be judging the students’ skills and proficiency on the day with fantastic prizes to be won.
A range of excellent raffle prizes will also be on offer for the audience. Doors open at 3pm, but visitors may arrive anytime up to 8.30pm and tickets for the event are just £3 per person, on sale at the door.
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