Member Article

College competition proves a beauty

From the weird to the wonderful, students have been putting their creative skills to the test at Redcar and Cleveland College this week.

Creating standout looks to inspire, individuals went head to head in a competition to showcase their talent.

The annual contest is rapidly becoming a popular part of the college calendar for both part-time and full-time Hairdressing, Beauty Therapy and Hair and Media Makeup classes.

“Every year it gets bigger and better,” said tutor Emma Fletcher. “The effort that goes into it is just fantastic.”

Around 70 students from across the college’s hair and beauty departments took part in the competition with themes including avant-garde and fantasy.

Emma said: “The competition is a unit of the courses, for students it offers the chance to put skills that they have learnt into practice, to be creative and to show the community what they can do.”

Hairdressing student Karen Manley chose to return to the classroom especially to take part in the competition just two weeks after giving birth to her baby son, Stephen Lee.

The 34-year-old from Dormanstown, said: “I was really looking forward to the competition and didn’t want to miss it. I used to love art and design and anything creative so this gives me the chance to combine that with hairdressing.”

Beauty Therapy student Lucy Gibb, 16, said: “I enjoyed the competition because it is something different.”

Creating a transformational look from human to werewolf, she said: “I have been using techniques that I have never tried before. I really enjoyed it.”

Entering the competition for the third consecutive year, Hair and Media Makeup student Lauren Barker, 18, said: “It really helps to build your confidence. Each year my ideas have grown.”

The tough job of judging was handed to college staff and tutors, Alice Tregear, Jenny Hackett and Gillian Greenwood, with one winner and one runner up chosen from each course area, as well as an overall winner.

Taking the top title was Hairdressing student Alla Loughran, 47, of Redcar, who made over her daughter, Nataliya Mykhalchenko. She said: “It is a big achievement and I have enjoyed every moment.”

After the judging Alla, a carer at a local care home, and Nataliya, headed off to show her work off to the residents.

The best performing students in the Redcar and Cleveland College competition will now go on to the regional heats of the Association of Hairdressers and Therapists competition in Newcastle.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Marie Turbill .