UCOL stylists brush up for competitions

UCOL Hairdressing students will be in the thick of competition this weekend.

Four students from the Certificate in Hairdressing (Salon Support) and Certificate in Hairdressing Practice are able to enter the annual Manawatu Regional Hairdressing Competitions event after UCOL renewed its membership to the local association recently.

“This is a great opportunity for them to show off their skill sets and get creative with styling and colour,” says UCOL Hairdressing Lecturer Carrie Gardiner. “Possibly most importantly, it’s a chance to meet people in the industry and to network with salon owners.”

Carrie and fellow UCOL Hairdressing and Beauty Lecturer Andrea Jackson, will also compete under the UCOL banner.

Twenty one year old Kayla Stevenson admits she is ‘terrified’ at the prospect of performing well on the competition floor. “I have practised my haircut as much as I can, but I am worried my nerves will take over.”

Kayla shouldn’t be nervous; she has experienced the cut and thrust of hair competitions as Carrie’s assistant, and was also recently one of the prize-winning hair and beauty team for Miss Manawatu contestant, Miss UCOL Kylie Joe.

The students have been fundraising for weeks to help cover competition costs. Each competitor must transform their model with hair, make-up and an outfit.

Carrie says, “We have some UCOL Beauty graduates helping out by doing the make-up, we ran a raffle and the girls have been doing extra client days to help raise money”.

“Competitions are a big commitment of time and effort,” says Carrie. “Whether they win or not, the extra practise they have put in has certainly helped them succeed in their studies.”

ENDS

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