The grand final of the Concept Hair Apprentice of the Year awards is going virtual as the competition’s first ever finalists are set to compete in a new format due to Covid-19 restrictions.
Launched by Concept Hair Magazine, over 800 trainee hairdressers from across the UK took part in the regional heats during January and February. Gaining first place in the Wales regional heats, Pembrokeshire College apprentices Lauren Hawkins and Jamie-Lee Barlett will now join the other 43 finalists in completing their hair work at home, work or college – rather than taking part in a live final as originally planned.
Designed to celebrate the UK’s best hairdressing and barbering students, as they aim to achieve national recognition at the beginning of their careers, Concept Hair Magazine are keen to ensure that the hard work of all the finalists is recognised and that they are able to crown the winners in the first year of the competition.
The finalists will now have to submit before and after photos of their model’s hair, an unedited video and a vision board which will be judged by a panel of experts – including celebrity hairdresser Andrew Barton, Fellowship for British Hairdressing Chancellor Ashleigh Hodges, Wahl Global Artistic Director Simon Shaw and VTCT’s Apprenticeship Business Development Manager Jacqui McIntosh.
The winners will be announced on Instagram on Monday 5th October.
There are five categories split into eight competitions based on the competitors’ qualification levels: 1920s-themed Styling Level 1 and Level 2; Prom-themed Hair Up Level 2 and Level 3; Peaky Blinders vs. The Great Gatsby-themed Barbering Level 2 and Level 3; Colouring; and Avant-garde, themed on Fire and Ice.
Lauren Hawkins is one of six finalists in the Hair Up Level 2 competition while fellow apprentice Jamie-Lee Bartlett is one of six finalists competing in the Barbering Level 2 category.
A winner will be chosen for each of the eight categories and one talented finalist will be crowned as the overall Concept Hair Apprentice of the Year.
In addition to the prestige and experience that comes with winning a national competition, there are incredible prizes up for grabs from competition sponsors L’Oréal Professionnel, Cloud Nine, Wahl, Bettertons, Salons Direct, VTCT and the Fellowship for British Hairdressing.
Concept Hair Magazine’s Emily Hilton said: “The standard of competition has been excellent, it’s wonderful to see the next generation of hair and barbering professionals showcase what they do best. We’re thrilled that the 2020 final is going ahead in this new format which will allow competitors to compete safely.”
