Inverness College UHI hairdressing student earns first prize for ‘fan’-tastic creation

An Inverness College UHI Hairdressing student earned herself a fanbase recently after winning the Ladies Alternative Competition at Blackpool’s International Hairdressing Championships with an extraordinary hair design inspired by a fan made from feathers. 

Inverness College UHI scooped two prizes in the same category, with SVQ Level 3 student Jade Mackenzie, from Lochardil, scooping the title at the international event at Winter Gardens, Blackpool, and classmate Amanda Gyles, from Nairn, earning third with her style inspired by the Oscar-winning movie Black Swan.

Jade, 26, impressed judges so much with her feather fan-inspired design that she beat off competition from 20 other hairdressing students from up and down the country to win the prestigious top prize on March 13th. However, having suffered a few malfunctions with her model’s costume before the big event, Jade wasn’t expecting her name to be called out as winner from a category boasting more than 20 entrants.

The part-time assistant in Inverness’ Ego Hair Design said: “When I took the fan out when we arrived it was all floppy and I had to stay up until 1am spraying it and trying to make it stand up. After that I wasn’t confident about the competition at all, and when they called out Amanda’s name in third I was so busy hugging and congratulating her that I thought there was no chance I’d hear my name. Then when they announced that I was actually the winner I just burst into tears and jumped up and down  - I couldn’t believe it.”

Amanda Gyles, 35, was similarly suprised to pick up a prize at such a huge event, and was even more proud when she saw her model, Suzanne McMohn, on the front and third pages of the Blackpool Gazette.

“I took inspiration from the film Black Swan and twisted various elements together to come up with my design,” she said. “Thanks to the course at Inverness College UHI, I am finally doing what I’ve always wanted to do. I can’t wait to go in and get started every day and the staff on the course have just been fabulous. I hope that once I complete my SVQ I can live in Dubai and get some work doing hairdressing in the media.”

Avril Stewart, Hairdressing Lecturer at Inverness College UHI, commented: “I am absolutely thrilled at the outcome of the Ladies Alternative direct entry competition in Blackpool with a first and third place. The two students have been friends and rivals from the very beginning in their first year with the creative trends college competition.

“They came through for us in Blackpool and another Scottish contender took second place with Scotland sweeping the board in this highly creative and challenging competition. I am immensely proud of their endeavours and feel a fresh surge of inspiration and motivation. It is proof that hairdressing not only provides you with a lifelong craft, but an art medium. I wish them well and hope this is only the start of their competition career.”

For further information on the SVQ Level 3 Hairdressing course or any other courses available at Inverness College UHI please call 01463 273000 or visit www.inverness.uhi.ac.uk.