Welsh Open Hairdressing Championships 2017

I am so happy and proud to announce I have won my FIRST ever hairdressing competition.

I have been hairdressing for over 11 years and I have never won a hairdressing competition. If I've ever entered a hairdressing competition, it's never been a place or second or third place. Which is still an amazing achievement but still disheartening at the same time.

I entered the competition the day of the closing date, uming and arghing if to enter or not, as the competition was in Wales. Thinking if I could enter as I live in England, and not Wales.

I asked my model friend Samantha Fisher if she was available, and would be able to drive from London to Wales, as I know its a big commitment, but really means the world to be apart of this hairdressing competition.

I planned the hairstyle I was going to style, planned the dress for 'The Bride' hairdressing competition. (Dress) from boohoo.

The competition day had arrived. I driven to Cardiff from Leeds, as I was celebrating my friends house move the day before... slightly hungover.

We arrived minutes before the competition was about to start. We had issues with the dress doing up. Hair had to be prepped before (pre curled) As you can imagine, it was a little tense and daunting.

There was about 25 people who had entered the competition. We were all had a section each, with everyone's friends/family watching. All having 45 minutes to create the hair looks we wanted to achieve.

The hairstyle I created was a toulsed chunky braid. Accessorized with gyp. Within 30 minutes of the competition, the hairstyle was going well, we had 15 minutes to spare. As you can imagine, the pressure was building as I am a perfectionist with my work. I stepped back from the hairstyle to have a look from different angles, and I did not like how the hairstyle was going. I then started to take the braid apart, and recreate the look again. All I heard was gasps in the crowd of me dismantling the look, I still continued. The look was going better, after covering areas where I felt were out of place.

The 2 minute count down had begun. I stepped away from the hair again... I still wasn't happy, then started taking the hairstyle again.

The time was up, I wasn't overly happy. I presented Samantha my model, and stepped away from the competition floor whilst the judges went around to each competitors looks. I had a couple of people come up to me saying they were loving what I created, but why did I take the looks down so many times. It felt reassuring that others loved the hairstyle even though I was 100% on what I created.

After the judges deliberated and all the competitions were over. They announced the winners. The suspense was killing me that when they called third and second.... then my name was called. I was over the moon and emotional after a daunting day. The judges comments on my look was so lovely and they were happy they had chosen me as the winner.

The day wasn't over. They still had one more announcement... 'Model of the day'. My name got called again. Two win's in one day. I was so happy that I decided to enter the competition, and it was an amazing feeling after 11 years of hairdressing to finally win not one, but two hair competitions. I was finally an Award Winning Hairstylist.

Thank you to the judges, and my model Samantha Fisher for making this a day to remember. There was so many talented hairstylists who had entered from all different back grounds, which was lovely to see so many areas of work. Congratulations to the other winners of the day.