It’s competition time and our hair salons were absolutely buzzing with Royalty this week. The theme was a very topical ‘Hair to the Throne’ in honour of the King’s Coronation, with judging by Headmasters’ Creative Team. The competition culminated with a regal catwalk show in front of a live audience in the theatre - and student winners being crowned by the judges.

Students showed incredible creativity and thought with their careful research, with their detailed mood boards and with their meticulous final looks. The selected Royals through the ages included Kate Middleton, Princess Diana, Marie Antoinette, Jordan’s Princess Noor, Cleopatra, Sophie, Countess of Wessex and Princess Eugenie, to name but a few!

Level 2 Hairdressing student, Ruby Mason, made over her mum, Tracy, into Kate Middleton and was awarded 1st prize with her dazzling transformation. Ruby said: “The competition was incredible! I still can’t quite believe I got first place. I’d never done anything like this before and it was absolutely incredible. This time last year I wouldn’t have had the confidence to do this after hitting rock bottom with my mental health. This course is incredible and I’m so grateful to the most incredible educators. I didn’t think I’d be able to pull this off but after lots of research and the motivation of my amazing teachers I managed to complete it! What an incredible experience, I truly am so lucky to be on this course.”

It was a family affair for sisters Kadie and Kyiah Yeo-West. Level 2 Hairdressing student Kadie transformed their mum, Lisa, into an iconic Princess Diana, with sister Kyiah who is studying Level 3 Production Arts - Media Make-Up providing make-up.

Kadie said: “Doing the competition was exciting but stressful at times. I enjoyed turning my mum into Princess Diana - I had to create the same hairstyle and even cut her hair to match it as well. Having my sister do the make-up for my mum was a great addition because her course is media make-up and it helped me a lot. It was a great opportunity to be able to do members of the Royal Family and I would love to do another event like it. Our tutors were supportive which was nice as they helped guide us though what to do and what would look better.”

Kyiah added: “Working with my sister and my mum has been a great experience, I have grown up doing everyone's make-up in my family but to have it showcased is a different feeling. I'm delighted Kadie asked me to help her out as we both were working with someone very close to us. I have previously worked with live briefs within my course but have had a lot more planning in those situations so this was a challenge but a great way to practice my work in a short amount of time.”

The level of expertise and talent all round was incredible. Thank you to the Headmasters judges Sian Quinn and Charlotte Hayward who also compèred in the theatre, to our Technical Theatre students who supported – but most of all huge congratulations to all of our Hairdressing students who participated, you did a truly majestic job!