Hair and Beauty learners showcase their skills

Hair and beauty learners from Coleg y Cymoedd showed off their talents at this year’s Avant-Garde Showcase, putting their skills to the test to impress industry judges.

The first showcase to be held at the new Aberdare campus saw learners from both departments team up to makeover models and create an array of themed looks including ‘galactic prom’ and ‘avant-garde’, with the finished looks judged by an external panel.

Dave Bassett, President of the Association of Hairdressers & Therapists, and Sue Morgan, retired lecturer, joined the campus to cast their expert eye, carefully judging each of the looks for skill, creativity and relevance to the theme.

Karen Rees, 37, who is studying NVQ Level 3 Hairdressing took home the winner’s title for the ‘Avant Garde Prom’ and ‘Avante Garde individual theme’ categories thanks to her galactic and unicorn inspired looks. She said: “This has been an amazing event. Everyone who took part gave 100% effort and it all turned out perfect. I am personally thrilled to have won two categories and with the feedback made by the judges.”

The event involved learners on level 1,2 and 3 hairdressing courses as well as those studying level 1 and 2 beauty. Level 1 and 2 were required to create the avant-garde look, while level 3 learners were tasked with completing both themes.

Completed as part of the learners’ studies for the ‘Develop, enhance and evaluate your creative hairdressing skills’ module, each hairdressing learner was paired up with two beauty learners to create the final looks for the competition, working throughout the entire day in preparation for the evening show.

Level 1 and 2 catering learners also got to put their skills into practice, providing a buffet for the event, while media learners assisted with the lighting and production for the stage. In total 90 learners at the college took part.

Open to the public, the showcase welcomed more than 75 guests on the night, with a raffle and live performances from Rio Scibona also on offer to attendees.

Karen Fenn, hairdressing lecturer at Coleg y Cymoedd said “This was a fantastic event with high standards of skills, demonstrating the quality of the hair and beauty courses on offer at Coleg y Cymoedd as well as the exceptional campus facilities. All learners worked exceptionally well for the event with great details put to their work.”

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