Kingston College’s hairdressing department held a brand new style competition and exhibition entitled X-Foto, with the theme ‘Your City, Your Style’ which was judged by the student’s very own salon employers.

Students had been asked to provide an A4 photo of their own work styled at their salon following the brief, ‘Your City, Your Style’, which required the students to choose any method to interpret the iconic character of a city.

The students had been given free rein to be creative with some inspirational theme examples such as Rio de Janeiro’s Carnival, the CanCan in Paris, Tokyo’s Madame Butterfly, Cowboys in Kansas and Hollywood Starlets.

The work was displayed at an Art Exhibition, followed by an Awards Ceremony at the College on Monday 15 June. The evening began with the Art Exhibition which was held in the foyer of Café 100, followed by a live performance from the young Artistic Team representing Barbering. The College’s Level 3 students displayed the results of their afternoon examination including their models and mood boards.

This year, the students’ salon employers were the judges for entries on the night and a leader board was updated continuously throughout the event. Each judge allocated points to their top three selections and the standard of work was very high.

The students had responded eagerly to the competition with more than 100 entries and over 200 VIPs, guests, employers and students attended the event.

Course Tutors Rachelle Saunders and Eireann Brooks said: “The evening was very successful and inspirational. The hairdressing team transformed Café 100 into four zones to represent the theme for the competition (Tokyo, New York, Rome and London). We were supported by local Salon owners, John Lewis, Hairdresser Journal, Salon Business and Tolworth Girls School. The NVQ level 3 students displayed fantastic creative ‘Avant Garde’ work and really did us proud. The live floor shows performed by our Barbering students, Headquarters and Scissorhands left the audience captured and animated.

“We were all very grateful for the support of the Principal, the Chair of Governors John Farmer and the Deans of Faculties who attended the evening and presented the prizes to students.”

Nicole Davis who won first place on the NVQ Level 1 course said: “This was completely unexpected and I am so happy because I have never won anything before.”

Lisa Mockford who is on the NVQ Level 2 course and was awarded first place added: “I am so happy to come first. It has really boosted my confidence.”