The
doors have reopened on the popular BBC Three Celebrity Scissorhands Hair
and Beauty academy. Where the clients probably have more experience of
hair salons than the stylists! It's all in a good cause with proceeds
from the series going to the BBC Children in Need fundraiser.
In the battle of the Straighteners versus the curling
tongs, a team of celebrities go head-to-head and fight
for the coveted title of Celebrity Scissor-hands Hairdresser
of the Year 2007, culminating in the final on Friday
16th November - when the BBC screens the Children
in Need night.
This
year's celebrity trainees are: Pop singer Javine,
Teen rocker Lil' Chris, Hollyoaks actress Carly
Stenson, 'It girl' Tamara Beckwith, British
actor Warwick Davis, Comedian Ninia Benjamin,
DJ Brandon Block, Neighbours actor Ben Nicholas,
BBC Radio One Breakfast Show's Aled Haydn Jones.
The
Manager - Lee Stafford
Renowned British hairdresser Lee Stafford
will attempt the impossible and try
to transform the celebrities from the
utterly untrained to fully fledged hair
and
beauty experts in just three short weeks.
In the purpose-built state-of-the-art
academy in the heart of London, Lee
will train the cutters as they are let
loose on the public.
Lee Stafford is one of Britain's most
innovative and busy hairdressers, he
regularly features in UKHairdressers
"Ask The Experts" section, helping solve
hair problems.
He also leads the way in the hairdressing
industry, not only by doing fantastic
hair but also by creating new cutting
techniques, beautiful collections, designing
state-of-the-art salons and award-winning
product ranges.
In 2006, Lee won the
inaugural Hairdresser of the Year award for Hair magazine
not to mention the National Hairdressing Federation
Hairdresser of the Year award.
Assistant
Manager - Steve Strange
Returning to the academy is last year's favourite trainee - Eighties pop
icon Steve Strange. Steve has been recruited to assume the role of Assistant
Manager and will be helping Lee to run the hair and beauty academy as
well as getting to grips with more courageous clients' hair.
Welsh-born
Steve is famed for being a pioneer of the New Romantic movement and has
become a British cultural icon.
In the Seventies he began working for music impresario Malcolm McClaren.
In 1978, he formed the band Visage who two years later scored global success
with Fade To Grey, which reached No. 1 in over 13 countries.
Last year, Steve was the unexpected star of Celebrity Scissorhands where
he wowed clients with his 'strange' hair creations culminating in breaking
a Guinness World Record for shaving 34 heads in one hour.
Beautician
- Lindsey Hunter
Joining Lee's staff of experts this year is the glamorous beauty guru,
Lindsay Hunter, a qualified Beauty Therapist who will be teaching our
trainees a variety of beauty treatments.
Lindsey is the wife of the late Snooker legend Paul Hunter - who won several
major tournaments.
Thirty-two-year-old Lindsey owns her own salon, specialising in nail treatments.
She trained at the prestigious Yorkshire College
of
Beauty, where she is also a part-time lecturer. Lindsey will be a strict
teacher with high standards and isn't afraid to keep the celebrity trainees
in line.
Lindsey says: "I'm sure none of the celebrity trainees have ever touched
the hard skin on anyone's feet before, so I am very much looking forward
to seeing how they will cope with that!"
Afro
and European Hairdresser - Errol Douglas
Also joining the team is Errol Douglas, Afro/European stylist to the stars.
With 28 years of experience in hairdressing, Errol is renowned for creating
signature cuts and stunning collections for both Afro/Caribbean and European
hair.
His unique styling abilities have earned him a number of awards in recognition
of his work. He has twice won Afro Hairdresser of the Year at the British
Hairdressing Awards. This year he received his
tenth
nomination for the highest accolade of all - British Hairdresser of the
Year. Errol is renowned for his expertise in Afro and European hairstyling.
His client list includes Iman, Gabrielle Richens and Christina Ricci.
The
Presenter
George Lamb (The Restaurant - You're Fried) will present the hour-long
prime-time show from within the walls of the academy. As our celebrity
trainees create beautiful barnets or, more realistically, horrific hair
dos, George will exclusively report on all the academy action, get the
lowdown on who can really hack it as a hairdresser and encourage viewers
to fund-raise or donate money to BBC Children in Need.
From
massages to spray tans; the celebrity trainees will be on hand to pamper
the public and leave them feeling relaxed and rejuvenated or tangoed and
hairless!
Here's some background on the celebrity crimpers and teasers:
Tamara
Beckwith
Tamara Beckwith is probably best known as the original It girl and socialite,
but she also writes columns for magazines (Hello!, OK!, Esquire, Sunday
Express, News Of The World).
Tamara says: "Although I've had some interesting hair dos. The 'pineapple'
springs to mind mostly. I've always had big crazy hair and love the big
Sixties hair."
Tamara's confesses:
"Having always been a hair kind of girl, it was about time to put the shoe
on the other foot. I am really looking forward to my six-day working week."
Ninia
Benjamin
Comedian Ninia Benjamin was catapulted to stardom in BBC Three's 3 Non-Blondes
and headlines at top UK comedy venues.
Ninia didn't have her hair cut in a salon until she was 26-years-old!
Ninia says: "I am looking forward to learning all about hair and make
up. Cor, what woman wouldn't want to?"
Ben
Nicholas
Nineteen-year-old actor Ben Nicholas made his name in the Australian soap,
Neighbours.
Ben admits that he straightens his hair every day with straighteners that
his mum bought him, "because she got fed up of me looking so scruffy."
He's looking forward to his academy experience; however, his only concern
is assisting in some of the more intimate beauty treatments.
Warwick
Davies
Warwick's career as an actor began when he won the role of Wicket the
Ewok in the Star Wars film, Return Of The Jedi.
When he was 17 he had a perm, this was after filming Willow. However,
his desired effect of a wavy mane turned into a tight perm.
"I am thrilled to have been asked to become an apprentice in Celebrity
Scissorhands. There are
simply
two reasons why I said yes to the invitation. Firstly, I have always wanted
to do more to help Children In Need. And secondly, I hope to inspire viewers
of the show.
"I am also looking forward to acquiring new skills. In the acting game,
one never knows when a back-up plan will be needed. Anyone for a 'short'
back and sides?"
Aled
Haydn Jones
Radio producer Aled Haydn Jones is most well known for working on BBC
Radio One's Chris Moyles Breakfast Show.
In July 2006, Aled, who couldn't swim until a few months beforehand, swam
a mile to raise nearly £69,000 for Sport Relief.
"As the reality TV fan on the Chris Moyles show I am looking forward to
actually getting to be in one! I just hope to do well and raise lots of
money for Children in Need."
Lil'
Chris
Don't be fooled by a tiny frame - 16-year-old Chris Hardman is a brilliantly
noisy pop powerhouse, who has exploded all over the charts in just a few
months.
He is up for anything but would much rather wax a woman's hairy leg than
a man's hairy back. He is looking forward to being on the show and he
is not prepared to fail as being bad at anything is not an option, he
will make sure that he is good. If he
makes
a mistake whilst cutting hair he will just laugh. His strategy to cutting
good hair is to blag it and to make the front look good and to not worry
about the back.
Javine
Pop singer Javine Hylton, began her musical career at 18 playing Nala
in The Lion King on London's West End before auditioning for Popstars:
The Rivals in 2004. Although she narrowly missed out on being included
in the girl band Girls Aloud, she went on to have a successful solo career
releasing four Top 20 singles.
"I'm very excited to do the show as I have always
been
interested in the beauty industry. I'm dreading doing manicures and pedicures,
but can't wait to wax a few men's backs! Now I'm about to become a mother
a charity like Children in Need has become more prominent in my life."
Carley
Stenson
Although playing Hollyoaks' Steph Dean is Carley's first television role,
she has previous experience in theatre. She's been dancing since she was
three and had plenty of stage experience, but it wasn't until her mum
entered her for a talent contest and she won that her career really took
off.
She is really looking forward to working in the academy but is slightly
concerned because she has a real fear of dirty hair.
Brandon
Block
Brandon is one of Britain's biggest DJ personalities, including working
behind the decks on Kiss FM.
When it comes to difficult clients Brandon will chastise them - as he
believes that the client isn't always right. He reckons his downfall will
be long hours and early starts. Brandon says: "I have had a few dodgy
hairstyles in my time. I look forward to inflicting some on others!
Hard
work and long hours
Over the three weeks, Lee's celebrity apprentices will be working flat
out, six days a week, nine hours a day perfecting their techniques on
willing members of the public. And the trainee's work has to be up to
scratch, because clients will be invited to make a donation to BBC Children
in Need and pay whatever they think the haircut or treatment is worth.
Celebrities Catwalk Collection
The series culminates with a glamorous finale where the top trainees will
have their scissor skills put to the test in front of an audience of critical
hairdressers and celebrities. They will be put under pressure to present
a catwalk collection of their best haircuts of the series, as well as
perform an intricate haircut live on stage.
The show's spectacular finale will also see a 'cut off' where a panel
of judges will decide which celebrity will be crowned Celebrity Scissorhands
Hairdresser of the Year 2007.
Hairdressers train for years to be good enough to hold their own on a
stage like this. Lee's celebrity trainees will have just three weeks.
Will the trainees be able to cut it in the world of hairdressing?
Users can also pledge money to the BBC Children in Need Appeal through
the website and download sponsorship forms on www.bbc.co.uk/scissorhands
Get involved
Viewers can participate in Celebrity Scissorhands by booking appointments
with one of the celebrity trainees.
After receiving a treatment clients will be asked to pay for what they
think their treatment was worth.
All tips and donations made to the academy will go directly to BBC Children
in Need.
Here are few of those essential tools
available on UKHairdressers to create styling masterpieces of your own:
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