Brooke and Kayleigh win UK final of prestigious hairdressing competition

Two Grŵp Llandrillo Menai students were winners at the Concept Hair Learner of the Year UK final.

Coleg Llandrillo learner Kayleigh Blears won the Level 2 styling category at the UK-wide competition in Telford, while Coleg Menai student Brooke Williams was the Level 1 Styling winner.

After qualifying for the final from among hundreds of entries nationwide, Kayleigh and Brooke both had to devise a fairytale-themed style, and create it in front of the judges in a 30-minute time slot.

Kayleigh, who is studying Level 2 Hairdressing at Coleg Llandrillo’s Rhyl campus, even handmade her model’s outfit with the help of her tutor Tracey Rogers.

She said: “I really like doing competition hair - it’s really fun being able to express that side of hairdressing. The best part for me was seeing everybody’s creativity and how they interpreted the different criteria.

“I had to come up with a look which was fairytale-based, including hair, make-up and outfit. The dress was handmade by myself and my tutor, using artificial and dried flowers to decorate it.

“I was really grateful to win, because I spent a lot of time practicing the look. The first time it took a few hours, but I had to get it down to 30 minutes.

“Winning has boosted my confidence in my hairdressing skills a lot. I’d encourage anyone to enter competitions because you get great experience, and you get to meet people who have the same passion as you.”

Kayleigh added: “All the tutors have been really supportive, especially Tracey - I couldn’t have done it without her. She was amazing, she came with me to the competition and was really encouraging.

“I’d also like to thank my model Gracie Calland, who supported me through practice sessions and dress rehearsals.”

Brooke, who studies Level 1 Hairdressing at Coleg Menai’s Bangor campus, said it was “amazing” to win in her first attempt at the competition.

She said: “I was so shocked. I’d done a small competition in Rhyl a while back, but this was much bigger and I was quite nervous at first.

“Winning the competition has made me want to do hair even more, and made me more confident in it.”

Brooke enrolled at Coleg Menai last summer, having previously spent one day a week learning hairdressing at the college while she was in school.

“It helped me to know that hairdressing was what I wanted to do,” she said. “I’m learning so many different things at the moment. I love to do new styles, learning different plaits, and I love bringing clients in for a wash and a blow dry - just all of it.”

Kayleigh and Brooke won prizes including new brushes, hair products, driers and education days.

Along with Coleg Llandrillo student Ceri Thomas, who also qualified for the final, they all won a 12-month membership of The Fellowship for British Hairdressing, which offers education, mentoring and events to help develop the industry.

Hairdressing lecturer Fiona Keddie, who travelled with Brooke to the final, said: “Brooke was outstanding on the day and the outcome reflected her skills.

“To be shortlisted for the category out of the whole of the UK was an achievement in itself. We as a department are exceptionally proud of her, and would also like to thank her model Harmony Wilson for the support she gave Brooke throughout the whole process.”

Tracey Rogers, a hairdressing lecturer at the Rhyl campus, said: “We are so proud to have supported Kayleigh in the Concept Hair Learner of the Year competition.

“Supporting learners in hairdressing competitions involves guiding them through every step of the creative process, from brainstorming ideas to perfecting their technique. As a tutor/mentor, we help build their confidence, refine their skills, and provide constructive feedback to ensure their work aligns with the competition’s brief and high standards.

“We offer emotional and technical support throughout the process, and by encouraging innovation and precision, we empower learners to showcase their unique talents - which Kayleigh did to earn a well-deserved win against competition that was of a very high standard.”

Do you want to work in hairdressing, barbering or beauty therapy? Grŵp Llandrillo Menai provides training in state-of-the-art salons using the latest techniques and products. Learn more here.