Heather wins place in Calligraphy Cut scholarship final

The accolades keep coming for Coleg Llandrillo hairdressing student Heather Wynne.

Heather was recently awarded a silver in the Bridal Stylist of the Year category at the Beauty Full Box Awards, and finished in the top 10 in the UK Hair and Beauty Awards.

On top of that, she has secured one of 10 places on the sought-after Calligraphy Cut Scholarship, run by the Fellowship for British Hairdressing.

Next month she is hoping to travel to London, if she can secure funding, to compete alongside nine other successful scholarship applicants for the chance to train exclusively with the founder of the Calligraphy Cut brand.

Heather, who studies Level 3 Hairdressing at Coleg Llandrillo’s Rhos-on-Sea campus, is also preparing for next month’s WorldSkills UK finals after winning the regional heat in Manchester earlier this year.

The Calligraphy Cut Scholarship is the latest step in a remarkable journey for Heather, who taught herself to style hair by watching YouTube videos before starting her award-winning business, Harmony Wedding Hair.

She enrolled at Coleg Llandrillo last September to add cutting and colouring to her repertoire, and is relishing the chance to compete against top salons in London on November 11.

“The Calligraphy Cut scholarship is an amazing opportunity,” said the 32-year-old from Old Colwyn. “The other people who have got through are from fully established salons, some of the best in the industry, so I’m really happy to have got this far.”

The winner of the London audition will be invited to Germany to train with Frank Brormann, the founder of Calligraphy Cut, which uses a pen-like tool to enhance volume and minimise split ends. They will also be considered for a role in the Calligraphy Cut International Artistic Team.

As part of her scholarship, Heather has already received Calligraphy Cut equipment worth around £1,500, as well as a year’s access to a digital training academy.

“To win would be amazing, but I’m really happy with what I’ve received as part of the scholarship,” said the mum-of-two, who has learned crucial skills while at college.

“Calligraphy cut is more about the cutting side of things, which is more technical. I didn’t know anything about cutting before I came to college, so the skills I’ve needed for this are skills I’ve only learned during my time here.”

Heather learned to style hair as a way to make ends meet while at university. She won the regional prize for Wales at last year’s UK Hair Awards, as well as Best Wedding Hair at the North Wales Wedding Awards.

She enrolled on the Level 2 Hairdressing course last September to learn her trade formally, and reached this year’s Concept Hair Learner of the Year UK final.

She will compete in the WorldSkills UK final in Manchester from November 19-22.

• Heather is looking for financial support with the cost of travelling to London for the Calligraphy Cut Scholarship. If you can help, email Heather on 128153@gllm.ac.uk

Do you want to work in the hair and beauty industry? Click here to learn more about Grŵp Llandrillo Menai’s Hairdressing and Beauty Therapy courses.

Hair styled by Coleg Llandrillo student Heather Wynne