THE hairstyles went higher and higher at Coleg Gwent’s Blaenau Gwent Learning Zone hair and beauty show last month when students also raised cash for charity.

The level three hair team organised and hosted the two-day event for their course assessments, while raising money and awareness for Breast Cancer Care as an ex-pupil was affected by the disease.

The hair and beauty students created their own hair and makeup looks for a live show, which also featured an array of body paint designs and hair styles inspired by well-known films.

In total, 12 level three hairdressing students took part, each working on two models to create one cut-and-colour hairstyle and one ‘avant garde’ look with a music icon theme.

Meanwhile 25 level two beauty therapy students designed commercial make-up and theme-based make-up with assistance from tutors Kelly Morgan and Rhianne Evans.

Dance troupe indepenDANCE also took part in the day, with lighting by Nick Wheeler, sound by Lyndon Price and the compere was Barbara Lane.

On the second night of the show, Dean Poole, Welsh hairdressing champion and two of his colleagues judged hair and make-up.

Jamie Browning, 21, from Tredegar took first place for his Lady Gaga themed avant garde hair creation, with Carla George second and Helen Mckelvie third.

“It took me three months to make the dress and two weeks to design the hair,” said Mr Browning.

“Winning has given me the confidence to enter more competitions and to pursue a career in the fashion side of media and film.”

Lucy Weed and Sophie Hayes-Pugh won the level two beauty round, followed by Justine Evans and Shelby Sims in second and Charlotte Tibbs in third.

For cut and colour, Sophie-Anne Lane won first place followed by Carla George and Zoe Jones.

Helena Boys, lecturer of creative studies said the hair and beauty shows were “a huge success” and the standard of work was “phenomenal”.

“The ideas and overall total looks just get better year on year,” she said.