A BARRHEAD stylist has been chosen as a mentor at a prestigious hairdressing bootcamp in London.

Lesley Farrell, of F&M Hairdressing, will be one of only 10 hairdressers from across the UK to attend the TIGI Inspirational Youth Bootcamp at the beginning of September.

Now in its 14th year, TIGI Inspirational Youth is a mentorship programme taking young hairdressers on a life-changing journey to develop creativity and talent, with just three people chosen from Scotland.

Brian MacMillan, owner of the F&M salon, is full of praise for Lesley.
He said: “Lesley has been with us for just over 12 months and already feels like part of the family.

“We’re so proud to have her as part of our team and seeing her make it to the final 10 – and one of only three from Scotland – is amazing.”

Lesley recently attended the TIGI Academy in London to go through the selection process as the 2018 TIGI Inspirational Youth team was finalised.

Each of the candidates was required to cut and colour a head-block under the watchful eyes of members of the TIGI Creative Team before presenting their finished work to a panel of judges that included multiple British Hairdresser of the Year award winner Anthony Mascolo.

Once she arrives at the London bootcamp in Bed Head Studio, Lesley will be mentored by the senior TIGI International Creative Team.

The bootcamp will include intensive training in classic and advanced cut and colouring, session styling, future fashion forecasting and presentation skills.

To round off the week, Lesley and the rest of the bootcampers will take part in a model casting and photoshoot.

The organisers of the TIGI Inspirational Youth mentorship programme have said many former participants have gone on to enjoy great success in the hairdressing industry, respected by their peers as session stylists, educators and salon owners.

Brian added: “It’s a huge honour, not only for Lesley herself but also for F&M as a salon. We’ve been in the town since 2001 and it’s been an exciting journey.

“Only earlier this year we moved to a bigger and better premises and events like this just prove our hard work has been worth it.”