A Loughborough College student has taken a national hairdressing crown with a creation which literally stopped people in their tracks.
Emma Sessions was awarded gold at the Association of Hairdressers and Therapists 2018 final after triumphing against 18 other competitors in the Fantasy category, impressing judges with a breathtaking transformation – and a character requested for photos hundreds of times throughout the day.
The Loughborough College hairdressing student secured her place alongside winners from across the country at the prestigious event at the Winter Garden in Blackpool after taking top spot at the regional showdown, with an elaborate mythical look developed using handmade costumes and props.
“After Emma had put together her creation against the clock for judging at the final, her model was stopped every few seconds from then on for the rest of the day by people eager to see it close up and to capture it on their ‘phones. Even when we briefly went outside the venue, members of the public were approaching and requesting photos. When Emma was announced as winner, the whole of the Winter Gardens erupted in cheers – it was amazing,” said Loughborough College hairdressing lead Karen Dixon.
“Emma spent every spare moment refining and enhancing her hair design in the approach to the final. There was so much intricate work which went into it with the mask, the feathers and twigs, a hand-sewn cape and skirt, body painting… the result was astounding and undoubtedly memorable.
“It was impressive enough that Emma reached the final in such a high calibre competition but to then take gold against 18 other winners was amazing and thoroughly well deserved. We are all so thrilled for her.”
“My inspiration came on a frosty morning drive into Loughborough College when I saw a bird of prey peering through the trees,” said Emma. “That’s when I got the idea. I love fantasy and started sketching this tribal empress – and it developed from there.
“Everything was done from scratch. I recycled and upcycled almost everything. The pheasant feathers came from preparations they were making in catering for the Radmoor Restaurant at College – I took some, sterilized them and dyed them to be used in the hairline. Sticks I had picked up when I walked the dog were cleaned and used in intricate plaits. I cast a mask from the face of the model I worked with.
“I used a second hand corset from ebay, costume jewellery from car boot sales and made a skirt from sand sacks and my daughter’s old bedroom curtains – spraying with metallic paints to give things a rustic look. I added net under the skirt and created the look of walking on leaves.
“The talons took almost three hours each. I used to be a nail technician and carefully attached three different sizes of black rhinestone to every single one.
“When I entered the regionals I had never been in a competition before and by the time it came to the finals I was shaking. It was terrifying. I’d worked all day Saturday at my job in a hair salon then rehearsed with my model until I left for Blackpool the next day, making sure I could complete everything in the 30 minutes I would be allowed.
“After I had completed the look at the final I felt sick throughout the judging, there was so much scrutiny and I am such a perfectionist I felt I could see faults.
“Someone told me, I’ve been coming here for ten years and this is the best thing I’ve ever seen and people kept coming up to take photos right through the afternoon, praising the look. It was a really buzzy atmosphere and everyone was so positive - but I felt really nervous, having to wait so long before the announcement.
“When they announced I had won Fantasy gold, I went onto the stage to collect the trophy and everyone in the place stood up and was cheering and clapping. It was unbelievable.
“I am so grateful to Karen for being such a steadying influence on the day. She’s been an amazing mentor and has kept me focused – Karen and Loughborough College have been so supportive. I’ve gone from no competitions to winning a national gold, it’s crazy – and I couldn’t have done it without them.”
Pictured: Loughborough College’s Emma Sessions with her AHT 2018 national gold-winning look