Combers Rising Star

A YOUNG Taunton hairdresser has beaten thousands of stylists to reach the final of a UK wide competition to find the industry’s next big thing.

Cameron Willetts, 21, is one of five finalists in The Rising Star category of the Creative HEAD’s Most Wanted competition.

Cameron, who only joined Taunton’s ‘Combers Inside-Out’ salon three years ago as an apprentice, joins a star-studded guest list at The It List Grand Final on Sunday November 29. Held at London’s awe-inspiring Printworks – which formerly delivered the Metro and Evening Standard newspapers to London. The It List Grand final is heralded as the coolest occasion in the hairdressing calendar.

Taunton School

Cameron, a former pupil at Taunton School said: “I am so excited to make it through to the finals. “The Creative HEAD’s Most Wanted competition is one of the biggest in the country with entries from all over the country. To make it to the last five is a huge honour.

The X-factor

”Last year, Cameron mingled with the stars after winning a competition to help style contestants for The X Factor: Celebrity which included Vinnie Jones, Megan McKenna and Jenny Ryan.

For the Creative HEAD’s Most Wanted competition, Cameron designed a “mood board” featuring styles and work experience he has been involved with. In addition to this, an internship with a top London salon, including working at London fashion week. Similarly a trip to Italy to take part in a hair colouring masterclass took him to another level.

He is scheduled to go on a month-long tour of America with a major hair and beauty specialists. However this is temporarily postponed due to the coronavirus situation.

Cameron added: “The past two years have been a bit of a whirlwind. I’m fortunate to be working with a fantastically talented team at Combers Inside-Out. They have taught me so much about the industry. “I want to keep learning and if I win the Creative HEAD’s Most Wanted competition, it will mean I will be mentored by some of the top names in the business.

Most Wanted IT list Finalist

”The UK hairdressing sector is a £28bn-a-year British beauty industry, has double the UK average business owners aged 25 and under. It provides many career opportunities for thousands of young people every year.

The national hairdressing awards, ‘The It List’ shines a spotlight on the brightest, most ambitious and most exciting British and Irish talents aged 30 and under. Presented by leading industry magazine Creative HEAD and sponsored by global hair brands including l’oreal and ghd. The It List, now in its 11th year, provides an unparalleled platform for young hairdressers, with six categories – The Rising Star, The Editorial Stylist, The Entrepreneur, The Visionary, The It Guy and The It Girl – rewarding the very best in class.

The standard of this year’s entries was exceptional, and the tough task of judging fell on a panel of experts from the worlds of hair, fashion, media and business. These included names like George Driver, ELLE digital beauty editor;  Jessica Bumpus, fashion journalist and contributor to titles from Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar to CNN; Gemma Bellman, director of Europe for Glossier; Sharmadean Reid, WAH NAILS, Beautystack and Future Girl Corp entrepreneur; Nick Irwin and Louis Byrne from the world of session hairdressing; and Mark Maciver (aka SliderCuts), Adam Reed, Errol Douglas MBE and Skyler McDonald representing the UK’s top salon owners.

ghd

Alongside their It List trophies, this year’s winners will receive an exclusive ghd workshop experience and 12 months of profile-projecting coverage in Creative HEAD in print and online, as well as live event opportunities.

The career-boosting benefits go far beyond that! Past winners go on to shoot with high-profile magazines, become ambassadors for global brands, launch successful salon businesses, join the hair teams at London Fashion Week and get signed by top talent agencies.

They’re also presented at exclusive Creative HEAD events up and down the country. Quite simply, doors open for those who get on IT!

Rising Star

“What an incredible display of talent, innovation and determination this year’s It List finalist line-up illustrates. I’m so impressed at how each and every one of them fought for their place here during such a testing time, personally and professionally. I know that our six of the best in all catigories will do themselves, their peers and Creative HEAD proud when they’re revealed!”  – Creative HEAD editor, Amanda Nottage. #MWIT20.