Jamie stevens’ x factor diary – big band week

As official hairdresser on The X Factor, Jamie Stevens and his team have been responsible for creating all of the contestants live looks - and we've been going behind the scenes with him. Here, he shares his latest backstage diary... "Big band week means lots of old school glamour and a return to classic techniques. "With 50s-inspired slick and side-parted still very much on trend this season, it was a great opportunity to play with some more stylised looks for the boys, such as Nicholas McDonald and Sam Callahan. "Revived by shows such as Mad Men and seen on celebs such as Justin Timberlake, we’re getting a lot of requests for this type of look in the salon from our male clientele which is great for business as this clean, polished style requires regular maintenance and plenty of product! "On someone as young as Nicholas, our main aim has so far been to keep him looking his age, rather than trying to give him a style beyond his years. This week his tailored suit and the dazzling stage set with 30-piece orchestra provided the ideal week to experiment with a more sophisticated look. "To get positive feedback for the finished result on national TV from both  Nicole Scherzinger and Sharon Osbourne was great praise indeed - and to then get a live shoutout from Hannah Barrett for her long, voluminous wavy style after her performance? It topped me and my hair team's night off! "I'm really going to miss Abi Alton in our hair room and it's a shame she left in a week where she really seemed to come into her own. Not only is she a real talent as a musician but her girly festival-chic vibe allowed us to give her a unique look when it came to her style too. "Her 40s-inspired vintage waves this week was my favourite hair look of the night. She loved it too and complementing the makeup and styling, her confidence really shone through on stage which is a great example of how image can enhance performance. "Once the Saturday night show is over, it's home to bed then straight back to the studio the next day for the Sunday results show. This is always a hard day as it means saying goodbye to a contestant, but on the other hand I look forward to the celebrity guests that perform - and none so more than the legend that is Mr Robbie Williams this week. It’s always great to catch up with him and he is a true superstar and gentleman. "It’s then straight from the X Factor studios to the airport for me as I fly to New York this week for work, before flying straight back into the studios for next Saturday’s show. I wouldn’t be able to do this without my amazing team who are there to support me on X Factor throughout the week so they deserve a big mention. This includes Megan Zarrabi, Jonathan Andrew, Harry Casey, Gary Baker and Tasha Stevens from my salon, as well as Nathan & Zoe Jasztal from Silhouette Du Barry who have helped me on X Factor the last two years."