American crew's face off finalists are announced
Possibly more men on one catwalk since men's day at London Fashion Week, hordes of excitable hairdressers, and an after-show party people will talk about for months to come - it could only be The American Crew Face Off Finalists party.
Only in its second year in the UK, Face Off has obviously attracted the attention of the men's hairdressing industry, with a record number of entries, and even more guests gathered at The Point at the Lancashire County Ground, to cheer on entrants.
Back to host the event were T4 presenters and ex-Hollyoaks stars Darren Jeffries and Matt Littler, with the help of Mark Shorrock, brand manager, for UK distributor, the Icon Consultancy.
Before the announcement of the 20 finalists who will go on to the Face Off grand final, the American Crew UK education team stunned and entertained the appreciative crowd with a catwalk show that contained just about every element of masculine style from geek chic to outright macho.
But the second half of the event belonged to the short-listed entrants, and the announcement of the 20 finalists making it through to the London final. With the three winners set to fly to Los Angeles for a professional photo shoot with American Crew founder, and top photographer, David Raccuglia, tension was understandably high.
Rapturous applause and much screaming accompanied the announcement of the 20 talented finalists, with HJ's News and Business Editor Matthew Batham on-stage to present five of the certificates.
The after show party, featuring Bez from the Happy Mondays' on the DJ decks, provided the perfect atmosphere to celebrate - and most guests did until the early hours.
See all the pictures from the night here!
And the Finalists Were:
Parisa Sassani, The Wacky Barber, Soho, London
Danielle Barr, Hooka, Liverpool
Richard John, Razors Edge, Portsmouth
Warren lee, Miss Cilicious, Rochford, Essex
Diana Carson, Rainbow Room International, South Lanarkshire
Gary Shelton, Cutting Crew, Willesden Green, London
Claire Flack, Wigs and Warpaint, Sheffield
Dean Smith, Zoology Man, Wanstead, London
Joshua Thompson, Male Concept, Eastbourne
David Vandenbosch, Taylor Taylor Barbershop, Sheffield
Michelle Selby, The Hair Boutique, Lancaster
Simon Cook, Essensuals Men, Billericay, Essex
Jonathan Hughes, Harper and Quinn, Wilmslow, Cheshire
Amy Thompson, North for Men, Leeds
James Fulton, Gary Hedley Hairdressing, Newcastle-upon-Tyne
Ziyad Nichols, The Wacky Barber, Soho, London
Roy Rogers, Saks, Glasgow
Chloe Fletcher, Francesco Group, Shrewsbury
Gemma Pearson, Taylor Taylor Barbershop, Sheffield
Lizzie Bardsley, Ethos, Manchester
People's Choice Award:
Edward Charles Bass, Razor Edge, Norwich
