December 2006

Hairdesigner: Jez Barnett

Name: Nikki Gold

Age: 27

Occupation: Colour Technician

Colour: Inspire by Koleston Perfect

Products: System Professional + Sebastian

Quote: "Wow, it's amazing, I love my new look!"

When Nikki decided to cut her hair off for a children charity, she only wanted one hairdresser in the world to do it, Jez Barnett, owner of The Cutting Corner.

After growing her hair and wearing it long for years, Nikki decided to cut it off for Locks of Love. Locks of Love(www.locksoflove.org) is a non-profit organization that provides hairpieces to financially disadvantaged children under age 18 suffering from long-term medical hair loss. They meet a unique need for children by using donated hair to create the highest quality hair prosthetics. Most of the children helped by Locks of Love have lost their hair due to a medical condition called alopecia areata, which has no known cause or cure. The prostheses they provide help to restore their self-esteem and their confidence, enabling them to face the world and their peers.

To start the transformation Jez put Nikki's hair into a pony tail (to ensure all the hair was kept safe) before cutting off 12 inches from the back. The hair was then cut into a graduated bob shape which was over-extended at the sides. The asymmetric look was complemented with a slanting fringe.

For the colour Jez added panels of Inspire deepest purple and tinted the rest a clean soft ash blonde. Inspire is Wella's revolutionary new colouring system that allows the colourist to create any colour imaginable.

To style Nikki's hair, Jez used Laminates Crema Styler by Sebastian, which is a beautiful blow drying cream that leaves the hair extremely soft and smooth. The hair was then blow dried smooth before straightening with ceramic straightening irons. Sebastian's Laminates Spray was used to protect the hair from the heat of the irons and to add hold.

Asked what she thought of her new look, Nikki said, "After working for Charles Worthington, Trevor Sorbie, being a colourist in a top salon in New York City and having hairdressing friends around the world, the choice was easy and I love the result. All I can say is Wow, it's amazing, I love my new look!"