Regina hairdresser Myrna Hastings is preparing to compete on the world stage.
After winning the prestigious Canada Cup in the women's trend category at the recent Allied Beauty Association national hair competition in Toronto, the 28-year-old is now setting her sights on the world title.
She has the next two years to further hone her skills, because the international competition is only held every two years.
This was Hastings' first time competing nationally.
'I wanted to know how I stacked up,' she said.
Being named top women's trend designer in the country confirmed what her biggest supporters have been telling her for years. Hastings has talent! 'They saw something in me that I didn't see in myself,' she said. 'I'm really glad they encouraged me.'
The biggest push came from Hastings' cousin, Regina-based fashion designer Dean Renwick, who is no stranger to receiving both national and international acclaim for his creativity.
'I was going to go to nursing school,' she said.
But Renwick wouldn't hear of it. He was convinced her future was in hairdressing.
So when she visited Renwick at his Scarth Street design studio, 'he marched my butt right across the street to Richard's Beauty School.'
'He told me if I don't like it, I can still do nursing,' Hastings recalled. 'If it was not for him, I would not be a hairdresser now 'I'm very glad I made that decision,' she said with a smile. 'It doesn't feel like work. So I never have to work a day in my life. It's fun!' Hastings has been doing hair for eight years. She has a home-based business, but is currently in the process of opening a salon with a partner.
'I have a lot of clientele that want something different,' she said. 'But I also have housewives and business women. I do everything. from little babies to 70-to 80-year-old ladies. The main part of my clientele are colours and crazy haircuts.'
Competitions are where she truly pushes the envelope. Her 'craziest' creations have been showcased at fantasy hair shows, Hastings said. Her fantasy up-dos can take anywhere from eight to 12 hours to do.
'It's a big investment,' she admitted. Hastings had to win a provincial hair competition to qualify to compete nationally. That was back in October. In April, she headed to Toronto to compete against the other provincial winners. Her look received the highest score, earning her the Canada Cup in the women's trend category.
'It has to be what's new, what's up and coming, for the most trendiest of people,' she explained. Her winning look featured blond hair with red accents and orange accents and black.
'It was very modern, kind of punky, border lining on very feminine, as well,' Hastings said. 'She had spikes coming out of her shoulders. It was pretty crazy. They were glued just to her shoulders, on her skin. So it looked like they were her shoulder pads.' The model wore a red corset and black pants, and heel-less shoes, which Hastings described as 'pretty intense. If she had leaned backwards, she would have fallen over.'
Not just the hair is judged. It's the entire look, she pointed out.
'Top to bottom.'
Hastings scours the Internet and magazines in search of inspiration and unique items she can incorporate into one of her looks. But sometimes what she's looking for is right at home. For example, she was inspired to create a men's look based on a bow tie designed by Renwick.
At the Toronto ABA hair competition, hairdressers in the women's trend category were given only 45 minutes to cut and style their model's hair on stage.
'So it's a very short time,' Hastings said.
The hair was coloured in advance. The ABA organizes an average of 45 competitions each year, which allow beauty professionals to compete in various categories. Competitions are an important part of the professional beauty industry, so Hastings said she plans to continue competing provincially and nationally while she prepares for the international faceoff.
Competing in hair shows isn't about winning money, Hastings insisted. In fact, it costs her. She covers the cost of her models, as well as her own expenses.
'It's about recognition and the title,' she explained. 'It gets my name out there.'
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