Hairdressing apprentice takes on the best

Raffles Hair Salon apprentice Ebony MacKenzie, who has just won third place in a nationwide competition. PHOTO/STUART MUNRO

A Whanganui apprentice has taken out third place in a prestigious national hairdressing competition.

Ebony MacKenzie has only been a qualified hairdresser since November, but that didn't stop her wowing the judges in the Lust Semi-Permanent Photographic Competition.

For the competition, Miss MacKenzie had to prepare a model's hair styling and colour, as well as make-up, for a photo shoot. The model was photographed by local photographer Nicci Forlong.

Miss MacKenzie chose a candy-floss pink hair colour for her model - which reflects her own current hair colour.

Third place entry in the Lust Semi-Permanent Colour Photographic Competition. Hair by Ebony MacKenze, Photo/ Nicci Forlong.

"I wanted to go for something sweet and soft," she said.

Miss MacKenzie's prize included money and the entire range of Lust Semi-Permanent hair colours.

"I was pleased to get third place. I was competing against senior hairdressers, so it was pretty cool."

Miss MacKenzie studied hairdressing at Whanganui UCOL for two years and, in July last year, was taken on at Raffles Hair Salon in July last year for work experience. That later became a full-time job.