Two heads better than one

Young salon co-owners Tiffiny Thompson and Kate O'Neill will compete against each other - and seven others - for the chance to create their winning hairstyles in Spain in November.

They have been co-owners of Wanganui's Protege Hairdressing salon for two years. Last week they discovered they were the lower North Island finalists in the Wella Trend Vision Competition in Auckland on September 17. Seven others are in the race.

The Wanganui pair beat hairdressers from Wellington, Hawke's Bay, Taranaki and Manawatu to win their places.

They won the regional competition by presenting photographs.

For the national contest in September they have to recreate the look on the same model in three hours.

They'll be competing against each other, but if one wins the other will benefit as well - because she will go to Spain in November to help out in the international contest.

They are now in the thick of preparing young women for their secondary school balls - but are elated by their success.

"It's really exciting to have both of us competing from the same salon," Miss Thompson said.

Her model, teenager Amber Thompson-Newth, will wear an outfit designed by Wanganui School of Fashion graduate Stefanie McKnight. Miss O'Neill's model, Amanda Whitlock, is in her early 20s, a similar age to the hairdressers.