Carl’s riding high as student stylist

Carl Belfield, who works at Buxton’s Hairs and Graces Salon, is one of two trainees from Buxton and Leek College to earn a place in the regional heat of Wella’s ‘Xposure’ contest.

The 36-year-old will compete at Bolton College on April 10 alongside Yarna Taylor, 17, from Darley Dale. Both will be bidding to earn a place in the competition’s final round for the country’s 20 best trainees, taking place at the Wella World Studio in London.

And they will have just an hour to create a commercial cut and colour in front of a panel of judges.

Carl came late to hairdressing after injury cut short his career as a professional motocross rider with the Buxton Hitmen. The opportunity rose when he jokingly asked his hairdresser, Adrian Middleton at Hairs and Graces, if he would train him up.

Now Carl is working towards his advanced NVQ in Hairdressing through day release at the Buxton campus of Buxton and Leek College.

Carl said: “A lot of people in Buxton know me for my motorbike racing and, when I advertised on Facebook for a model, they thought I was joking!

“I worked with model Lauren Gill to produce an asymmetric style with bright copper and red colours. I was really made up to get through to the next stage.”