After completing a 10- month course at the Art and Technique Academy of Hair and Esthetics in Brampton, Lauren Murphy, a hair stylist in Orangeville, has won a national award for hair design.

As part of the Allied Beauty Association (ABA) show held at the beginning of April, Ms. Murphy completed in Wella's Young Protege competition.

She earned a berth at the national level after winning the provincial award during the competition.

"I was really happy and surprised to win, first at the provincial level and now for this national award," Ms. Murphy said.

The competition took place as part of the larger ABA trade show at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre April 1-2. The trade show, considered one of the largest in Canada, is representative of more than 90 per cent of the beauty supplies industry in nails and hair.

In the fantasy division of the hair design competition, Ms. Murphy created a headto toe version of a lizard.

Her model, Mono Mills resident Kaitlyn Bloomfield, endured eight hours being made up before the competition. "The head-dress is completely made of Kaitlyn's hair, as no extensions are allowed, and it involved using Wella products only," said Ms. Murphy.

The hair was then painted black and green and held in place using shish-kebab skewers and finally adorned using gold ribbon and beads, held in place with eyelash glue.

Using other creative talents in art and design. Ms. Murphy made the costume and painted the face, to complete the effect.

The win for Ms. Murphy included a $1,500 scholarship to the Vidal Sassoon school, which she is looking forward to attending.

She is also looking forward to competing again and is currently working on another design.