Helen still has magic touch

MAGIC touch: Helen thrilled to finish fourth in a national competition

RETURNING to her roots, hairstylist Helen Hughes discovered she still has the magic touch by finishing fourth in a national content.

The 32-year-old married mother, now a partner at Razz and Co in Royton, entered the competition organised by hair care specialists Matrix at the L’Oreal International Academy.

Helen, who has been in the industry since was 12 working at a salon next door to her family home in Shaw, said: “It as just like the ‘X-Factor’, only for hairdressers.

“When I was younger I used to win lots of competitions and I wanted to see if I had still got it.”

The judges obviously believed she has, shortlisting her in the top 12 and awarding her fourth place after a live demonstration of her skills.

Helen added: “I was the only Mancunian in the finals. I had to submit a before and after look of my own choosing and then replicate this in the final.”

She hopes that her success will reflect on the salon where she is partner with founder Shakir Raza and Joanna Doyle.

Shakir, from Moorside, after whom the salon is named, has been in the industry for 25 years and has relocated his Razz and Co business to Royton, where it was established all those years ago, after a nomadic period including a spell in Oldham town centre.

“Parking problems made life difficult for our clients so we came back to Royton and the move has been a huge success,” said Helen.

Razz and Co employs 23 full and part-time staff.