Following in the path of Project Runway, Top Chef and Top Design, Bravo's newest profession based competition focuses on hairstyling in Shear Genius.
Competitors
In this the first season, 12 competitors went head to head to see who would be standing at the end. Paul-Jean, Jim, Lacey, Theodore, Evangelin, Danna, Tyson and Tabatha didn't make the cut with the judges and were eliminated in the first 7 episodes. Only Anthony, Daisy and Ben remained to compete for the grand prize of $100,000 provided by Nexxus Salon Hair Care, an Allure Magazine photo shoot, an apprenticeship with Nexxus lead stylist Roy Teeluck and the coveted title of Shear Genius.
Judges
Jaclyn Smith, best known for acting and design, served as the main host and judge for the competition. Joining her were Sally Hershberger, hairstylist to the stars, Michael Carl, Fashion Director of Allure Magazine, and hairdresser Rene Fris. Each episode had a special guest judge, saving the best for last, Vidal Sassoon met with the contestants prior to their final competition and was the guest judge at the hair show.
Season Finale Recap
Each episode had two competitions, the short cut challenge and elimination challenge. Keeping suit with other Bravo shows, Shear Genius didn't lack in it's drama and scheming from the first episode. Tabitha and Tyson did not get along from the start, and Tabitha had no problem voicing her opinion of him or all the other competitors, up until the episode that they were eliminated together as a team. Tabitha most related to Anthony and were filmed many times gossiping about the cast.
Anthony, originally from Hertfordshire, England came to the competition from his Londoner Salon and Day Spa in Manhattan Beach, California, charming everyone with sultry styling and accent. Daisy, the spicy redhead, hailed from Miami, Florida and her salon Om Beauty Co. Ben, from Chicago, Illinois, worked mostly private clientele, meshing his rocker style with his haircutting and music.
In the final challenge, the stylists were asked to choose a clothing designer and three outfit choices from their given designer in order to tell a story through their hair and fashion in the last hair show. They were given 3 hours to complete 3 different looks on each of the models. One style had to be Vidal Sassoon's signature style the "Nancy Kwan" bob, one style had to incorporate color, and the third was a style of their choice.
On to the hair show, as each contestant presented their final styles with the fashion and makeup. Jaclyn Smith, Sally Hershberger, Michael Carl and Vidal Sassoon were the four judges to critique the work and make the decision of who was Shear Genius. After the much expected commercial breaks and waiting, ANTHONY was chosen as the winner of the title and great prizes.
To contribute to Vidal Sassoon's Hairdresers Unlocking Hope, visit www.whodoesyourhair.com, to help the victims of Hurricane Katrina.
