ONE young hairdresser in Southampton has proved she’s definitely a cut above the rest.

It was scissors at dawn, as Becky Hunt, fought to be crowned the BBC’s best young stylist, in a gruelling reality TV competition.

Under the eyes of hairdresser-to- the-stars Adee Phelan and industry expert Beverly C, Becky shone in four challenges to be named Young Hairdresser of the Year.

Becky said: “It’s brilliant – it feels a bit surreal to be honest.

“Lots of my clients said they were really pleased – I think they’re quite excited to see their hairdresser on TV.”

Becky, 24, who works at the salon Sanrizz Southampton, in the High Street, has been propelled to something of a celebrity by the show and was even asked to appear on Harry Hill’s TV Burp tonight.

She said: “I panicked a bit at first when I was asked to go on TV Burp because I didn’t want to look silly and I want to be taken seriously in my profession.

“But it’s a bit of a laugh and wasn’t anything too humiliating.

“Harry Hill’s a really nice guy - I was really nervous but he told me not to worry about it.”

The four finalists had been whittled down fromthousands of hopefuls.

They competed to impress the judges in four of the trickiest tasks a hairdresser can face.

They had to create a 1940s vintage haircut on a model, make a hairstyle for an advertising campaign, take a hairdressing knowledge test and design a completely new look from scratch.

Becky said: “The hardest task was the first one to be honest – the 1940s vintage style.

“It was the first challenge, I was really nervous and trying to calm my nerves was really hard.

“They threw us straight in at the deep end.”

Adee and Beverly also grilled the hopefuls on their hairdressing knowledge in an intimidating interrogation.

Becky, from Titchfield, said: “I actually thought I was going to be tortured at one point! – It was horrible.

Really intense.

“I think because it’s reality TV they want a reaction – they want to try and make you crack.”

Fresh from her success on the p r o g r a m m e , Becky’s now looking to the future.

She said: “I’m hopeful I’ll be able to work with a few of my hairdressing heroes and carry on with what I’m doing now–perhaps going in for the British Hairdressing Awards next year.

Win a makeover by Becky

WHETHER it’s a frizzy mess or sticking out in all the wrong places, everyone’s had a day when their barnet is a little barmy.

But we want to see pictures of you or a member of your family having the ultimate bad hair day.

The person judged to have the scariest barnet will win a hair makeover with the BBC’s Young Hairdresser of the Year, Becky Hunt at Sanrizz Southampton.

Send your pictures with your name and phone number to picdesk@dailyecho.co.uk by Friday, December 11 or post them to Bethan Phillips, Daily Echo, Test Lane, Redbridge, Southampton.