Four mannequins on display for the Everything But Hair competition. On the far left, one has a skull cap made of Valentine's candy. Second from the left has one styled with a high collar and fluffy pink cotton as hair. Second from right has a clown theme made of party streamers. On the right, the style is made completely of multi-color heart shaped lollipops.

Cosmetology Department Hosts Valentine’s Themed ‘Everything But Hair’ Competition

Published February 13, 2025

Emily Gill, Marketing & Communications Dept.

The Cosmetology Department recently hosted a Valentine’s themed ‘Everything But Hair’ Competition, featuring unexpected hairstyles with any material that was not hair. 

A mannequin head display for the Everything but Hair competition. This design features Valentine's candy covering the skull and creating two large buns on either side of the head. The buns are decorated with red bows as well.

For this competition, instructor Jalisa Allen challenged students to push beyond the basics and explore the artistic side of cosmetology. With a Valentine’s Day theme focused on love, students from all levels of the program showcased their unique interpretations of hairstyling without using hair.

“This competition helps students expand their minds and think outside the box,” Allen shared. “It’s a chance to break out of the fundamentals and explore their creativity.”

The students took the instructions of creativity to heart, resulting in impressive designs. One student hand-sculpted a design onto a mannequin head and then hand-painted it to replicate Van Gogh’s famous painting, Starry Night. Another student utilized only Valentine’s Day themed candy to create their hairstyle.

Student Savannah Vail shows her mannequin for the Everything But Hair competition. The display is made of flowers and a basket on top of the mannequin head. The basket is full of Valentines cards and items.

Second semester student Savannah Vail wanted to give all her classmates a gift through her design. 

“I thought everyone deserves a valentine, so I attached this basket on top of the mannequin as part of the design, and everyone got a valentine with a facemask and lollipop,” Vail said. “I used the fake flowers to fill out the rest of the design; it was just a lot of fun with this competition.”

Allen said the students showed marked growth from the last challenge they had in the fall. 

“I know a lot of them were nervous for that first competition in the fall, but in this competition there was a lot more interest, innovation and enjoying what they were doing,” Allen said.

Learn more about the Cosmetology and Esthetics program at Blue Ridge Community College at www.blueridge.edu/cosmetology.