Participation in the Czech Championships:Participation in the Czech Championships

From 29 November 2023 to 1 December 2023, 4 students from the photography class and 2 students from the hairdressing class 2022 travelled to Jihlava (Czech Republic). We received a very warm welcome on the day of arrival and went to dinner together with the school management.

The Czech Hairdressing and Cosmetics Championships started the next day. Fashion students taking part in the fashion competition had the task of designing headgear, bags and outfits. The photographers spent time capturing the students' self-created designs.

For me as a budding hairdresser, the updos and face painting were particularly interesting. The students for the updo were given the theme ‘Avatar’ and had a year to prepare for it. They had a total of 2 hours to realise their planned hairstyle. The models were also made up and dressed in advance to match the theme. Each hairstyle included braided elements and often blue extensions. There was a lot of work with hair jewellery, such as rings and feathers, as well as self-made wooden accessories. The hairstyles and outfits were incredibly creative.

The second theme was ‘Royal Ball’. They again had 2 hours to realise it. Here the models appeared in cocktail dresses and serious make-up. The hairstyle was kept very classic. All the models had their hair pinned up. Many of the hairstyles also had the same structure. A straight, slicked back side and a low bun with curls or wavy elements. A hair cushion was usually used and curls were laid around it. The laid elements were often only fixed with hairspray so that they held without clips. All the updos looked unique in their own way and the overall look was harmonious in the end.

The theme for face painting was ‘Exotic islands’ and ‘Star of the dance floor’, which had to be realised within 1 1/2 hours. Once again, the participants were dressed appropriately. Some of the paintings covered the entire upper body. It was exciting to see what everyone understood by the theme, how precise the work was and how detailed the end result looked.

On the day we travelled home, we visited our partner school again and were given a short tour of the school.

We were allowed to take a look at the hairdressing classes, most of which consist of 30 pupils, and their training rooms. At the start of their training, each student is provided with a suitcase containing all their work materials. In the Czech Republic, hairdressers train for three years, just like we do, but alternate between school and practice every week. In the first year of training, the focus is on washing, cutting and blow-drying, just like here. In the 2nd year, you learn everything about colour and in the 3rd year you learn more sophisticated colour techniques, updos and cuts. After each year, there is an exam consisting of theory and practice. A final examination takes place at the end of each year. Their practical training takes place in training rooms and in the school's own salon, where people from outside the school can come and model. It is mainly 2nd and 3rd year students who work in the school salon. However, if you are already very good in the 1st year, you are allowed to practise in the salon earlier. Customers would pay the equivalent of around 15 euros for washing, cutting and blow-drying. Because the salon is in the school, the students have a shift system and work for 6 hours until they swap with the second shift. They then work until 6 pm. Czech hairdressing students are required to wear work clothes, with each year having its own colour.

The trip was very eventful and exciting to see how the hairdressing profession is learnt in another country. I am very grateful to have experienced this unique insight and our small travel group also harmonised very well with each other.

The evaluation of the Czech photo championship CESOFoto 2023 took place on 30 November 2024. This was accompanied by a so-called ‘lightning competition’, in which each participating school was allowed to send one representative. Blitz competition means: a task is set spontaneously and must be realised and completed within a specified time. This year's task was a minimalist depiction of a detail on a wall. Unfortunately, we made a mistake here: the Czech-German translation was ‘in’ a wall. Unfortunately, this meant that our participant did not win. Too bad. It was certainly an experience.

Then it was time for the championship award ceremony. Our pupils had entered entries in 4 out of 5 categories. The best result was achieved by Sophia Heide, who became Czech runner-up in the free creation category.

Congratulations to her!

For more pictures please select the page in German!