Meet Ciara from Longford.

Ciara is one of Ireland's best young stylists and last November won the Gold Award in the Creative Vision Category at the Wella Professionals TrendVision Award Uk & Ireland Final. It is one of the world's most prestigious annual hairdressing competitions but Ciara has taken the award in her stride.

Ciara was always artistic and after leaving school she toyed with completing a University studies in Fine Art but changed to Architectural Design in Letterkenny instead. A few months into the course she was homesick and wasn't really enjoying her studies. She moved back to Longford and decided to complete a course in Make Up Artistry in Galway instead. Part of the course involved working with hair. It was then that Ciara discovered she would like to train as a hairdresser.

Ciara got a job in Yourells hair group in Galway and started like all other trainees; sweeping the floor, making cups of tea and washing hair. Two evenings a week so would then have training in different areas of cutting and colouring. For most apprentices it takes three to four years to complete training. Ciara was really enjoying her training and came in on her days off to do more courses. Within one and a half years she had completed the training. Her creative strengths were reconigsed and encouraged by her colleagues at Yourells. In 2015 they encouraged her to enter the  Wella Professionals TrendVision Awards and she received a Silver medal in the Young Talent category and she also won the TrendVision People's Choice Award. Ciara feels that having this  experience of speaking to judges and explaining her creation is what helped her to win Gold in 2016. 

Ciara is going to take a break from competitions this year but we are sure there will be plenty more awards in her future. To follow Ciara on Instagram click here, or to book your appointment with Ciara at Yourells click here.