Rebecca is a cut above the rest

Bushmills hairdresser, Rebecca McCaughan, has been shortlisted in this year's Northern Ireland Hair and Beauty Awards.
Bushmills hairdresser, Rebecca McCaughan, has been shortlisted in this years Northern Ireland Hair and Beauty Awards. INBM26-16SBushmills hairdresser, Rebecca McCaughan, has been shortlisted in this years Northern Ireland Hair and Beauty Awards. INBM26-16S
Bushmills hairdresser, Rebecca McCaughan, has been shortlisted in this years Northern Ireland Hair and Beauty Awards. INBM26-16S

The 22-year-old from Dunseverick has been chosen as one of the seven finalist from all over Northern Ireland for the coveted title, Hair Extension Technician of the Year. She will compete against some of the top hair salons in Belfast at a glamorous awards ceremony in the Europa Hotel on July 7.

Rebecca, who owns The Dolly Lounge Hair Extensions based outside Bushmills explained: “Whilst studying Psychology at University of Ulster Coleraine, in my third year, I decided to put my love of hair into practice and paid to go on a hair extension course. With having a mother who is a hairdresser and owns her own salon I have always loved working with hair.

“Once the extensions course was finish business blossomed very quickly and in just over a year my little empire, The Dolly Lounge Hair Extensions grew to a very busy business.”

Some of Rebecca's hair extension tranformations. inbm26-16Some of Rebecca's hair extension tranformations. inbm26-16
Some of Rebecca's hair extension tranformations. inbm26-16

Not only fitting extensions nearly every day whilst still studying, Rebecca has also trained with the brand Easilocks and is the only technician in the North Coast, with the closest being in Belfast.

Rebecca added: “This has all happened whilst completing my final year of university as I’m graduating this June. I am also attending a hairdressing course at Ballymoney Tech on a Thursday evening part time, and come next June I will also be a qualified hairdresser.

“So as you can imagine, to even be nominated for this award is amazing.

“Obviously its going to be tough on the day as I’ll be competing against some of the top hairdressers throughout Northern Ireland.

“However I’ll be giving it my best and I guess that all I can do.”