ATLANTA – The title of Speed Cutting Champion at this year’s Bronner Brothers International Hair Show, conducted this past weekend from February 22-25, was brought back to Birmingham.
Birmingham Cosmetologist Rashaundra “Shaunny” Curry, a stylist at J’Los Salon on Birmingham’s South Side, was named from amongst 14 other stylists from across the country as Speed Cutting Champion.
Curry said each contestant was given 30 minutes to perform a “precision style and cut” with an interesting challenge introduced at the last minute. “We were told just before the contest began that we wouldn’t be allowed to use our flat irons or hair fixatives like sprays and oils, which we normally use when styling a client.” “The judges told us just before the contest began to put them (styling irons and fixatives) all away – which made the contest quite a challenge,” she said.
Carlos Gardner, co-owner of J’Los Salon where Curry works, said Curry bringing the Speed Cutting Title back to Birmingham is a win for the city in hair circles; particularly where the beauty industry is concerned. “Many people don’t think of Birmingham where the hair and beauty industry is concerned.”
“Most people think of big cities like New York and Los Angeles when it comes to the top hair stylists. Shaunny bringing the Speed Cutting Title back to Birmingham puts the city on the map within the hair industry.”
Curry is no stranger to winning competitions at the Bronner Bros International Hair show, now in its 65th year and the country’s largest event amongst African American Hair Professionals – which is attended by hair stylists, product suppliers and manufacturers from around the world.
In 2012 Curry placed 2nd in the Fantasy competition where contestants are expected to create conceptual, futuristic hairstyles before a panel of judges. In 2011 she placed 2nd in the Rising Star competition where judges recognize the talents of up and coming hair stylists from across the country.
A 2012 Graduate of the Southeastern School of Cosmetology in Birmingham, Curry said hairstyling is in her blood. She says her aunt Eunice Johnson – who ran a salon in Birmingham, where she would babysit Curry as a youngster – gave her a chair in the salon when she was 15. “Back then you didn’t have to be licensed to be a natural hair stylist. So my aunt let me begin servicing clients. I feel like I was born in the business”, she said.
Curry was awarded a Trophy and $1000 cash prize for winning the Speed Cutting title.
“It feels great to be named the 2014 Speed Cutting Champion at this year’s hair show, which was the first year that the Speed Cutting competition was featured. When I heard them call my name as this year’s champion I was in shock”, she said.
