Local hairstylist Lee Cenaiko of Zebedeez Hair Design finished first in her category during the International Beautiful Services and Supply Hair Show last month.
Cenaiko competed in the long hair bridal category, which is different from prestige bridal which she has entered in the past. Once again, Cenaiko’s daughter Trinity was her model.
“Prestige bridal is strictly a technical thing and it has to have certain elements in it,” Cenaiko said. “Long hair bridal that we had in Calgary had three (requirements) put into it, where they pick out of a hat before we started and we had to put those elements in it.”
The elements that Cenaiko had to include in her hairstyle were a twist on the side, a braid and a sideswipe bang.
Cenaiko recently also competed in September at the OMC HairWorld Competitions in Paris where she placed 10th. She used some of the lessons from that event in her most recent outing.
"I learned more technical techniques and that and just used them. Every time you compete you learn something new,” she said.
When comparing the big competition in Paris and this one in Calgary she felt that the challenge was on par.
“I was still competing against competitors that have been at the world competition the year before, so the calibre is still high,” said Cenaiko. “Alberta has very prominent presence on the Canadian team.”
Now Cenaiko will begin to prepare to go to Paris again in September 2019 to compete in the OMC HairWorld Competition by training with the Canadian team coach Kelly Kalmbach.
“Developing the skill and excellence for world level hair design has been an amazing journey. The many hours of training have been a wonderful career altering experience."
“Training with a team on top of the life in a busy salon is challenging; a challenge Lee is willing to take on. Going for gold is what I am working on,” said Kalmbach.
“We’re going to have extra training sessions with teachers and trainers specific in the area and I’m always aiming for gold,” said Cenaiko.
