The nationwide Sofn’free search that started in 2015 is continuing to find the 2016 HairXperts Masters Challenge winner.
Set to discover extraordinary talent in the South African black hair industry, the Sofn’free HairXperts Masters Challenge is open to stylists from all walks of life. This is the third year that the competition has been run, and this year, nearly 3000 stylists entered the preliminary stages around the country. A national panel of judges, headed by Disce Mamabolo, has combed through the finest hairstylists across the country, identifying just fourteen contestants to endure seven weeks of intense challenges in the Style-Off phase
The fourteen stylists are representative of seven provinces, with contestants from as far afield as Bethlehem. The contestants representing Western Cape are Yasseen Galant and Aubrey Louw; and from Gauteng, Tshepo Novhungi and Dumisani Lukhozi. The other contestants in the final fourteen are Timothy Mkhaba and Sikelela Mthimkhulu from Limpopo; Neli Khawula and ‘Shabba’ Hlomuka of KwaZulu-Natal; Richard Ratshikana and Gaamangwe Moleta from the North West; ‘Fire’ Lehlehla and Tshediso Tshabalala from the Freestate; and Abby Mandula and Tshepo Lengane from the Eastern Cape.
Each stylist will be put through challenges to test their creativity and competence in creating edgy styles which involve analyzing, treating and styling the full spectrum of black hair, from natural to relaxed hair. There will be no room for error. Based on the results of each challenge, one contestant will have to leave, as the final fourteen are whittled down to just seven.
“This competition will see the cream of the countries’ stylists battling it out for the Sofn’free HairXpert Masters 2016 title. We will be testing the stylists’ skillset and ability to cope under pressure. The challenges set are no different to the type of situations they will encounter with their clients in their own salons. We are looking forward to the creative techniques they use to show just how talented they really are. I know we will find exactly what we are looking for.” – Mimmi Biggar, Technical Training Manager of Sofn’free Hair and Beauty Academy.
The show will air every Tuesday for the next 7 weeks, with the first show on the 8th of March on SABC1 between 9 and 10pm.