'The New Hairy Mary Berry' – Meet 'Extreme Hair Wars' Judge Martyn Holmes

Scissors at the ready πŸ’‡πŸΌ

β€˜Extreme Hair Wars’ is a new TV talent competition billed as the beauty version of β€˜The Great British Bake Off’.

Four teams made up of a makeup artist and a hair stylist, pit their creative skills against each other in a bid to impress the judges - Martyn Holmes, creative director of Strangeways Salon and Robert Masciave owner of Metropolis Hairdressing.

The pair say they’re happy for comparisons to be drawn between their show and β€˜Bake Off’, as both display β€œgreat creativity and brilliant execution”.

Holmes told HuffPost UK he’d like to think of himself as β€œthe new Hairy Mary Berry”, while Masciave says he shares the same values as Paul Hollywood.

β€œPaul is a perfectionist and appreciates when the contestants displays great control over creativity vs execution,” he explained. β€œI do also tell the contestants the truth about what I see.”

Martyn Holmes.
Martyn Holmes.
Extreme Hair Wars
Robert Masciave.
Robert Masciave.
Extreme Hair Wars

Presenting β€˜Extreme Hair Wars’ will be comedy writer-performer and presenter London Hughes, (who will also soon be looking for love on E4’s β€˜Celebs Go Dating’ and appearing as co-host on BBC One’s new comedy prank show β€˜Ready Or Not’).

Hughes quipped that she’s β€œdefinitely more Mel and Sue, than Noel and Sandi”.

β€œThe competition is really stressful and I feel it’s my job to make sure the contestants have as much fun as possible, I’m also a lovely shoulder to cry on for when it all goes wrong,” she said.

β€œThere’s a lot more drama than on β€˜Bake Off’. It’s very intense and there’s a lot of hair spray flying around.”

London Hughes.
London Hughes.
Extreme Hair Wars

Each week there are two challenges, one involves skill and the other one is based on a fantastical theme.

Masciave revealed that some of the themes are β€œSweet As Candy”, β€œUnder The Sea” and β€œGravity Defying”.

Extreme Hair Wars / Channel 5

Interestingly, the first episode features hair braiding. A popular but hot topic as it concerns cultural appropriation. Were the team worried about any backlash?

β€œIt’s so important to be aware of cultural appropriation, but it’s all good as long as you know your history and Robert and Martyn definitely do,” said Hughes.

β€œPlus as a black woman I was really impressed when one of our hairstylists who happened to be white, cornrowed her black models Afro hair. I couldn’t do that!”

Holmes’ thoughts were: β€œI do think it’s very important and as someone who has worked in the industry for many years, I have always respected the many different cultures that inspire hairstyles today.”

Whereas Robert stated: β€œCulture, art and fashion exchange has been happening for centuries. I think it’s important as it is a catalyst to cultural acceptance. Culture/art must be shared and hairdressing falls into that.”

Extreme Hair Wars / Channel 5

When asked what a winning style looks like both judges agree they are looking for the winner who has a combination of creativity and skill - as one is useless without the other.

β€œCreativity is translating a simple skill challenge, theme into an amazing looks,” explained Masciave.

Holmes describes a winning hairdo as one which is β€œexecuted well, mixed with new ideas and forward thinking.

β€œBut at the same time I’m looking for something aesthetically pleasing with a good balance and beautiful shape,” he added.

Extreme Hair Wars / Channel 5

Just as β€˜Bake Off’ contestants fear the dreaded β€œsoggy bottom” failure on Extreme Hair Wars will also be easy to spot.

β€œWe have the dreaded wobbly bits,” said Masciave. β€œWhen a tall hairstyle lacks stability, when the lack of vision translates into a display of techniques only without harmony.

β€œKnowing when to stop is part of the skill too. Sometimes it’s just too much.

β€œWhen looking at an Extreme Hairstyle you must see and understand the artist’s vision. The message must be clear to the viewer.”

Holmes added: β€œIf it’s flat it’s a failure! A failure would be hair that is unbalanced and unpolished, a failure doesn’t β€˜scream the theme’.”

Extreme Hair Wars / Channel 5

With such OOT styles on display will viewer be able to glen any useful tips and tricks? Or will we wanting to attempt a unicorn mohawk when we’re done?

Masciave said there are skills to be learned - if you look beyond the finished creations.

β€œThe process of creating those looks will include lots of tips that can be used at home, ie. how to create the prefect ponytail,” he explained.

β€œHaving said that, Extreme Hair Wars is about the artist side of hairdressing and not tutorials on how to do your own hair.”

We will keep our bangs away from our face and our eyes peeled to see the looks unfurl, from scissor to scissor.

Extreme Hair Wars begins Thursday at 8pm on 5STAR

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