βExtreme Hair Warsβ is a new TV talent competition billed as the beauty version of βThe Great British Bake Offβ.
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 theyβre happy for comparisons to be drawn between their show and βBake Offβ, as both display βgreat creativity and brilliant executionβ.
Holmes told HuffPost UK heβd like to think of himself as βthe new Hairy Mary Berryβ, while Masciave says he shares the same values as Paul Hollywood.
βPaul is a perfectionist and appreciates when the contestants displays great control over creativity vs execution,β he explained. βI do also tell the contestants the truth about what I see.β
Presenting βExtreme Hair Warsβ will be comedy writer-performer and presenter London Hughes, (who will also soon be looking for love on E4βs βCelebs Go Datingβ and appearing as co-host on BBC Oneβs new comedy prank show βReady Or Notβ).
Hughes quipped that sheβs βdefinitely more Mel and Sue, than Noel and Sandiβ.
βThe competition is really stressful and I feel itβs my job to make sure the contestants have as much fun as possible, Iβm also a lovely shoulder to cry on for when it all goes wrong,β she said.
βThereβs a lot more drama than on βBake Offβ. Itβs very intense and thereβs a lot of hair spray flying around.β
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 βSweet As Candyβ, βUnder The Seaβ and βGravity Defyingβ.
Interestingly, the first episode features hair braiding. A popular but hot topic as it concerns cultural appropriation. Were the team worried about any backlash?
βItβs so important to be aware of cultural appropriation, but itβs all good as long as you know your history and Robert and Martyn definitely do,β said Hughes.
βPlus 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 couldnβt do that!β
Holmesβ thoughts were: βI do think itβs 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.β
Whereas Robert stated: βCulture, art and fashion exchange has been happening for centuries. I think itβs important as it is a catalyst to cultural acceptance. Culture/art must be shared and hairdressing falls into that.β
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.
βCreativity is translating a simple skill challenge, theme into an amazing looks,β explained Masciave.
Holmes describes a winning hairdo as one which is βexecuted well, mixed with new ideas and forward thinking.
βBut at the same time Iβm looking for something aesthetically pleasing with a good balance and beautiful shape,β he added.
Just as βBake Offβ contestants fear the dreaded βsoggy bottomβ failure on Extreme Hair Wars will also be easy to spot.
βWe have the dreaded wobbly bits,β said Masciave. βWhen a tall hairstyle lacks stability, when the lack of vision translates into a display of techniques only without harmony.
βKnowing when to stop is part of the skill too. Sometimes itβs just too much.
βWhen looking at an Extreme Hairstyle you must see and understand the artistβs vision. The message must be clear to the viewer.β
Holmes added: βIf itβs flat itβs a failure! A failure would be hair that is unbalanced and unpolished, a failure doesnβt βscream the themeβ.β
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 weβre done?
Masciave said there are skills to be learned - if you look beyond the finished creations.
βThe process of creating those looks will include lots of tips that can be used at home, ie. how to create the prefect ponytail,β he explained.
βHaving said that, Extreme Hair Wars is about the artist side of hairdressing and not tutorials on how to do your own hair.β
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