A hairdresser from Truro has won a top award at an international event held in London.

Robin Neale, from Russell Robin Hair Studio, took a 1st Gold Star Award at the Salon International competition held at ExCel.

He was joined by hairdressing apprentice Livvy Nash, who acted as his model for the event.

Working on Sundays and Mondays for weeks beforehand, while the salon was closed, Robin created three different styles for Livvy’s hair and then photographed them for the competition. All the hard work paid off when the pair came first in the day wear category.

Having spent eight years training in London at the start of his career, Robin is no stranger to hairstyling contests. This is the first time, however, that he has entered a photographic section.

He said: “We had to do a lot of preparation because different colours were involved, but it’s all been worthwhile.

“When we went up to the show I styled Livvy’s hair before we got there, as there were so many people to meet and everyone wanted to take photos. It was a mad whirl but very, very exciting.”

It was only the second time that Livvy, aged 19, from Penryn, had been to London. She is doing a full-time apprenticeship with Robin and his brother Russell in the River Street hair studio and has been modelling in her spare time for the last two to three years. Robin and Russell set up their Russell Robin Hair Studio together in Truro 27 years ago, having decided at a family lunch in London, where they used to live, that Cornwall was the place for them.

Robin has now set his sights higher, with plans to enter a similar competition in France. “We’re hoping to take part in the Art de Coiffure Show in Paris next year,” he said. “It’s good to have a fresh challenge.”