All hail the kings of avant garde hairdressing

The Fellowship for British Hairdressing Kings of Avant Garde Power Night was a stunning, gravity-defying spectacle to ignite every hairdresser's creative spark and leave audience members wondering 'how did he do that?'.

Presented by Michael Barnes and Robert Masciave, who share vivid imaginations and the philosophy that 'if you can visualise it you can create it', this was an evening to realise that the possibilities for avant-garde hairstyles are endless.

"Tonight you are going to see something very special," said the Fellowship for British Hairdressing president Mark Creed who hosted the event. "I have been looking at the models all afternoon and I still have no idea how some of the looks were created."

First to the stage was Michael, who shared the stories behind some of his favourite avant-garde collections. Starting with the basket weaving trend of the 80s, Michael explained his inspiration, which ranged from Egypt and Japan to architecture, and shared anecdotes about early forays into airbrushing and using Photoshop.

But the audience really got excited when he brought to life a creation from his Midsummer Night's Dream collection live on stage.

The elongated head-piece that combined golden curls with glossy dark locks was the product of weeks' work that involved creating a mould, filling it with chemicals, carving it into shape and covering it with perfectly finished acrylic hair, before subtly combining it with the model's own hair to create the illusion that it was all her own.

Other looks showcased included a stunning structure of three pillars twisted together, a violet cross and a dramatic pillar box red towering creation that stretched a metre back from the head.

Then it was over to Robert to demonstrate how he brings his inspiration to life, by showing his interpretation of a winter scene, a waterfall and a tarantula.

He created an oversized two-tier headpiece while sharing his key advice with the audience: "Nothing is lost, nothing is created, everything is transformed. So don't take too many elements from the same source or you'll just make a copy."

Six other models, which included an amazing ring that looped back on itself and a set of beautifully embellished chopsticks, completed the awe-inspiring presentation.