Fame team take hair to the high seas with ghd

The 2013 FAME Team recently joined ghd for a three-day cruise around the Mediterranean, attended by 800 hairdressers from across the globe.

Jake Unger, Josh Goldsworthy, Matthew Sutcliffe and William Ackerley had to present punk-themed models live on stage, providing the perfect opportunity for each of them to demonstrate their new-found skills to a wider audience, alongside key ghd stylists and representatives - all with the added challenge of being on board a boat.

Here, the team share their cruise diary...

Day One London Gatwick Airport. The F.A.M.E Team members – together with guest hairdressers Sophie Laidlaw and Ken Picton, plus team leaders Bruno Marc Giamattei and Jo Martin of ghd – catch their flight to Genoa, Italy. A short journey from the airport takes them to the cruise ship – their home for the next four days. "On approach, it doesn’t seem that big," says Jake. "It’s only once you are actually beside it that you realise how enormous it really is – sixteen storeys in total." After being shown to their rooms, the boys headed to a briefing with the team from ghd Italia, including managing directors Tommy and Mauro. The pair outlined the itinerary for the next few days and introduced the team to their models before giving the guys time to discuss their ideas and plans for the show. It had been a long first day, so a meal in the ship’s restaurant and a few drinks to relax rounded the night off. [gallery columns="2" ids="31752,31750,31748,31746"] Day Two With a call time of 8am, the guys are up early and raring to go. They meet at the 1,200- seater theatre in the centre of the ship; the venue for the afternoon’s presentation. The theme – Chaos to Couture – calls for the team's interpretation of punk, so they get to work prepping the models in a dressing room more accustomed to the razzle dazzle of a cabaret show. At 3pm, after a final huddle backstage to get them fired up, the FAME Team take to the stage in front of 800 enthusiastic ghd hairdressers from Italy, Spain and Germany. "These people are amazingly talented and a great inspiration, so it’s very nerve-wracking for all of us," says Matthew. Matthew and Will are on stage first, demonstrating two braiding techniques with very different results; Matthew’s style is scalp braided at the sides and back and fixed with ghd final spray. The top section is finished on stage; a fishtail plait, which is reversed to create an edgy quiff. William pays homage to the 1970s, adding wefts to the sides of the hair and styling to create a punk-inspired crop. It’s then time for Jake and Josh to work their magic; Jake bases his look around a Marcel wave, using the ghd Eclipse to create a contrasting straightness that’s sharp and agessive, while Josh styles an angular, super-tough Mohawk. With the team on a high after a fantastic reception from the audience, they hit the gym to unwind before enjoying a few well-deserved drinks in the ship’s nightclub. [gallery columns="4" ids="31753,31751,31749,31747,31745,31742,31744,31743"] Day Three The ship docks in Barcelona, allowing the boys a few hours to take in the beauty of the city before getting back to work at 12.30. Today’s show calls for more insight into each of their looks, with around 45 minutes on stage to talk to an intimate audience in more detail about the hair’s creation and execution. Questions are encouraged – and one audience member is even invited onstage to become a model in order for William to demonstrate one of his favourite ghd Eclipse styling techniques! Josh’s off-centre Mohawk is created with a collection of wefts prepped using the Eclipse stylers, resulting in board-like, angular spikes. Matthew uses the previous day’s twist technique to shape an elaborate pin curl creation, while Jake gets to reveal more about his look which combines an edgy contrast of waves and spikes. Following some amazing feedback, the team take advantage of the ship’s hot tub and reflect on the experiences of the last few days. Then it’s time for a final drink with all the cast and crew at the wrap party – which ends in a splash for William as he’s thrown fully-clothed into the pool! Day Four An early alarm call means there are a few tired heads as the boys head home. After disembarking the boat and flying back to the UK, the team say their goodbyes and head home in different directions. "The cruise was an amazing opportunity and we’re all so grateful that we got the chance to showcase our work to such talented people," says William. Josh adds, "We would all like to thank ghd for their help and hospitality, along with Bruno Marc for his continual motivation and expertise."