Ghd style squad 2014 announced!

The ghd Style Squad 2014 has been announced, following two days of auditions and the biggest number of entrants in the team's history. More than 100 stylists applied for a place on the twelve-month mentoring programme, with 34 invited to audition at the ghd studio in central London. Across two days, each budding stylist was tasked with creating a look live on a model - with the brief only announced in the morning and just ten minutes given to produce the style. Members of the group also had to present a pre-prepared moodboard on 'Brand Me' to the panel, sharing more about their inspirations and industry knowledge. In total, 16 ghd style squad members wore chosen. "It should have been twelve but we had an additional four we couldn’t leave out!" said Jo Robertson, judge on the day and head of UK and ROI education for ghd. The ghd style squad 2014 is... Samuel Johnson, Harringtons, Hull Callum Hewett, Ken Picton, Cardiff Joshua Slaney, Eve hair, Leicester Aiden Swan, Paul Watts Hairdressing, Kettering Ollie Vines, Heaven Hair, Salisbury Becky Lemmon, Elaje Hair and Beauty, Cambridge Seifert Cheung, HQ, Shaftesbury Avenue, London Lilly Bridger, Headmasters, Richmond Lois Parry, The Boutique Salon and Spa, Ellesmere Port Lauren Dickinson, Studio 11, Waddington Olivia Le Cornu, 17a, Coventry Ashley Cockrell, Sean Hanna, Cambridge Hollie Greenhalgh, Clipso, Watford Megan Blyth, RUSH, High Wycombe Jordan Thomas, Fish Hairdressing, Soho, London Chris Southern, Headmasters, Soho, London We caught up with Jordan Thomas to find out more about his audition process... Why did you decide to enter for the ghd style squad? “It's something that I have always been aware of by attending events such as Salon International. The Style Squad members who I had spoken to there only had great things to say about their experience, which made me want to be a part of it too.” What was the most nerve-wrecking part of the audition process? “My interview with the judges was one of the last of the day, so the build up to that was scary. I was shaking as I walked into the room but once I was had answered the first couple of questions I realised that they weren't there to grill me but that they were there to listen to me. I think adrenaline just took over and I walked out feeling confident and happy.” What did you learn from your audition day? “ghd styling is something relatively new to me and within the first 30 minutes of being there I'd seen three different techniques, two of which were completely new to me. I remember thinking that if I was learning all of this on the audition morning, I had a lot to look forward to over the next year!” What are you most excited about over your year on the ghd style squad? “The opportunity to work at Fashion Week is obviously something I am looking forward to. I'm also really looking forward to working at Salon International, because it's how I originally found out about the Style Squad. The first time I attended the event I had not even started my training, the second time I was just about to start on my Level 3 qualification and the third I was due to go on the salon floor a few weeks later. I've kind of been able to judge my progression by it, so now working at it seems like a success!” What do you hope to gain from your year on the ghd style squad? “I just hope to further develop and refine my skills as a hairdresser. Meeting and learning from my hairdressing idols such as Zoe Irwin is going to be amazing and something I can't wait to do.”