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Leather & lather: The Cut-throat Racer | Leather & lather: The Cut-throat Racer |
(about 11 hours later) | |
It looks like a barber's shop should. The scissors, the combs, the clippers and mirrors. Shelves of hair 'product' and jars of 'barbicide' disinfectant. | It looks like a barber's shop should. The scissors, the combs, the clippers and mirrors. Shelves of hair 'product' and jars of 'barbicide' disinfectant. |
There's a theme going on too - it screams motorcycles. From the leather jacket hanging on the wall, to oil and tyre paraphernalia, and biking photos. | There's a theme going on too - it screams motorcycles. From the leather jacket hanging on the wall, to oil and tyre paraphernalia, and biking photos. |
It's where men can come to relax. For a haircut, a beard trim, or even a full wet cut-throat razor shave. | It's where men can come to relax. For a haircut, a beard trim, or even a full wet cut-throat razor shave. |
Welcome to the world of Sophie Collins: 'The Cut-throat Racer' | |
She is a 25-year-old former hairdresser, who has swapped tints, blue-rinses and shampoo-and-sets in a small rural village in north Wales for the male-dominated world of barbering. | She is a 25-year-old former hairdresser, who has swapped tints, blue-rinses and shampoo-and-sets in a small rural village in north Wales for the male-dominated world of barbering. |
It is four years since she set up shop in the quiet, picturesque Gwynedd village of Llanbedr - a place whose claims to fame are a campsite on the coast boasting it is the biggest in Europe, and an ex-Raf airfield that wants to become an international space port. | It is four years since she set up shop in the quiet, picturesque Gwynedd village of Llanbedr - a place whose claims to fame are a campsite on the coast boasting it is the biggest in Europe, and an ex-Raf airfield that wants to become an international space port. |
But this spring, it is Sophie making the headlines in the village, in north Wales - and beyond. | But this spring, it is Sophie making the headlines in the village, in north Wales - and beyond. |
She has just been named the best cut-throat shaver in Wales - the first woman to take the title. | She has just been named the best cut-throat shaver in Wales - the first woman to take the title. |
It also means she'll become the very first female barber to make it to the UK finals of the competition, held in May in a boxing ring in Birmingham's National Exhibition Centre. | It also means she'll become the very first female barber to make it to the UK finals of the competition, held in May in a boxing ring in Birmingham's National Exhibition Centre. |
"I've always wanted to do it - be a barber," said Sophie. | "I've always wanted to do it - be a barber," said Sophie. |
"I was inspired by an old friend. A gentleman I trained with, he actually taught me how to shave. | "I was inspired by an old friend. A gentleman I trained with, he actually taught me how to shave. |
"I thought, you know, when I took on my own place, I wanted to be like the other barbers - show myself off, show the shop - enter competitions - not thinking I'd get as far as have. | "I thought, you know, when I took on my own place, I wanted to be like the other barbers - show myself off, show the shop - enter competitions - not thinking I'd get as far as have. |
"I was quite shocked." | "I was quite shocked." |
Perhaps she is being modest. She is no stranger to competing in traditionally male arenas. | Perhaps she is being modest. She is no stranger to competing in traditionally male arenas. |
Outside of the barber shop, you are just as likely to find her donning racing leathers and taking her motorbike out on the track. | Outside of the barber shop, you are just as likely to find her donning racing leathers and taking her motorbike out on the track. |
She is spending the Easter weekend in a track competition where she will be up against her own father, who passed on his passion for speed and bikes to her. | She is spending the Easter weekend in a track competition where she will be up against her own father, who passed on his passion for speed and bikes to her. |
"He's faster than me though," she laughed. | "He's faster than me though," she laughed. |
At the race meets up and down the country, Sophie is also known to set-up her own mobile barber's shop, offering hardened bikers and race enthusiasts a trim or shave. | At the race meets up and down the country, Sophie is also known to set-up her own mobile barber's shop, offering hardened bikers and race enthusiasts a trim or shave. |
It is where she picked-up her nickname: The Cut-throat Racer. | It is where she picked-up her nickname: The Cut-throat Racer. |
And now she hopes her success can be an inspiration to other women who want to get into the industry. | And now she hopes her success can be an inspiration to other women who want to get into the industry. |
"It's actually making the women out there think: 'You know what - I've always wanted to do it'. | "It's actually making the women out there think: 'You know what - I've always wanted to do it'. |
"Maybe seeing myself win something like that, maybe it will encourage them to actually do it themselves - and not have to worry about being a woman taking part in a competition alongside men. | "Maybe seeing myself win something like that, maybe it will encourage them to actually do it themselves - and not have to worry about being a woman taking part in a competition alongside men. |
"Yes - it is daunting - but you're just as good as them, and that's how I felt on the day." | "Yes - it is daunting - but you're just as good as them, and that's how I felt on the day." |
But does the swaggering confidence translate back to the barber shop floor? | But does the swaggering confidence translate back to the barber shop floor? |
"When they come in and I get the razor out to shave their neck, they panic," confesses Sophie. | "When they come in and I get the razor out to shave their neck, they panic," confesses Sophie. |
"They tend to have a gulp and grit their teeth, and I'm trying to tell them: '"Relax - it's supposed to be relaxing for you. | "They tend to have a gulp and grit their teeth, and I'm trying to tell them: '"Relax - it's supposed to be relaxing for you. |
With a smile and a sly wink, she adds: "A lot of them do get nervous. | With a smile and a sly wink, she adds: "A lot of them do get nervous. |
"A woman with a razor? No - really?" | "A woman with a razor? No - really?" |
Yes really, a women with a razor who is on a mission to become one of the best cut-throat shavers in Britain. | Yes really, a women with a razor who is on a mission to become one of the best cut-throat shavers in Britain. |