A talented young hairdresser has snipped and styled her way into the final of a national competition.

Foye Brodie, 18, who works at Blondz salon in Weymouth, beat thousands of applicants to land a place in the final of the Wella Xposure 2018 competition after performing well in the regional heats.

The competition is aimed at helping hairdressing students take their first steps up the professional ladder, and showcases new and upcoming talent in the industry. Foye will battle it out against budding stylists from across the country to win the prestigious top prize - a mentoring day with an industry icon at the Wella World Studio in London.

Foye is a member of Bespoke hairdressing academy and works as an apprentice stylist at the salon.

She said: "At the regional heats in London we were told to do a 'commercial colour and cut', and my style was very different. Everyone else's looked very pretty and mine was more edgy with black and purple hair.

"When I looked around I thought I hadn't got through, and then my name was the last to be called. It all feels very surreal."

Despite the competition looming, Foye said she is kept busy each day with seeing customers in the salon.

She added: "Even though I'm only an apprentice I'm pretty much a fully booked stylist, I don't have much time to practice."

At the final, which is held at the Wella Studios in London on Monday, June 4, Foye will be judged by hair styling professionals as well as guest judges who are currently being kept under wraps. Only eight finalists from each of the regional heats have reached the UK final.

The overall winner of the competition will receive the gold award, comprising an exclusive behind the scenes experience at the TrendVision Award UK and Ireland final, a £1,000 Wella education fund and a Wella toolkit worth £500.

All gold, silver and bronze winners will get the chance to be involved in a mentoring day with an industry professional in London.