'Shear Genius': Wigging out

Hello, lovers of hair and drama! I'll be filling in for Lisa this week, and hopefully also getting some new inspiration for a much-needed haircut (I'm thinking bangs). This week's elimination challenge on Shear Genius takes a heavy emotional toll on the designers, and tests a completely new skill area. (Hairy spoilers ahead...) 

The short cut challenge takes place on the beach, as the final eight designers are forced to transform surfer dudes' hair from beach to glam...without washing it. Um, ew? Though I guess the salt would add some texture, or something. All they have to work with is shears, battery-powered clippers, and a spray bottle. The guest judge tonight is celebrity stylist Oscar Blandi.

Nicole focuses on layers, and Oscar's down with it, while Daniel goes for a short, slicked-back look. It's very all-American, and Oscar doesn't think it will grow out well. Dee and Glenn are assigned twins. Dee went for a more masculine look, which is very successful, while Glenn kept it softer. He almost looks like a girl by the time she's done with him.

Nekisa's model keeps mussing up his hair, but I liked the final result. However, Oscar doesn't love the transformation (or lack thereof). Gail's is a glorified comb-over, and Paolo doesn't do enough to his model's hair. Charlie's model winds up looking too conservative. Oscar picks Daniel and Glenn as the bottom two, and Glenn comes in last. Nicole and Dee wind up on top, with Nicole winning a "big advantage" (gosh, whatever could it be?). She's ecstatic.

The elimination challenge has the contestants designing new looks (cut and color) for models who really need the help. In fact, they're completely bald. They have alopecia. Wow. Nicole gets to pick first (surprise, surprise), and then chooses Paolo, Nekisa, Charlie, Gail, Daniel, Dee, and Glenn to pick next. They'll be cutting and styling wigs for their clients. You know, I realize on an intellectual level that wigs obviously have to be cut and styled, but I never really thought about it before. 

Paolo is really feeling the emotional impact of the challenge, and is trying hard to knock this one out of the park, both for his ego and for his client. The hairstyle is totally hot and out there, very red and layered and wild. It really takes advantage of the fact that this is a wig, so you don't have to wear it every day. I love it. Nicole's client wants something really short, but Nicole doesn't have any experience with cutting wigs. She's really feeling the pressure to make her client look good, and is having trouble thinning out the wig. It ends up looking a bit furry, and could use some serious thinning, but it's not the total disaster it could've been. Her client does a mah-velous job carrying it off, and her joy substantially improves my perception of the haircut.

Nekisa doesn't do much to the wig's look, and her client gets a pretty boring style, though I understand that it's what the client wanted. In the back, especially, it could use some punching up. Glenn creates a terrible middle aged lady bob with ugly white-blonde highlights. It's much better-looking on the runway than when we saw it before, but I still don't see it as an improvement over her super cute, textured wig that we originally saw her with.

Daniel's client ends up with a whooole lotta hair. It looks a lot like a wig to me, to be honest. Charlie's client looks adorable, but the wig is heeeavy. Gail's client winds up with a nice, coppery color, but again, a very wig-looking wig. If you know what I mean. Dee's wig is a little too red for the age of her client, and looks overly styled to me.

Glenn, Dee, and Daniel are all safe (...really?). Nekisa gets called out for the cut's retro style, and her client tries to be nice about the cut but clearly isn't totally happy. The judges find it unflattering and stiff. The judges love Paolo's cut (yay!), though they think the color is a bit pink. Charlie's cut gets criticized for looking like a helmet. The judges think it was too safe, and not modern enough. The judges think that Gail's cut almost ages her client, and is too bulky and light in color. Nicole is really emotional and her client is happy, and the judges appreciate the risk Nicole took and the fact that her client was pleased with it.

Nicole and Paolo are the top two, but Paolo wins the day (though no immunity). Well-deserved, sir. That cut was adorable! Nekisa is safe, as is Charlie--Gail is out. Fair enough, I guess, though a lot of those wigs looked pretty bad to me.

Did you agree with the judges' selection for the bottom three? How about Nicole's position in the top two? How much longer can Charlie survive in the bottom? 

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