'Shear Genius': Four seasons in one day

I usually like the short-cut challenges on Shear Genius better than the elimination challenges. They seem to be less random than those on Top Chef, and they're usually laden with fun tricks or shameless ploys to make us pay attention (witness last week's challenge involving 6-year-olds going to first grade).

This week was no exception. First of all, the guest judge was Jose Eber. Jose Eber. From Hour Magazine. And all those Good Morning America appearances. I love that guy. And you know what? He looks great. The stylists' challenge was to learn about their clients, and to create a dynamic and compelling hairstyle that captures their personality. Work with your client, get to know them, and highlight what makes them unique, they're told.

So our peeps are off to the races. Dee's client works in the motorcycle industry and likes the '80s rocker look, so she puts in layers and purple streaks underneath. Nicole's client is a singer, a blonde with long dark roots who admired Christina Aguilera. Charlie's set on brightening up his client's blonde. Daniel's going for a more sophisticated blonde then his client currently has.

Then there's a wrinkle. They have to juggle two clients, and their second clients are... the identical twins of the first clients. Whoa. How's your mind? Blown? Actually, this is a great challenge, and all of the stylists do a really good job of playing to their clients' strengths and making them look different. Nicole goes Hilton on her clients, leaving one blonde and taking another one brunette -- and her risk is rewarded. She wins the challenge, and not only is she immune in the elimination challenge, but she clinches a spot in the top three. Way to go, Nicole. Except that in that final, you will be eaten alive. So live it up now.

The elimination challenge involves styling for a photo shoot. But first let me ask a question. Did anyone else see that Nicole's dress started as a black jumper as she walked in, went to a black-and-white horizontal stripe with buttons, and then went back to being the black jumper for the rest of the challenge and the judging? I had to go back and rewind on the DVR just to make sure I hadn't hallucinated it. That was some gnarly continuity editing, people.

Anyway. The shoot is being run by celebrity photographer Michael Grecco, and all of the judges will be on set, including Linda Wells, editor in chief of Allure magazine. The challenge is to capture the essence of the model, creating an avant garde hairstyle to reflect the four seasons. Daniel is summer, and is told that his model will be misted with water, so he wants to create something that will withstand a sprinkle. Nicole is winter, and her model will be laying in the snow, upside down to camera. Charlie is spring, and his model will be on a swing. Dee is autumn, and her model will be on a trampoline. And it seems as though all of their models have hair texture like mine -- that is to say, pretty fine and not really conducive to staying put through styling or oddball conditions.

The models' dresses are all beautiful. Nicole decides to go for simple, soft hair that will spread out in the snow, with pieces that match her dress' dark red. Charlie creates a hedge-like shape with flowers, curling, rag setting, and teasing his model's hair. Daniel's bringing in texture, but most of the complicated stuff with his style -- including a braid of red hair extension that will cause much heartburn when his turn comes -- is on the back of her head. Dee cuts her model's hair into -- surprise! -- a bob, with spiky pieces on top and colored extensions on the sides. Yes, we've seen this before.

During the photo shoots is where you can really see who's got chops -- and for the most part they all do, at least from a professional standpoint. It's in the narration where you see Nicole get intimidated, Daniel get a little indignant and Dee cop attitude when they get criticized. But to their credit, they all push through and improvise when needed. In the end, though, Nicole and Daniel use too much product to allow them to really make the kind of adjustments they need on set. Dee's cut is just, well, boring, and something we've seen from her again and again. Plus it doesn't have the kind of movement or flow you'd want to have for someone jumping on a trampoline. Charlie's is a little too romantic for Grecco's taste, but he gnarls it up pretty good -- going too far, in fact, and making it frizzy. 

In the judging, Kim Vo tells Daniel that the contradicting textures in his hairstyle are like taking a sleeping pill and a laxative all in one night; he doesn't understand it. Ew. That's descriptive. But Daniel held his own. Dee's criticized for a cut that's wearable but totally wrong for the shoot. Nicole's accused of playing it safe because she has immunity. Charlie's knocked for not being avant garde enough in the beginning, then "kung fu'ing" it up too much.

In the end, Charlie wins. We've seen that a lot, but it's fair to say he's been the most consistently creative and technically proficient, if also the most bitchy. My money's been on him to take the whole thing since the second week or so. Dee ends up safe, and Daniel is sent home. And he is a true class act, offering some lovely words of goodbye and making Jaclyn Smith cry. A totally sweet guy who clearly has chops.

Next week, it's the throw-down: Charlie vs. Dee vs. Nicole.

What did you think? Do you think sending Daniel home was the right call? Who do you think is going to take it all next week?

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