GETTING just the right look can be a challenge but when it comes to hair and beauty there has always been plenty of skill and expertise in Barrow.

Today's pictures from The Mail's archive show what can be achieved — both by the professionals and by adventurous youngsters showing what they can do after completing their training courses.

The Mail on February 23 in 1989 reported on a hair and beauty contest held for students at Barrow College of Further Education.

Andrea Gardner, aged nine, had to keep her face very still while 17-year-old student Jill Gardiner created a design based on the nursery rhyme Hickory Dickery Dock.

Jill was a trainee at Lynne's Hair Studio, Barrow, and was among 50 past and present students who were able to give full rein to their imagination and creative talents.

Helen Pedley, aged 16, won the Fantasia section with a design based on a tree — which saw model Tracy Faragher wearing leaves, a bird and eggs.

Judging was carried out by Furness hairdressers and the awards were presented by Cumbria County Councillor Alan Nicholson.

The 1990 competition featured 40 students from the two-year hairdressing course based at Howard Street.

Entrants in the Fantasia section pulled out all the stops.

The Mail on February 21 in 1990 noted: "You'd be forgiven for thinking you'd wandered into some dress rehearsal as anything from Madam Butterfly to Mr Badger from Wind in the Willows wandered along corridors.

"Knicker elastic, yards of net, face and body paints, even black rubber flippers were put to innovative use as weird and wonderful stage characters were created out of patient models.

"A cut and blow dry at your local salon was never like this."

Course tutor Sharon Turnbull said: "We encourage all the students to enter. It helps their confidence and motivation and promotes some healthy competition. They all help each other."

In 1997 Raquel Arribas, 20, held a Spanish hairdressing exhibition as the theme for the final stage of her examinations.

She worked at Review in Barrow ans spent the first 14 years of her life in Spain.

Among her models was Sue Coates who appeared in full flamenco dance outfit.

The Mail described the fun as 600 people turned up at a charity hair and beauty night held by Barrow salon Review and experts from the Vidal Sassoon artistic team at the end of October in 1988.

The venue was Barrow's Civic Hall and the event raised £2,500 for the Hospice for Furness Appeal — which eventually led to the opening of St Mary's Hospice at Ulverston.

Chairman of the Barrow hospice support group Joan Baber said: "It was very successful. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed it."

It was organised by Joel Goncalves of the Review salon, with help from Lorraine Fittes and Paula Holmes.

The article noted: "He got together with his colleague at Review, Lorraine Fittes and his girlfriend, former model Paula Holmes — who owns the Accessory Shop in Scott Street.

"They selected 34 models from among their clients and friends and designed clothes for the show.

"Paula trained the models in deportment and presentation and her friend Linda Turnough made up the clothes from the designs.

"Choreographer Billy Smart, who has choreographed shows at the Hipperdrome and the Albert Hall in London, then taught the models how to move on stage."

The set took two days to put up and another day to dismantle.