A HAIR and beauty salon at Bournemouth and Poole College has been given a £50,000 makeover.

Flaunt, which offers a commercial service to the public, was given a new look at the same time as the college re-launched its two-year apprenticeship programme.

The salon, based at the Lansdowne site in Bournemouth, has built a brilliant reputation for teaching the skills of hair and beauty therapy.

Flaunt is supported by several local hair and beauty companies and has a sponsorship link with beauty products company Wella.

Among the guests at the re-launch was one of Wella's most talented former hairdressers, now a Business Manager, Paul Oscroft.

He said: “My advice to all the trainees here is to listen closely and take in all the basic skills because they will stay with you throughout your careers.”

Matt Lane, owner of the salon Blu, based in Canford Cliffs, gave a demonstration of some those skills with the help of model Zoe Dunn, from Parkstone.

Shanice Granger-Smith, a Level 2 student said: “One of the obvious advantages of training at Flaunt is the fact that it is a busy salon with paying customers run in a professional manner. It builds confidence in all its trainees, and also gives everyone the confidence to thrive in a tough industry.”

The college’s apprenticeship scheme takes in between 80 and 100 trainees at Level 2 each year. After two years they can expect to have learned the skills to take them forward and achieve successful careers.

Flaunt is open six days a week to the public and charges fees which are a fraction of those in high street salons.

Debra McDermott, Head of Professional Hairdressing, Beauty and Related Therapies at the college, said it was a marvellous day for Flaunt.

''It is a privilege to be able to launch the rebranding of our apprenticeship scheme, which has grown so popular over the last eight years. We're thrilled to unveil the improvements to the salon and consolidate our links with Wella' she said.