A SALON owner from Johnston has proved she can cut it at the top, after claiming first prize in a Welsh beauty competition.

Sarah Jones, 24, owner of Identity Salon in Johnston, Haverfordwest, won the level three barbering category of the Salon Cymru competition at the Swalec Stadium, Cardiff, last month.

A runner-up in last year’s competition, Sarah said she was thrilled to come first this year.

“The standard of competition was 10 times better this year because there were some amazing hairdressers there,” she said.

As well as focusing on her business, Sarah is currently following an Advanced Apprenticeship Level 3 in barbering with Haverfordwest-based HB Training.

Around 170 people took part in the Salon Cymru competition, which is organised by Bridgend-based ISA Training.

The popular event featured a record 12 competitions - seven hairdressing, three beauty and two barbering - with the climax being the avant garde catwalk or fashion shoot look, which again amazed the audience with unusual shapes and bold visions.

Berni Tyler, ISA Training’s managing director, said: “This year’s Salon Cymru was our biggest and best yet and demonstrated the rich talent that we have here in Wales.

“We hope to attract even more competitors and spectators next year and I would like to see manufacturers taking much more interest in this event, which is so highly rated by our world class judges.”