A DYFFRYN Ardudwy barber has proved she is a cut above after coming runner-up in a national competition.

Sophie Collins, from Soph’s Barbers in Hyfryd, represented Wales at the national final of Britain’s Best Shave 2017 inside a boxing ring at Barber UK at the Birmingham NEC on Sunday 21 May.

The 25-year old defeated London regional champion Dan Gregory in the quarter finals before shocking the barbering world when she out-shaved tournament favourite Bulent Dogan in the semi-finals.

The nail-biting final itself saw Sophie make an admirable attempt for the title, but she was unable to hold her own against Elvis Gjokaj’s shaving skills, who eventually reigned triumphant and took the trophy back home to Epsom in Surrey.

The competition, run by the British Barbers’ Association and men’s grooming brand The Bluebeards Revenge, saw over 150 talented barbers enter from all over Great Britain.

The top eight scoring regional winners were invited to the national final and were judged on a number of different factors such as shave preparation, razor technique, post-shave routine, health and safety and overall efficiency.

Sophie was the first ever female to win the Welsh regional title in March when she defeated 14 other Welsh based barbers.

In the run-up to the national final Sophie became something of a media sensation, even appearing on ITV’s Good Morning Britain where she shaved weatherman Alex Beresford live on air.

See this week’s north editions for the full story, in shops and online on Thursday