This week’s shortcut challenge requires the stylists to work with color to create vibrant, over-the-top designs. Guest judged by color maestro Kim Vo, the challenge asks for extreme color transformation with a nice cut. I wonder if the show’s clients know beforehand what the challenge will be or do they walk into the Shear Genius studio blind? I hope there are no lawyers or executives in the bunch; I can’t imagine how it’d be for them walking into the courtroom or the boardroom looking like Rainbow Brite!
The stylists are thrilled to be allotted four entire hours to complete the Rainbow Connection color challenge. Nekisa immediately thinks flowers and envisions a bright bloom atop her client’s head. Dee also receives some floral inspiration and uses birds of paradise as her color palette. Paulo makes the mistake of concentrating most of his time and effort on cut rather than color (and the name of the challenge is…). By the time he refocuses on hue, he loses the brilliant shade of Papa Smurf he was hoping for. Back to our fave: Wannabe Stylist Barbie – I mean, Nekisa – manages to clog her sink’s drain and almost flood the studio salon with blue water. Then she blames her almost overflowing sink for her client’s colors bleeding into each other. Heaven forbid it’s just that she sucks.
After judging, Kim is least impressed with Paulo and (here we go again) Nekisa. Paulo, what happened? Well, from the looks of your client’s hair, absolutely nothing. When Nekisa finds herself back in familiar territory, she strikes back. But Kim and Jacyln Smith aren’t moved by her outburst and neither am I. Why the shock? Why the outrage? Let’s just accept the fact that you’re not very good, okay? However, Paulo is named the loser because his client’s color doesn’t take at all. The top two: Dee and Charlie. And it seems Charlie’s back at #1 for an embarrassing psychedelic pompadour. His reward for the shortcut win is immunity and a special role in the elimination challenge. I can't blame Dee for being a bit heated at second place – I don’t know what kind of crack Kim Vo is smoking either, but I think Charlie’s been sampling the product.
Back at the house, Nekisa’s tirade continues and Charlie fans the flames. She tries to give herself a pep talk/reality check, but Charlie reminds her she’s just a dumb blonde with dark hair. Don’t fall into his trap, Nekisa, even though I’m really amused. She gets a little scrappy, but it still comes off weak. Where’s Dee to defend her girl’s honor? Maybe in the bathroom or getting a drink.
The next day, the stylists report to the salon to find a wooden intercom device sitting upon a table. Then they hear a familiar voice with a very familiar song behind it. It’s Rene Fris, announcing the elimination challenge to the tune of… Charlie’s Angels! For the Charlie’s Angels Challenge, the stylists will be working in teams of two with three clients representing each of the original Angels. They must put a modern spin on the signature hairstyles from the ‘70s TV show. As the shortcut winner, Charlie gets a reprieve from the challenge and does not have to participate; instead, he is responsible for pairing up the other contestants and acting as “roaming stylist.” Here are the teams he selects:
Team #1 – Dee & Nekisa
Team #2 – Nicole & Glenn
Team #3 – Paulo & Daniel
The competing stylists make the mistake of thinking Charlie is being nice with his match-ups for choosing pairs that get along. Don’t they realize he always has a strategy? The Little Horned One owns no halo, especially with immunity. He cleverly pairs up stylists with conflicting work styles and aesthetics just to enjoy the fireworks: Dee is opinionated and Nekisa’s desire is to have her vision heard; Paulo is cautious about Daniel’s Southern belle pageant hair and Daniel fears Paulo will not respect his “classic style”; and Glenn wonders how she and Nicole will come together to execute the three syles, while Nicole doesn’t want to deal with Glenn’s “conservative old lady hair.” But there doesn’t end up being much bickering. Boo!
The special guest judge for the elimination challenge is a great surprise and a little added pressure for the group: actress Kate Jackson. That’s the four watchful eyes of two Original Angels on you and your work. Good luck, gang. Well, the best thing about this week’s hair show is the kitschy Angels pose they force the models to take before parading their hair. All the Jaclyn and Farrah styles are weirdly retro, while the Kate bobs are way too basic. Hair from Heaven? More like tresses from deeper, hotter recesses (that’s H-E-double hockey sticks, if you didn’t already know).
It’s a slow-moving train wreck. Charlie wastes no time selling everybody out. Kate Jackson’s loss for words at the top of judging is either sheer boredom or a major senior moment. Jaclyn and the other regular judges are highly disappointed. So much so, they declare there are no winners for this challenge. Bottom two stylists: Glenn and Nekisa. Oh, Jaclyn. Please don’t tease me! Could this possibly spell the end for Nine Lives Nekisa? Nope, Glenn has had her final cut. This is getting RIDICULOUS!!!
Next Week:A client wears raw squid in her hair (nasty) and Dee predicts Charlie’s departure from the show. Well, I don’t know about that, but I can tell you who isn’t leaving…
