A YOUNG colourist has her fingers crossed after reaching the last five of a major hairdressing competition.

Steph Knapp will be putting her skills on the line against four others in the London regional finals of the L’Oreal Young Colourist Award 2012 on Wednesday (April 4).

Competing against colourists from more than 1,000 salons, the 19-year-old’s brief was to create a female look that demonstrated a wearable, commercial, fashion-led high street colour and finish.

Miss Knapp, who works at Aitch & Aitch, High Street, West Wickham, worked with a model, make-up artist and photographer before submitting a dossier to the panel of judges.

The former pupil of The Priory School said: “I am thrilled to be in the final five.

“It's really exciting to have got this far in the competition and I'm keeping my fingers crossed.”