Shear Genius - Series Genius

After the fairly disappointing Top Design, I have to admit that I was unsure what to make of Shear Genius, but good news everyone! At least based on the first episode, Shear Genius is tons of fun, making it a much more worthy successor to the truly amazing Project Runway and Top Chef than was Top Design. Just as the previous shows searched for the best fashion designer, chef, and interior decorator, Shear Genius is a search for the best hairstylist out of a batch of 12 seasoned pros. The winner will receive $100,000 from Nexxus, an apprenticeship with Nexxus stylist Roy Teluck, and a chance to style hair for an Allure magazine feature. Stylist Rene Fris serves as “salon manager” while Charlie’s Angels’ Jaclyn Smith hosts and serves as head judge along with Sally Hershberger and Michael Carl.

The show will feature two challenges each week. The first is called a Short Cut Challenge, followed by an Elimination Challenge. The Short Cut this week will test the stylists’ technical skills; they have one hour to create their signature style on a mannequin head. Sally will serve as the judge and she will rank everyone from 1 to 12, with the winner receiving first model choice in the Elimination Challenge.

For some reason, we didn’t get brief little introductions to each contestant so we’re left to judge everyone based on first impressions. Some make no impression at all. As the stylists go to work on their decapitated dummy heads, it becomes clear that two people are going to be interesting characters: Dr. Boogie, a flamboyant he-diva who likes to cut hair with clippers, and Evangelin, a mother who loves cutting hair so much that it makes her cry as she explains that “there’s nothing better than what I do.” Oh brother.

Most of the final signature styles look like complete disasters. My favorite was Paul-Jean’s, which looked like something Jaclyn Smith would do with her hair. Sally announces the results from worst to best: in last place was Tabatha, followed by Lacey, Evangelin, Ben, Jim, Theodore, Anthony, Danna, and Dr. Boogie. Paul-Jean came in third, with Daisy in second, and Tyson winning first place for his “modern and edgy” ‘do. Aww, Tyson’s excited because his mom’s going to be proud since she’s the one that brought him into the hair business. Tyson seems really odd, but he’s almost cute despite his awkward stiffness.

HAHAHAHA!!! WOW…Dr. Boogie apparently isn’t gay, even though he makes definitely gay Theodore look butch. As Jaclyn introduces Rene Fris to the stylists, Boogie tells the camera that he’s “not gay or anything like that but Rene is gorgeous!” What is it with all these closet cases on the Bravo shows?!? Suddenly, Matt on Top Design actually seems credibly straight.

The Elimination Challenge is to create a hair art masterpiece in two hours. For those of you not in the know, hair art isn’t actually something a reasonable person would wear; it’s a crazy looking hair installation featuring added components in addition to the hair.

Rene takes the stylists to Michael’s to shop for art supplies. They get 10 minutes and $75 each. Much as I liked Paul-Jean earlier, he’s now starting to seriously get on my nerves. He apparently feels that this challenge is stupid because nobody would ever walk into his salon and ask him to create hair art. No shit, Frenchie. That’s why it’s “art.” It’s not meant to be practical.

Dr. Boogie threatens to pinch Rene’s nipples as he’s being rung up at the register. He’s straight.

The stylists choose their models in order of rank, meaning Tyson goes first and Tabatha gets stuck with the last model. Paul-Jean makes a scene over the fact that all the models he wanted have been chosen already, causing Rene to slightly lose his cool. And Boogie, who is still 100% straight, jokes about wanting to choose Rene instead of a model.

As the stylists get to work, it becomes clear that these hairdos are either going to be stunning or completely hideous. It also becomes clear that Paul-Jean is indeed a total jackass when he bickers with Rene and says that the master stylist is out of his league when he critiques the Paul-Jean’s work.

Jaclyn, Sally and Michael are joined by guest judge Frédéric Fekkai, who is apparently a big shot in the hairstyling world.

The stylists did an absolutely amazing job. Most of these are stunning, especially Theodore’s, which incorporated a jewel box onto the model’s head and actually popped open to reveal treasure! Tabatha’s crazy mohawk-like ‘do was also awesome. Jim and Lacey both turned in complete boring hairdos and Paul-Jean’s was a train wreck of extensions.

Tabatha, despite finishing dead last in the Short Cut, ends up in the top three along with Theodore and Daisy, but it’s Theodore’s inventive work that wins the prize as Jaclyn declares: “Your work was shear genius!”

Tyson, despite winning the Short Cut, finds himself in the bottom three with Lacey and Paul-Jean, but Tyson is the first of the three to be sent back to safety. I thought the judges were going to send home Lacey, who really didn’t do much of anything, but instead it’s Paul-Jean who hears the words: “I’m sorry, this was your final cut.”