Three Evening Press readers who won our New Year makeover competition were treated to dramatic new hair styles. MAXINE GORDON watched the results.

THE chance to start 2004 with a new image proved an enticement for Evening Press readers.

We offered the chance to win a fabulous makeover at York's newest and hippest hair salon, West Row in High Petergate.

West Row Hairdressing has become a flagship for Yorkshire style. It is the county's largest salon group and its photo collections and style tips regularly feature in magazines and newspapers. It has notched up a host of accolades including the Salon of the Year 2002 title at the British Hairdressing Business Awards.

Our three winners won an afternoon of pampering, including a new cut and colour by those creative geniuses at West Row. Then they had their make-up done by staff in the cosmetics department at Fenwick, York, before a photo-shoot for the Evening Press.

As you can see from the before and after pictures, the transformations are pretty dramatic.

But what were the verdicts? Read on...

Louise Foster, 23, of Selby, who works for caravan dealership Wandahome

Louise has spent the best part of a year 'growing out' the disastrous results from a visit to a York salon which shall remain nameless. She wrote: "After eight months of growing out a very dodgy haircut, I am now ready for a new look. West Row's attention to client care sounds just what I need."

Makeover: Hair by Simone at West Row, makeup by Gemma at Pout in Fenwick.

Simone says: "Louise wanted a new look, but didn't want to go too short. She was quite nervous. Her hair was unevenly layered and too dark, which washed her out. I used a chocolate semi-permanent colour to warm it up and added some rich coppery highlights. I cut it to the nape of the neck, leaving some length at the front. I gave her a solid fringe - fringes are really fashionable just now - and then razored the layers to blend them in a bit."

Verdict:

Louise says: "I love it. The layers are really nice and I like the sweeping fringe. The copper highlights have really warmed the colour. A lot of my friends and family think it's really nice. One of my friends is a hairdresser and says it's a really good cut, so that's quite a compliment."

Maureen Dowson, 55, antiques dealer from Sherburn-in Elmet

Maureen runs an antiques business with her husband Malcolm and deals in early bears and dolls from a stall at the Stonegate Antiques Centre, York. She sees herself as a glamorous granny, but felt she was being let down by her hair.

Her letter to the Evening Press was in the form of a poem: "Oh I would like a new image for 2004... My hair is long and in need of a trim, so please curl my hair, I do implore."

Makeover: Hair by Loretta at West Row, makeup by Hayley at Fenwick.

Loretta said: "Maureen didn't like her hair, so went for a change. I cut an asymmetrical fringe and put in some layers. To show off the new shape and enhance the layers, I put in some blonde highlights, but also some darker ones through the sides and under the fringe."

Verdict:

Maureen says: "I really enjoyed the day and they did my hair really well. I had been growing it for a while, but it didn't really flatter my face. I either wanted it shorter, or a perm, but Loretta talked me out of that. She said a perm would stop it looking so shiny. So I went a bit shorter, had some layers and three different colours of highlights. All my friends and family think it's fantastic. I really like it. I might be a gran, but I like to be modern and keep with it."

Louise Sutcliffe, 36, mum-of-three, from Foxwood, York

Being a full-time mum to Paige, seven, Reece, four, and Ethan, five months, doesn't leave Louise much time to look after herself. She wrote: "My partner Phil often works away from home, so I tend not to have much time to pamper myself".

Makeover: Hair by Rachel at West Row and makeup by Sarah of YSL at Fenwick.

Rachel says: "We brightened up the colour by putting in a baby blonde and broke the uniformity with highlights of caramels and golds. I gave her a very solid fringe and a very sharp bob with some graduation layering so it hung well."

Verdict:

Louise says: "It's brilliant. I love the restyle and the colour. My partner said it was nice to have a change. I really enjoyed being pampered and welcomed all the make-up tips too. I even bought some of the make-up for myself. Even on the school run, some of the mums have commented on how nice my hair is. I'll definitely go back when I need it done again."

West Row Hairdressing, 31 High Petergate, York, Tel: 01904 629991.

Updated: 08:47 Saturday, February 21, 2004