BATTLE ready barber Claire Cant is hoping her hair styling skills will be a cut above.

Claire, 51, has made it to the shortlist of a national competition to find the best wet shaving barber in Britain.

And husband David has been collared into being her model for the regional heat which takes place on March 5.

If Claire successfully demonstrates her top notch skills on David’s beard, she will face the most crucial shave of her life at the national final.

This will take place inside a boxing ring at Barber UK at the Birmingham NEC on May 20.

Claire, who works at Mews Barbers in Church Street, Colchester, said: “David has got to have about four days’ growth of beard!

“I love the history, the traditions, and the classic hair products. and I am now immersed in the world of barbering and I love it. I can’t wait to take part in the regional heats of this huge competition.”

Judges will be marking competitors on shave preparation, razor technique, post-shave routine, health and safety and overall efficiency.

Claire trained as a hairdresser in the 1980s, at a time when the idea of her learning the art of gentlemen’s barbering might have been unthinkable.

She said: “Firstly I am a woman, secondly, it was the era of mullets and flicks.”

After some time, Claire, of Earls Colne, decided to indulge her other passions – which include jewellery making and marathon running.

But five years ago the mum-of-two got a yearning to return to her roots and retrained as a gentleman’s barber and cut-throat shaver.

Claire added: "For me, I really enjoy the shaving and beard grooming and hair cutting and everything compliments each other. I am assuming the competition is going to be a very male heavy.”

Now in its fifth year, the annual competition, run by industry watchdogs the British Barbers’ Association and male grooming brand The Bluebeards Revenge, is fast becoming the most coveted competition of the barbering industry.