Twelve girls have put their relationships with friends and family to the ultimate test during the seventh annual hair-styling competition at the Dimensions' Summer Hair Camp.

The twelve students, who have been studying basic styling techniques during the camp, spent Wednesday afternoon competing against one another to see who could create the best hairstyle. Their victims? Friends and family who were daring enough to allow the girls to use their heads during the competition.

The summer camp ran for four weeks, teaching basic hairstyling techniques to girls between the ages of 12 and 14, said Dimensions owner Dorothy Young.

"We've had the best turnout this year, I think it has a lot to do with the age reduction," she said, adding that this was the first year she had targeted the 12-14 year old age group. "It seems very popular."

The girls, she said, are taught the basic techniques of styling, shampooing, colouring and relaxing. Some of the girls who have attended the camp have gone on to be hired by Dimensions, such as stylist Sade Smith.

Up until yesterday, all the girls' practice was done on mannequins. Then the students brought friends, family, or, as Ms Young put it, "anybody they know that trusts them", in for the competition.

The winner of yesterday's competition was Monika Pitt, who attends the Bermuda Institute

Dimensions, Ms Young added, is and will remain a hair salon, and will not be renovating into a fast food take-out restaurant, despite a report printed by The Royal Gazette yesterday. The correct name of the salon planning to turn fast-food restaurant is Posh Hair Salon, which is in the same building on King Street.

The camp is advertised every year in the Summer Activities Guide. It runs from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. every Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday for four weeks of the summer. "There is a possibility of doing a second four week session next year," said Ms Young.