A GWENT hairdresser aims to put Wales on the hairdressing map as he takes part in a prestigious international competition.

Rhys Giles, 18, who works at Mane Attraction in Cwmbran, has the opportunity to gain international fame and fortune by competing in the 50th Anniversary L'Oreal Colour Trophy Competition.

Rhys has already been tipped as a future hairdressing star by a top London stylist.

Rhys and 18-year-old model Gemma Reardon will represent Wales in the Western Regional Final in the Passenger Shed, Bristol, on March 31. He said: "Hairdressing-wise, nobody from Wales has really made a mark on the world so I hope to put Welsh hairdressing on the map."

Rhys' team will need to impress a celebrity judging panel including Richard Ward and Terry Calvert, with their autumn/winter 2005 look, to beat other finalists and win one of five coveted places in the London grand final to be held in May.

Rhys has worked at his father's hairdressers since the age of 13. He said: "I've been doing hairdressing since I was 13, as a Saturday boy. "I qualified as a hairdresser two and a half years ago."

He has recently worked with top London stylist Sean Hanna, who said: "With the right direction he will have no difficulty in becoming one of the new generation of stars to emerge from Wales."

Rhys' father, Steven Giles, who runs Mane Attraction, said: "I am very proud of Rhys. He wants to do really well for Welsh hairdressing."