Shear Genius is an American reality competition television series produced by Reveille Productions in which contestants engage in weekly hairstyling and cutting elimination competitions until a winner is determined.
The series premiered in the USA on Bravo on 11 April, 2007.
Shear Genius premiered in South Africa on DStv's M-Net Series channel on Friday 8 August 2008, at 21h00. See "Seasons" below for seasonal broadcast dates and times.
Season 3 premiered on M-Net Series on Friday 6 August 2010, at 21h30. New episodes broadcast weekly. There are 10 hour-long episodes in the third season.
Repeats
Saturdays: 03h30, 09h30, 15h30
Season 1
Hosted by Golden Globe-nominated actress, designer, and entrepreneur Jaclyn Smith, Shear Genius offers a behind-the-scenes look at the competitive and creative world of high-end hairstyling.
To win this competition, a group of talented hairstylists from around the world will literally go head-to-head in creative challenges that require more than just talent with a comb and scissors.
Whether it's the bob, bouffant, perm, or chignon, hair becomes an art form as the contestants with a flair for hair compete in challenges that could put them one step closer to being crowned a "Shear Genius."
From the guy next door to the A-list celebrity, everyone is a potential client and provides a true test of skill. The crop of budding stylists will come from all walks of life and hail from all over the nation.
Some will get "cut" early and others will "blow away" the competition.
Season 1 Contestants
Anthony, 40, from Manhattan Beach, California (originally from England)
Ben, 32, from Chicago, Illinois
Daisy, 31, from Hialeah, Florida
Danna, 37, from Santa Monica, California (originally from South Africa)
Dr. Boogie, 33, from North Hollywood, California
Evangelin, 32, from Reisterstown, Maryland
Jim, 49, from Buffalo, New York
Lacey, 22, from Miami Beach, Florida
Paul Jean, 29, from Beverly Hills, California (originally from France)
Tabatha, 39, from Ridgewood, New Jersey (originally from Australia)
Theodore, 22, from Canton, Ohio
Tyson, 31, from Salt Lake City, Utah
Season 2
Hosted by Golden Globe-nominated actress, designer, and entrepreneur Jaclyn Smith, the second season of Bravo's creative competition series Shear Genius offers a behind-the-scenes look at the competitive and creative world of high-end hairstyling.
Famed celebrity hairstylist Kim Vo and Allure beauty editor Kelly Atterton serve as lead judges this season, replacing Season 1's Sally Hershberger and Michael Carl.
Accomplished stylist Rene Fris returns as the competitors' mentor.
Bravo's nationwide search for talented hair stylists unearthed a group of gifted competitors from all over America who will vie for the ultimate title of "Shear Genius," $100,000 in seed money and a chance to style hair for an Allure magazine feature.
The stylists face two challenges per episode — the Short Cut Challenge, testing technical hairstyling skills; and the Elimination Challenge, testing creativity and advanced skills.
Every challenge will be inventive and extraordinary, pushing them out of their comfort zone and requiring more than just finesse with a comb and scissors.
The stylists will also need to possess the ability to service client needs, manage a staff and work as part of a team, simultaneously, in order to make it in this competition.
In each episode, host Smith delivers the news to the chosen winner and loser with input from Atterton and Vo, as well as a lineup of guest judges.
Some stylists will get "cut" early and others will "blow away" the competition.
Season 2 Contestants
Charlie, 38, from Denver, Colorado
Daniel, 28, from Dallas, Texas
Dee, 37, from Miami, Florida
Gail, 25, from Columbus, Ohio
Glenn, 36, from Decatur, Alabama
Matthew, 37, from Dallas, Texas
Meredith, 36, from Chicago, Illinois
Nekisa, 29, from Concord, California
Nicole, 24, from New York City, New York
Oshun, 31, from Los Angeles, California
Parker, 32, from West Palm Beach, Florida
Paulo, 37, from San Jose, California
Season 3
Shear Genius is back for a third season with a whole new look.
International model and handbag designer Camila Alves makes her hosting debut alongside new series judge Jonathan Antin, celebrity stylist and former star of Bravo's hit series Blow Out.
Famed stylist Kim Vo returns as a judge for his second season and new to the series, accomplished stylist Orlando Pita adds his voice of expertise as mentor to the contestants.
Shear Genius has gone international for the first time ever and after combing the world in search of top stylists, Bravo has assembled 12 talented individuals who will raise the level of competition as never seen before.
The winner will receive $100,000 in prize money furnished by Nexxus Salon Hair Care, an apprenticeship with Nexxus and the chance to style hair for an Allure magazine photo shoot.
The world of styling is much bigger than just a salon – and Shear Genius offers a glimpse into that captivating and little-known arena.
This season the challenges are more glamorous, the hair more knotty, and the competition more fierce, as the contestants attempt to demonstrate that their style is a cut above the rest.
Throughout the course of the series, the stylists' skills are put to the test as they find themselves working behind the scenes at an iconic hotel, styling a celebrity at a glamorous home in the Hollywood Hills, and even in a rural barn.
Shear Genius is produced by Reveille for Bravo. Mark Koops, Howard T. Owens and Teri Kennedy serve as executive producers.
Season 3 Contestants
Adee, 36, from London, England
Amy, 25, from Toronto, Canada
April, 42, from New York, New York
Arzo, 35, from San Francisco, California
Brian, 37, from New York, New York
Brig, 33, from Simi Valley, California
Faatemah, 36, from Minneapolis, Minnesota
Giacomo, 43, from Austin, Texas
Janine, 28, from Los Angeles, California
Joey, 29, from Melbourne, Australia
Jon, 38, from Nashville, Tennessee
Winners
Season 1: Anthony Morrison
Season 2: Dee Adames
Seasons
All seasons air exclusively on M-Net Series
Season 1 (9 episodes)
Premiere: 8 August 2008 | Finale: 3 October 2008 | Fridays, 21h00
Season 2 (10 episodes)
Premiere: 13 November 2009 | Finale: 15 January 2010 | Fridays, 21h00
Season 3 (10 episodes)
Premiere: 6 August 2010 | Finale: 8 October 2010 | Fridays, 21h30