A SALON boss is preparing for no sleep and a week of creating weird and whacky hairstyles when she heads backstage at the Eurovision Song Contest.

Claire Turner, who owns Salon Tinted in Westcliff, is looking forward to the “highlight of her career” as she joins the backstage hair team at the competition.

Creating a whole host of looks for the dancers, singers and performers, Ms Turner is “expecting the unexpected”.

The 42-year-old - who has flown all over the world teaching hairdressing - will travel to Rotterdam in the Netherlands on May 16.

She said: “It’s such an amazing honour to be taking part, I’ve flown to so many places like Russia, Asia, Brazil and Europe teaching others how to colour hair and I’m an annual judge at the British Hairdressing Awards, but I’ve never done anything like this.

“It’s probably easier to think of places I haven’t been, but I never once even dreamed I’d end up at Eurovision, especially when I first started.

“There are a few selected hairdressers from the UK going over to join a big international team, everyone you see on stage will have been done by us.

“When I go away I do the mad avant-garde stuff and we do a few creative looks in the salon as it is, but I’m certainly looking forward to working with the Nordics - they always go a bit bonkers.

“Overall I’ll be there a week and I’m expecting zero sleep when I’m there, but it will be incredible. I’m planning to sleep for a week when I’m back.”

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Fans across the world were disappointed when the competition was cancelled last year due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Final plans for this year’s competition - next month - have not been confirmed but it's understood the event will take place without fans.

Ms Turner, who opened her salon in July, will receive Covid tests before, during and after her visit, to make her as safe as possible.

Moroccanoil - an oil which maintains scalp health and balance PH levels - is sponsoring Eurovision and Ms Turner has been invited due to her use of the oil in her salon.

She added: “It all came about where we’ve got Moroccanoil in the salon, and they asked me if I’d do the competition.“There will be lots of Covid tests before I go and I think it will be a bit different this time round due to Covid with lots of PPE and masks, but I can’t wait.

“I suspect it will be a bit of both the artists choosing their own styles and we’ll work with them on what would look best.

“But I’ve been doing hairdressing since 2000. I started off as a receptionist, became an assistant and worked my way up through the ranks. This is such a big deal for us which I know I’ll never forget.”

The final is on May 22.