Shi Dan (left) designs hairstyles with Chinese characteristics. Shi has won several international medals in the industry. [Photo for China Daily]

Giving back to society

Since winning the competition, Shi has committed herself to being a teacher at a vocational high school in Gongshu District, Hangzhou since September 2019, as well as a coach to the national team, with the hope of cultivating more talent in hairstyling and helping more young people realize their dreams.

At present, Shi and her teacher Ji Zhenglong are busy training young people with hairstyling skills. On May 31, 2022, the WorldSkills Organization decided to cancel the 46th WorldSkills Competition which was scheduled to be held in Shanghai due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Now the hairstyling competition will be held in Finland in mid-October this year.

"Our current goal is to defend our championship," Shi told China Daily.

"The hairstyling of our country features grandeur, delicacy, composure and self-restraint, which is constantly emphasized when we train the younger generation. Our style should not only conform to the aesthetics of different countries but also reflect our characteristics," Shi said.

"There is no unified standard for beauty, but the characteristics of each era and the cultural heritage of a country can always be inherited, so I hope that competitors from other countries can see our country's interpretation of beauty," Shi said.

Since Shi joined the hairstyling industry in 2013, she has devoted herself to public service. Shi told China Daily: "As long as I have time, I'd like to go to squares, communities, streets and other places to provide my services."

As one of the members of the Hangzhou Volunteer Service Team, she provides free haircuts for the elderly over 60 years old and she tries her best to make them happy.

"By offering public service, I can feel the value that our industry brings to society and I hope that more people can devote themselves to public service," Shi said.