It’s about to get hairy

Edward Scissorhands effortlessly won the hearts of moviegoers, snipping locks with stream-of-consciousness mastery. Sure, the style may have been a little asymmetric, but that was talent—1990s style.

But if Edward had been a contestant on a reality show today, such antics wouldn’t guarantee love from American audiences, probably not even a standing ovation. We want more. Suspense. Drama. And we want hairstyles that are off the hook, damnit.

Hair Games 2009 is like a hodgepodge of all of the best reality-show addictions: American Idol, Project Runway, Extreme Makeover. The event will run four consecutive Saturdays and will bring the craziness of a Wild West showdown to the 21st-century club scene. Twelve local salons—armed with blow dryers, round brushes and scissors—will shampoo, cut and style their hearts out in hopes to be crowned the Style Champion. But, wait. It’s not just a face-off between stylists; they will compete with models and dancers in a five-minute routine of music, sound, vision and theatrics to show off those coiffures.

Proceeds from the event will benefit Village Care International, which helps widows and children orphaned by AIDS in Africa. Edward Scissorhands was an orphan. Do it for Edward.