KEY POINTS:
The Chatham Islands are facing a crisis of hair-raising proportions.
The New Zealand territory, about 700km east of the mainland, has lost its hairdresser after 14 years' faithful service and has been unable to find a replacement.
General store and salon owner Simone Croon said as a result islanders' hair was growing out of control, leading to some rather crude attempts at cutting.
"The regrowth is terrible, believe me," she said.
The Chathams want an experienced hairdresser for one week of every six to work "dawn to dusk" to get through the line-up of shaggy islanders.
"They will be fully booked and [the trip] will pay for itself," Ms Croon said.
"It would be an experience of a lifetime and, hopefully, we will get someone willing to stick to it.
"It's been the big talk of the town - the hairdresser."
The young men on the island were demanding someone young and blonde but Ms Croon said at this point they were willing to take anyone who could cut hair.
Her internet ads for the position had so far failed to create much interest with one application coming from India and another from Malaysia.
However, Ms Croon said a New Zealand citizen was what was required. "Everyone said they knew someone and would get in touch with them when they could, but it hasn't come to anything".
The salon was built 15 years ago "because there was just nothing. The women needed a place to come and gather and chat."
The Chathams' retired hairdresser, Paula Page, said the islanders had always been good clients.
She predicted the person to fill her role would also need to have a personal connection to the Chathams.
