The second episode of the second season of Shear Genius aired on Bravo last night, and we got to know the three out contestants better ... or as I like to call them, "the good, the bad, and the hairy".

The first challenge of the night was called "Short Cuts", and I was crushed when it turned out not to be a Robert Altman tribute. I was so looking forward to the look on the clients' faces when they ended up with Shelley Duvall's unique take on Olive Oyl or Ronee Blakley's hair helmet from Nashville. And what confident woman wouldn't benefit from a Cher weave circa Come Back to the Five and Dime, Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean?

Alas, it wasn't an Altman tribute, just short haircuts.

After the challenge starts, the guest judge shows up, and OMG, you're not going to believe who it is! The guest judge turns out to be ... Tabatha! ... whom I've never seen before! Apparently, she was a contestant last season, and won the "fan favorite" award, which makes me wonder exactly how many fans of this show have a "Stern Mommy/Dominatrix" fetish. Out stylist Charlie wins the challenge with his Mia Farrow circa Rosemary's Baby cut, while out stylist Paolo ends up in the bottom two.

The stylists wake up the next morning to find a bowl of oranges in the kitchen, and try to figure out what that clue means. The general consensus is that it means they'll be styling hair for the prisoners in the Orange County jail. The actual challenge turns out to be far more terrifying.

They enter the studio, and discover that they'll be designing hair for the cast of The Real Leather Saddlebags Housewives of Orange County. I almost fall out of my chair when stylist/judge Rene Fris announces that they will be doing makeovers for the "housewives and their dollars". I think "well, it makes sense, actually", then I realize he actually said "daughters", not "dollars".

In introducing the ladies, the show makes a huge logistical error by having the "housewives" hold up oranges next to their bodies, which is like asking an albino to hold up a snowball. You can't tell where one ends and the other begins.

Find out how our three out stylists performed, and who went home, after the break.

I have to admit, Daniel is starting to grow on me. Last week, I thought he was doing a bad Truvy from Steel Magnolias, but his exuberance and sincerity broke through my defenses this week. How can you not love someone who publicly admits to dressing up and having a party to celebrate the on-air wedding of one of the Orange County housewives? Daniel had immunity after winning last week, and he does well again this week. I think he definitely has a shot at the finals, even though he doesn't have that "killer" instinct that is important in shows like this. When he started tearing up and becoming emotional at the elimination ceremony because he "didn't want anyone to leave", I actually bought it!

Charlie has obviously assigned himself the role of "bitter, sarcastic asshat" (no, I'm not jealous), and I hope it's just an act. When he wins the first challenge, that means he's able to steal someone's housewife away from them for the elimination challenge, and he decides to take Daniels' housewife, and says "I'm sure he wasn't happy, but the bitch has immunity, so whatever. I would have taken her from whoever had her because I wanted her, and that's that." When Daniel starts crying when someone is about to be eliminated, Charlie isn't buying it. "Daniel's like totally losing it, crying. The Oscars are over, baaaaby. I know you want to win Best Supporting Actress, but reaaaally". Aahh ... the spirit of Miguel is alive and well. There's no denying that Charlie is a good stylist, though, and he wins both the shortcut challenge and the main challenge, which means he has immunity for next week.

Paolo had another rough time this week. The queerwolf came in the bottom two in the shortcut challenge, and had a novel approach to the main challenge. Instead of actually cutting and styling his housewife's hair, he decided to ...ndo nothing with it, and try to pass it off as a different "variation" of the same style. The judges weren't buying it, though, and Paolo was once again in the bottomthree in the elimination round. He lucked out, though, and straight stylist Parker was sent packing instead. (you can see him in the clip below)

Well, our three out stylists survived another week, but I think the days are numbered for one of them. Come back next time, for what promises to be some medium hot meltdowns, and more "special guests".