CONFIDENCE BACK BRINGING

ALMANCIL-BASED HAIRDRESSER JIM VAN HEK HAS INTRODUCED

A NEW BESPOKE WIG SERVICE TO THE ALGARVE WITH THE SOLE PURPOSE OF MAKING PEOPLE FEEL GOOD ABOUT THEMSELVES

Words: SALLY DIXON

S A WOMAN who has always had thoroughbred racehorse-like hair (that’s what one gentleman said to me in a Yorkshire pub!) and experienced hair loss in the past, I was intrigued to find out more about Jim Van Hek’s new venture helping people who have, or are in the process of, experiencing hair loss. Hair loss can happen to anyone, at any age, at any time and for a multitude of reasons. You might be surprised to know that on average we lose anywhere between 50 and 100 strands of hair a day naturally without really noticing. It’s when that hair starts showing up in clumps on your bathroom floor that it can be extremely distressing for many. Temporary hair loss can be a result of many things, including illness, stress, cancer treatment, thyroid imbalance, weight loss and iron deficiency. The words androgenetic alopecia, telogen effluvium (the one I had), anagen effluvium, alopecia areata, tinea capitis – the list goes on – are all forms of hair loss. Whether it’s temporary or permanent, losing our precious locks can be a real source of upset and lead to a lack of confidence in both women and men. Which is where Jim, Dutch hairdresser and Algarve resident of 20 years, steps in.

Jim has been in the hair industry for over 35 years so there’s no denying he knows a thing or two when it comes to your locks. Not just a genius with real hair, Jim found he was spending a fair bit of time correcting wigs for existing clients that were just not working for them and their lifestyle. Many clients were coming in with wigs bought elsewhere that were proving to be too thick and too warm for the more than balmy Portuguese days. Jim would take the time to develop corrections to the wigs with the aim of making them more comfortable.

AIf you’ve ever met Jim, you’ll know that he’s a calmly spoken, healthy living guy (he does yoga every day at 6am!) and so it was second nature for him to want to find a better solution for his clients. A phone call to a former colleague in Holland, descendant of three generations of wigmakers, and Jim would discover that Paris was the place to go for top-notch wigs and hair pieces. He says: “I discovered the Elite Hair International group in Paris making really thin wigs for women and men, with an invisible front lace matched to your skin colour, that you can wear in the hot summer, even walking on the beach.” Jim recognised the value of these wigs to his clients, and a new business idea was born.

His focus so far has been on helping people going through chemotherapy. He even has a dedicated gym space within his salon where clients can exercise with a personal trainer in private, to work on their mobility and well-being, while undergoing treatment. “As someone who trains every day, I know the benefits of moving and staying mobile,” he says, “If l you feel well, you start to heal better, it’s a beautiful combination.”

Working with the oncology department at Gambelas private hospital in Faro and other healthcare professionals is a priority for Jim. As the sole distributor of Elite Hair International wigs in the Algarve, he’s keen for people to see what can be achieved and how this could be the confidence boost people been searching for. Jim says: “With chemotherapy, people normally need a wig for around 12 months. Those that they usually buy are real hair wigs that are heavy, the colour fades quickly with the sunshine, and if you wash them, you have to blow dry them into a style yourself. Something not many people can do.”

A 1.5-hour consultation will see Jim work with you to create a bespoke wig exactly to your desires, specifications and personalised colour options. The wigs are fully synthetic, and Jim is so confident in their quality that he says: “When I was in Paris, they put a lot of wigs in front of me on the table, they asked me to pick out the real hair one and I couldn’t. I could not tell the difference between the synthetic wig and the real hair one.”

Jim takes your measurements and your style preference, emails it to Paris and the wig is often back in the salon within two weeks, ready to be trimmed and fitted. Super lightweight, it is made to your specific measurements enabling it to fit like a glove. In the winter, there is an option to wear a super-thin, bamboo skull cap over your scalp that keeps your head at exactly body temperature (37.5° celsius in case you’re wondering!). Super easy to care for, a synthetic wig can be washed simply in a bowl, placed on a specialised stand and it will dry back in the exact shape that it was when you got it from Jim. Like magic! If only standard hair maintenance was that easy every day. Just stay well clear of any heated appliances as you risk melting your new do.

Many of us can appreciate the power of a hair makeover when it comes to lifting your spirits, boosting your confidence and just generally feeling like you can take on the world. Hands up who’s had a style change after a particularly bad breakup?! You might be lucky enough to not experience hair loss but just fancy a change of style every so often (without a drastic cut or a breakup!), Jim’s wigs can give you a whole new look in an instant.

A stylish collection of turbans also caught my eye, making me reminisce about the bohemian beach days of summer and long, lazy lunches at Gigi’s. For Jim, it is all about giving people their confidence back. Having worked on people’s hair for so long, it was easy for him to see what was missing in the market. He says: “We thought we’d go into fashion a little with the turbans. We looked at how we could make a change if you can’t wear the wig for some reason; you can still feel confident and protect your scalp from the sun with a beautiful turban.”

Next month sees Jim heading off to Paris once again, to learn specifically how to help people with alopecia areata (patchy baldness) that requires a specialist technique of creating real hair pieces. It doesn’t just stop at hair either, there are plans to bring in eyebrow pieces and create a make-up corner in the salon so clients can have private make-up lessons.

Whether you’re experiencing temporary or permanent, total or partial hair loss, you can rest assured that you’re in safe (and stylish) hands with Jim.