He may look like a rock star but hairstylist Jim van Hek has the patience of a buddha. Despite the calmness, he is feisty, determined and driven and, with blossoming business interests, an adventurous entrepreneur who seeks opportunity and maximises on potential.

Born in Holland of Indonesian parents, Jim van Hek was attracted to a career in hairdressing when he read about the success of the likes of Tony & Guy, Vidal Sassoon and Alexandre de Paris, all celebs in their own field, whose opinions were courted and whose own-name products were on shelves of every toiletries department… He visited their shows, fell in love with the creative and business opportunities hairdressing offered and, in the 1980s, enrolled at the Hair Academy. Not the best move; Jim had his own, distinct ideas and wanted the freedom to follow a self-directed path rather than be regimented by the techniques of others.

Two highly-successful salons in Holland later, Jim his wife Suzan and their two very gorgeous children, followed their dream of living in the sun, away from the cold and wet Dutch lowlands. And – as we all know – where better than in Portugal?  They pitched up in the Algarve in 2001 and coped, somehow, with the famous red-tape and bureaucratic system that is required to start a new life.

Jim’s talent with the scissors, and his passion for raising the creative bar, resulted in a following of adoring clients, many residents here, others international visitors who would plan their haircuts and colour treatments to coincide with their holiday time spent on the Algarve. Celebrities, models, business people, golfers, Footballers – you name them and Jim could count them among his list of appreciative fans.

And for the wedding season Jim is often spotted at Faro Airport on another journey to do his magic overseas.