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How do we end up where we are? Life is full of ‘Sliding Door’ moments of innocuous little incidents that then change the trajectory of our lives. For better or for worse.
Real sliding doors have been around since at least the first century having been discovered in houses of Pompeii. But we can go back further in Joel's story to ancient Greece and the adventures of Greek myth.
There are no Greek Gods in Joel’s story nor pleated leather skirts, but in a reimagined version of a Homer epic, for more sensitive modern times, Joel left the shores of ancient Kalamata in the Peloponnese region of Greece, an area steeped in Mycenaean and Spartan history, to conquer London’s hairdressing scene.
Joel started a modelling career early in Greece. Had he continued he may just have landed a role in a Hollywood blockbuster, but Brad Pitt beat him to it.
And luckily for us they never commissioned the Greek version of Edward Scissorhands.
Michael Van Clarke
Today, I'm sharing my journey from the shores of Kalamata, Greece, to the bustling streets of London. It's a story of passion, determination, and a bit of hair-raising adventure, so let's dive in!
I spent my childhood and teenage years in the picturesque city of Kalamata. It's a charming place by the sea, where summers are vibrant, and winters are dull. I'd long dreamt of becoming a hairdresser, inspired by a talented hair stylist who I stuck with from age 13 to 19. During those formative years, he was the epitome of cool in my eyes.
As I journeyed through my teenage years my hairstylist took me under his wing and introduced me to the world of hair shows and competitions. I got to model for these events and through these shows, I realized that some of the biggest names in the industry hailed from the UK, and that's when the idea of London began to sparkle in my mind.
At nineteen, I took the leap and headed to London knowing that if I wanted to excel in the hair industry, this was the place to be. The bustling energy of London was invigorating, and I was ready to make my mark. I dived headfirst into the world of hair styling with an apprenticeship at Michael Van Clarke. Since then, I've been fully immersed in my work as a hair stylist, honing my skills, building my clientele, and learning from the best.
London's is one of the fashion capitals of the world, so I've also made it a point to involve myself in the fashion scene as much as possible. London's fashion culture is electrifying and being part of it has been a dream come true. From runway shows to collaborating with designers, I've found a way to merge my love for hairstyling with the world of fashion.
Joel
at Michael Van Clarke
The word ‘healthspan’ has been absorbed into our daily lexicon. It pops up as often as lifespan now as the movement to maximise health progresses. Healthspan is the length of time a person is healthy, not just alive, and was coined by gerontologists in a 1987 Science article. A period of life in which you are healthy and free from chronic disease or disability.