Understand
Wellingborough hairdresser who lost sight now styles stars
Overview
JJ Savani, a 37-year-old hairdresser from Wellingborough, overcame severe vision loss caused by keratoconus and a subsequent period of severe personal and mental health struggles to become a celebrity stylist. After losing his NHS career, home, and marriage, an anonymous donor paid for him to retrain at the London School of Barbering. He now styles high-profile clients internationally and has written a book to support Moorfields Eye Hospital.
Key points
- JJ Savani suffered a severe decline in his eyesight in 2017 due to keratoconus, a progressive eye condition.
- Following a corneal transplant at Moorfields Eye Hospital, he was left partially sighted and had to resign from his NHS job.
- He experienced severe personal hardship, including the death of his father, the breakdown of his marriage, and a stay in a mental health unit.
- An anonymous donor funded his training course at the London School of Barbering, allowing him to rebuild his career.
- He has since styled high-profile musicians and cricketers, working internationally across Dubai, Europe, and India.
- He has written a book titled Positioned, with profits donated to Moorfields Eye Hospital to support further research.