British celebrity hairstylist and beauty brand entrepreneur John Frieda has passed away at the age of 75. His death was announced on Tuesday in an Instagram statement shared by his hair salon, noting that he died peacefully surrounded by his family.
Born in London in 1951, Frieda followed a family tradition into the industry; his father operated a west London salon and his grandfather worked as a Fleet Street barber. He initially gained prominence as an assistant at the star-studded House of Leonard before launching his own central London salon in 1976. Over the decades, his client roster grew to include numerous high-profile figures such as Twiggy, Jackie Kennedy, Mick Jagger, Diana, Princess of Wales, Madonna, and Nicole Kidman. Among his most recognizable creations was the iconic Purdey bowl cut he designed for actor Joanna Lumley in 1976.
In the 1990s, Frieda transitioned from styling hair to focus on product development, creating the popular Frizz-Ease serum in 1988 and building an international hair care brand. In 2002, he and his business partner sold the company to the Japanese conglomerate Kao for $450 million.
Tributes poured in from across the fashion and beauty communities following the announcement, including remarks from the British Beauty Council, Trinny Woodall, and colleagues at his salon who remembered him as a true industry icon and maverick.
Frieda is survived by his family, including his wife Avery Agnelli and his children.
