Celebrity Hairstylist John Frieda Dies Aged 75

British celebrity hairstylist and beauty entrepreneur John Frieda has died aged 75, leaving behind a legacy in the international hair and beauty industry.

Frieda became a sought-after stylist during the 1960s and 1970s, working with high-profile clients including British model Twiggy, former US First Lady Jackie Kennedy and Rolling Stones frontman Mick Jagger.

He was also known for creating the iconic Purdey bowl haircut worn by actress Joanna Lumley in The New Avengers in 1976, as well as building a successful haircare brand bearing his name.

His death was announced by his hair salon in an Instagram statement on Tuesday, which said he had passed away peacefully surrounded by his family.

“John was more than a mentor to us; he was a true icon of the hair industry. He was the person who taught us everything, believed in us, and made us better,” the statement read.

Other famous clients throughout his career included Diana, Princess of Wales, Madonna, Nicole Kidman and Scarlett Johansson.

From family business to international success

Born Alan Howard Frieda in London in 1951, he came from a family of hairdressers. His father owned a salon in Ealing, west London, while his grandfather worked as a Fleet Street barber.

Frieda followed the family tradition and later joined Leonard Lewis’s prestigious House of Leonard salon, where he worked as an assistant. The salon was known for creating Twiggy’s famous short haircut.

He subsequently worked with fashion publications including British Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar.

In 1976, Frieda opened his own salon in central London. It quickly became popular, with appointments booked months in advance. He later expanded internationally, opening salons in locations including Barbados, Ibiza and Los Angeles.

During the 1990s, he shifted his focus from hairstyling to developing his own range of haircare products. One of his most successful creations was Frizz-Ease serum, launched in 1988.

His business expanded across the United States and other international markets. In 2002, Frieda and his business partner, Gail Federici, sold the company to Japanese conglomerate Kao for $450 million (£334 million).

Family and tributes

Frieda was married to singer Lulu from 1977 to 1990, and they had one son, actor and food entrepreneur Jordan Frieda.

He later married Avery Agnelli, widow of Fiat heir Giovanni Agnelli. They had two children together, and he also had a stepdaughter.

His stepdaughter, Asia Agnelli Lagrange, paid tribute on Instagram, sharing photographs of them together over the years.

“Today we lost the best man to ever exist. I share this because I know he touched the lives of so many,” she wrote.

The British Beauty Council also sent its condolences, while television presenter and beauty entrepreneur Trinny Woodall expressed her support for the family.

Tributes from the beauty industry

Model and television personality Jo Wood, former wife of Rolling Stones guitarist Ronnie Wood, described his death as deeply sad.

Recalling their early encounters, she said Frieda had styled her hair when he was working as an assistant at Leonard’s salon.

Cetera Lamb, creative director at Frieda’s London salon, described him as “a true legend, a real maverick in hairdressing”.

She said he had led the salon for 50 years, leaving behind a legacy of creativity, vision and outstanding hairstyling.

The salon pledged to continue celebrating his achievements and preserving the values and passion that shaped his career.