Celebrity hairstylist and beauty brand entrepreneur John Frieda has died aged 75, his hair salon announced in an Instagram post on Tuesday. Frieda became a favourite with celebrities throughout the 1960s and 1970s and was known for the range of hair products bearing his name and the iconic Purdey bowl cut he created for The New Avengers actor Joanna Lumley in 1976.
His death was announced by the official Instagram account for his eponymous hair salon. The statement said: "It is with heavy hearts that we share the news that our dear John passed away peacefully….surrounded by his family." It added: "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."
Born Alan Howard Frieda in London in 1951, his father was a hairdresser who owned a salon in Ealing, while his grandfather had been a Fleet Street barber. After working for his father, Frieda joined Leonard Lewis's star-studded salon House of Leonard, famous for creating Twiggy's crop, becoming his assistant. He then worked for British Vogue and Harper's Bazaar.
In 1976, Frieda opened his own salon in central London at the age of 25, which became booked up months in advance. He later opened branches in Barbados, Ibiza and Los Angeles. In the 1990s, he stepped back from cutting hair to concentrate on developing his own brand of hair products, including Frizz-Ease hair serum, which he created in 1988. In 2002, Frieda and his business partner Gail Federici sold the company to Japanese conglomerate Kao for $450m (£334m). He retained his five salons: two in London, two in New York and one in Los Angeles.
His clients included Twiggy, Jackie Onassis, Mick Jagger, Diana Princess of Wales, Madonna, Nicole Kidman and Scarlett Johansson.
Frieda's stepdaughter, Asia Agnelli Lagrange, confirmed his death on social media, sharing a series of photos with the caption: "Today we lost the best man to ever exist. I share this because I know he touched the lives of so many."
Paying tribute, the British Beauty Council sent "love and condolences". TV presenter and beauty entrepreneur Trinny Woodall commented: "Sending so much love to you all."
Model and TV personality Jo Wood, the ex-wife of Rolling Stones guitarist Ronnie Wood, described the news as "so sad". "When I was 16 and John worked as an assistant at Leonard's he would do my hair. He was so great…" she recalled.
Cetera Lamb, creative director at Frieda's London salon, said the industry had lost "a true legend, a real maverick in hairdressing. For 50 years, he led our wonderful salon, leaving behind an incredible legacy of passion, creativity, vision and outstanding hairdressing."
Frieda was married to singer Lulu from 1977 to 1990 and had one son from that relationship. He was later married to Avery Agnelli, with whom he had two children and a stepdaughter. He is survived by his wife, four children and two grandchildren.
Analysis
Why This Matters
- John Frieda's Frizz-Ease serum changed the haircare market, making him a household name globally.
- His celebrity clients and the iconic Purdey cut made him a defining figure in British fashion and pop culture.
- His sale of the product line for $450m showed the commercial value of a stylist-led brand.
Background
John Frieda (born Alan Howard Frieda in London, 1951) built a career from a family hairdressing business to become one of the most recognised celebrity stylists in the world. He created the famous Purdey bowl cut for actress Joanna Lumley in 1976 and later developed a haircare empire centred on the Frizz-Ease product line. He sold the brand in 2002 but retained ownership of several high-end salons in London, New York and Los Angeles.
Key Perspectives
- John Frieda's salon (Instagram): "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."
- Asia Agnelli Lagrange (stepdaughter): "Today we lost the best man to ever exist."
- Cetera Lamb (creative director, Frieda's London salon): "The industry has lost a true legend, a real maverick in hairdressing."
- Jo Wood (model, ex-wife of Ronnie Wood): "Oh No… that’s so sad. When I was 16 and John worked as an assistant at Lenards he would do my hair. He was so great…"
What to Watch
- Tributes from other former clients or industry figures may emerge in the coming days.
- Announcements regarding his salons' future: the creative director said they will "continue in his honour".
- Any new retrospectives or articles on his career and impact on hairdressing.
Checked
12 claims in this story checked against 2 sources: 11 supported.
Show each claim
- SupportedJohn Frieda died aged 75.BBC News: “British celebrity hairstylist and beauty brand entrepreneur John Frieda has died aged 75.”
- SupportedFrieda created the Purdey bowl cut for Joanna Lumley in 1976.BBC News: “the iconic Purdey bowl cut which he created for The New Avengers actor Joanna Lumley in 1976.”
- SupportedCetera Lamb called Frieda “a true legend”.BBC News: “Cetera Lamb, creative director at Frieda's London salon said the industry had lost "a true legend, a real maverick in hairdressing".”
- SupportedFrieda’s salon announced his death in an Instagram post on Tuesday.BBC News: “His death was announced by his hair salon in an Instagram post on Tuesday”
- SupportedThe salon statement said Frieda “passed away peacefully….surrounded by his family.”BBC News: “"It is with heavy hearts that we share the news that our dear John passed away peacefully ….surrounded by his family", the statement said”
- SupportedThe salon statement called Frieda “more than a mentor” and “a true icon of the hair industry”.BBC News: “"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."”
- SupportedFrieda was born Alan Howard Frieda in London in 1951.BBC News: “Born Alan Howard Frieda in London in 1951, his father was a hairdresser who owned a salon in Ealing, west London”
- SupportedFrieda opened his own salon in 1976 at age 25.STV News: “In 1976, Frieda invented the “Purdey” hairstyle – creating the bowl cut for Dame Joanna Lumley after she asked him for a schoolboy’s haircut for her role in The New Avengers. That same year, he opened his own salon at the age of 25”
- SupportedFrieda created Frizz-Ease hair serum in 1988.BBC News: “including Frizz-Ease hair serum which he created in 1988.”
- Reports differFrieda and Gail Federici sold the company to Kao in 2002 for $450 million (£334 million).BBC News: “In 2002, he and his business partner Gail Federici sold the company to a Japanese conglomerate Kao for $450m (£334m).”
- SupportedFrieda’s stepdaughter Asia Agnelli Lagrange wrote, “Today we lost the best man to ever exist. I share this because I know he touched the lives of so many.”STV News: “Sharing a series of photos of them together over the years, she wrote: “Today we lost the best man to ever exist. “I share this because I know he touched the lives of so many.””
- SupportedFrieda is survived by his wife, four children and two grandchildren.STV News: “He is survived by his wife, four children and two grandchildren.”