British celebrity hairstylist and beauty entrepreneur John Frieda has died aged 75, his hair salon has announced.
Frieda, who became a favourite among celebrities during the 1960s and 1970s, was known for styling high-profile clients including British model Twiggy, former US First Lady Jackie Kennedy and Rolling Stones frontman Mick Jagger.
His salon announced his death in an Instagram post on Tuesday, saying he had passed away peacefully surrounded by his family.
“It is with heavy hearts that we share the news that our dear John passed away peacefully … surrounded by his family,” the statement said.
“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 salon added: “Rest in peace, John. You will be forever in our hearts.”
A Favourite Among Celebrities
Throughout his career, Frieda worked with an impressive list of celebrity clients, including Diana, Princess of Wales, Madonna, Nicole Kidman and Scarlett Johansson.
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He also created the distinctive Purdey bowl cut for actor Joanna Lumley in 1976. The hairstyle became widely recognised after Lumley wore it while starring in The New Avengers.
Frieda’s work attracted attention across the fashion and entertainment industries, helping establish his reputation as one of Britain’s influential hairstylists.
From Family Salon to Global Success
Born Alan Howard Frieda in London in 1951, he grew up in a family with a long history in hairdressing. His father owned a salon in Ealing, west London, while his grandfather worked as a Fleet Street barber.
Frieda followed the family profession and later joined Leonard Lewis’s celebrated 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 leading 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 as his reputation grew.
He later expanded internationally, opening salons in destinations including Barbados, Ibiza and Los Angeles.
Frizz-Ease Turns Frieda into a Beauty Business Pioneer
During the 1990s, Frieda stepped back from regular hairstyling to concentrate on developing his own haircare brand.
One of his most successful products was Frizz-Ease hair serum, which he created in 1988 to help manage frizzy hair.
The brand expanded rapidly in the United States and international markets. In 2002, Frieda and his business partner Gail Federici sold the company to Japanese conglomerate Kao for $450 million (£334 million).
His business success helped turn his name into an internationally recognised brand in the beauty industry.
Marriage, Family and Tributes
Frieda married Scottish singer Lulu in 1977, and the couple remained together until 1990. They had one son, Jordan Frieda, who later became an actor and food entrepreneur.
In 2019, Frieda married Avery Agnelli, the widow of Fiat heir Giovanni Agnelli. They had two children together, and Frieda also became stepfather to Agnelli’s daughter.
His stepdaughter, Asia Agnelli Lagrange, shared photographs of them together on Instagram following his death.
“Today we lost the best man to ever exist,” she wrote. “I share this because I know he touched the lives of so many.”
The British Beauty Council also expressed its condolences, while television presenter and beauty entrepreneur Trinny Woodall sent her love to the family.
Industry Remembers a Hairdressing Legend
Model and television personality Jo Wood, former wife of Rolling Stones guitarist Ronnie Wood, described Frieda’s death as “so sad”.
She recalled meeting him when she was 16, while he worked as an assistant at Leonard’s salon.
“When I was 16 and John worked as an assistant at Leonard’s he would do my hair,” she said. “He was so great…”
Cetera Lamb, creative director at Frieda’s London salon, described him as “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,” Lamb said.
The salon pledged to continue his work and preserve his values, vision and commitment to the craft.
Frieda also shared advice for future generations of British hairdressers during an interview with the British Beauty Council in June.
“If you have a client in front of you, rather than thinking about the money or what you’re getting from cutting their hair, just think about the action,” he said.
“The reward is giving her the best haircut she’s ever had. That is your reward.”
His career spanned five decades, leaving a lasting mark on celebrity hairstyling and the global haircare industry.
