Celebrity Hairstylist John Frieda Dies Aged 75

John Frieda Dies at 75: Remembering the Celebrity Hairstylist and Frizz-Ease Pioneer

Celebrity hairstylist and beauty entrepreneur John Frieda has died at the age of 75. Known globally for creating the Frizz-Ease product range and styling the hair of high-profile figures including Princess Diana, his death was announced on Tuesday night through a statement shared on the official Instagram account for his eponymous hair salon.

The statement confirmed that he passed away peacefully surrounded by his family. While the exact cause of death has not yet been publicly revealed, friends noted that he had been unwell, and he had previously spoken about his health issues including stomach problems. Tributes quickly emerged across the beauty and entertainment industries, remembering him as a true pioneer and maverick who reshaped modern haircare.

From London Salons to a Global Empire

Born Alan Howard Frieda in London in 1951, he was the son of a Polish-born father and an Irish mother, and grew up in Kenton, Middlesex. Another Alan worked in the same sphere, prompting him to adopt the name John Frieda because as he recalled, You can’t have two hairdressers going by the same name. At the age of five, he was diagnosed with rheumatic fever and spent a year in hospital, an illness that left him with a slight heart murmur as an adult. Reflecting on this childhood experience, he stated, You can’t control what happens to you in life, but you can control the way you handle it. Reflecting on his entry into the profession in an interview with The Standard, he once admitted, I became a hairdresser for all the wrong reasons, to get out of studying.

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After working for his father, Frieda joined the London hair salon House of Leonard and served as an assistant to Leonard Lewis, who created the iconic haircut for model Twiggy. Frieda soon built an impressive portfolio working for publications like British Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar, tending to clients such as Twiggy, Jackie Onassis, and Mick Jagger. By age 25, after needing a new challenge, he opened his first independent salon.

In 1976, Frieda invented the “Purdey” bowl cut for actress Joanna Lumley after she requested a schoolboy’s hairstyle for her role in The New Avengers.

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Developing Frizz-Ease and Building a Global Haircare Brand

Throughout the 1980s, Frieda collaborated with American haircare executive Gail Federici to develop products targeting specific hair challenges, culminating in the launch of Frizz-Ease in 1988. The anti-frizz line revolutionized consumer haircare for women with curly and wavy hair nearly 40 years ago. By 2002, Frieda sold his haircare product company to a Japanese company for $450 million (equivalent to £260 million), while retaining ownership of his salons.

Over a decades-long career, his client roster expanded to include Madonna, Nicole Kidman, Scarlett Johansson, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Princess Diana.

Celebrity Hairstylist John Frieda Dies Aged 75 — Photo: The Sun

Marriage Struggles and Divorce Followed by Reflection

The couple welcomed a son, Jordan. As his empire grew, their marriage struggled; they tried for another child, but lost a baby in 1998, and after drifting apart, Frieda told Lulu in 1990, We’re not getting along; we’ve nothing in common. We never did have anything in common. They separated in 1991 and divorced in 1992. Reflecting on the split, Lulu noted it triggered years of introspection, therapy, and counselling, while stating, I love Maurice, I love John. You can’t love somebody and then deny what you once had. It was real at the time. And with every relationship you learn, you grow. Following the divorce, Frieda relocated to New York, where he launched a new range of products designed for different hair colours, and later met Frances Avery Agnelli, the widow of an heir to the Fiat car company (Giovanni Agnelli).

Tributes poured in from across the globe following the announcement. Cetera Lamb, creative director at Frieda’s London salon, stated, The industry has lost a true legend, a real maverick in hairdressing. Frieda’s stepdaughter Asia shared a series of photographs on social media, writing, Sadly, my J has passed away. Today we lost the best man to ever exist. I share this because I know he touched the lives of so many. Additional tributes came from the British Beauty Council, which offered messages of love and condolences, and Jo Wood, model, TV personality, and ex-wife of Rolling Stones guitarist Ronnie Wood, who expressed sadness over the news. Beauty entrepreneur and TV presenter Trinny Woodall also sent love to the family.

John Frieda Dead at 75 | Celebrity Hairstylist Behind Frizz Ease Dies

Frieda is survived by his wife, four children, and two grandchildren.

Disclaimer: The cultural analyses and financial data presented in this article are based on available public records and industry metrics at the time of publication.