John Frieda, the British hairstylist who created iconic looks for celebrities including Madonna, Twiggy, and Princess Diana, has died. He was 75.
His London salon announced his passing on Instagram, stating that he died peacefully surrounded by family. The post described him as a mentor and a true icon of the hair industry whose talent and passion left a lasting mark on his team and clients.
From London Salon to Global Brand
Born Alan Howard Frieda in Kenton, Middlesex, he began his career at the House of Leonard salon in London. He adopted the name John because another stylist at the salon shared his first name. His father was a hairdresser and his grandfather was a barber, setting the stage for his lifelong career.
In 1976, at age 25, he opened his first salon. That same year, he created the “Purdey” hairstyle, a distinctive bowl cut, for actress Joanna Lumley for her role in the television series The New Avengers. He went on to style high-profile clients such as Jackie Kennedy Onassis, Scarlett Johansson, Nicole Kidman, and Diana, Princess of Wales.
Frieda expanded his business beyond styling. In the 1980s, he partnered with American hair care executive Gail Federici to develop his own product lines. He launched the Frizz Ease range in 1988 and the Sheer Blonde line in 1998. These products became bestsellers, establishing his reputation in the consumer market.
In 1990, he moved to the United States to focus on his growing hair care brand. This relocation contributed to the end of his first marriage to Scottish singer Lulu, whom he wed in 1977. They had one child, Jordan Frieda.
Major Sale and Personal Life
In 2002, Frieda sold his hair care company to the Japanese conglomerate Kao in a deal valued at $450 million. He retained ownership of five salons: two in London, two in New York, and one in Los Angeles.
He met his second wife, Avery Agnelli, widow of an heir to the Fiat car company, in 2002. They married in 2019. They had two children together, Jackson and Leyla, and Frieda was stepfather to her daughter, Asia Agnelli Lagrange.
Asia Agnelli Lagrange shared photos of them on Instagram, writing that she had lost “the best man to ever exist.” She noted that he touched the lives of many people.
Tributes have poured in from industry colleagues. Jo Wood, a model and the wife of Rolling Stones guitarist Ronnie Wood, recalled working with Frieda when she was 16. She described him as great and remembered their time together at the pub after his work at Leonards.
Cetera Lamb, creative director of Frieda’s London salon, called him a legend and a maverick in hairdressing. She noted that he led the salon for 50 years, leaving behind a legacy of passion, creativity, and outstanding work.
Frieda also styled for major publications including British Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar. His work helped define the aesthetic of several decades in fashion and entertainment.
Source: The Guardian
