Celebrity hairstylist John Frieda dies at 75

John Frieda, the British hairstylist who created the Frizz Ease product line, has died at age 75. The change in status affects the haircare industry, where his brand remains a dominant force in retail shelves and salons worldwide.

His London salon announced the news on Instagram on Wednesday. The statement said Frieda died peacefully and was surrounded by family. It described him as a true icon of the hair industry. His stepdaughter, Agnelli Lagrange, confirmed the death on social media, calling him the best man to ever exist. Neither the salon nor Lagrange provided a cause of death.

Frieda was born Alan Howard Frieda in London in 1951. He was the son of a hairdresser and the grandson of a barber. He joined the House of Leonard salon in the late 1960s, where he worked as an assistant to owner Leonard Lewis. The salon already had an employee named Alan, so he began using the name John. He styled hair for major figures of the era, including Mick Jagger, Twiggy, and Jackie Kennedy Onassis.

In 1976, Frieda opened his own salon in London’s West End. That same year, he created the Purdey hairstyle for actor Joanna Lumley. The style gained fame when Lumley wore it in the television series The New Avengers. During the 1980s, he expanded his client list to include Princess Diana, Madonna, and Paul McCartney. He also opened a second salon in the Mayfair district.

Frieda decided to create his own product line because he sought a greater mental challenge. In 1989, he partnered with Gail Federici to launch John Frieda Professional Hair Care. The pair debuted the range in the United Kingdom first, then launched it in 1990. The signature item was the Frizz Ease serum, which users applied to wet hair after shampooing. A 1993 television commercial promised the product would turn dry frizzy hair into smooth shiny hair quickly. The serum became a commercial success and established a new category in haircare.

While living in the United States, Frieda opened salons in New York and Los Angeles during the 1990s. His brand expanded its offerings to include products for specific hair colors. The Sheer Blonde line launched in 1998. In 2002, Frieda and Federici sold their company to Kao Corporation, a Japanese chemical and cosmetics firm. The sale price was $450 million.

Frieda’s wealth stood at £150 million, or roughly $202 million, according to the UK’s Sunday Times Rich List published last year. He married Scottish singer Lulu in 1977, and they share a son. He is also survived by his second wife, Avery Agnelli, and their two children.