John Frieda, Celebrity Stylist and Entrepreneur, Dies at Age 75

According to a report from BBC UK, John Frieda, a British celebrity hairstylist and beauty brand entrepreneur, has died at the age of 75. His hair salon announced his passing via an Instagram post on Tuesday, stating that he died peacefully surrounded by his family. The statement further described John as a true icon of the hair industry and a mentor who taught others and believed in them.

Throughout his career, Frieda was a favored stylist among celebrities during the 1960s and 1970s. He is noted for having styled clients including the British model Twiggy, the US First Lady Jackie Kennedy, and the Rolling Stones frontman Mick Jagger. His professional history also includes working with Diana, Princess of Wales, Madonna, Nicole Kidman, and Scarlett Johansson.

Born Alan Howard Frieda in London in 1951, his background in hairdressing was familial; his father owned a salon in Ealing, west London, and his grandfather had worked as a barber on Fleet Street. After entering the family business, Frieda worked as an assistant at Leonard Lewis's salon, House of Leonard, which was famous for creating Twiggy's well-known crop. He also contributed his work to fashion magazines such as British Vogue and Harper's Bazaar.

In 1976, Frieda established his own highly successful salon in central London, which quickly became booked months in advance due to his growing reputation as an influential stylist. He later expanded his operations internationally, opening branches in locations including Los Angeles, Barbados, and Ibiza. During the 1990s, Frieda shifted his focus from cutting hair to developing his own line of hair products, which included the Frizz-Ease hair serum that he developed in 1988. His business enterprise saw rapid growth over the subsequent decade as it expanded across the US and globally.

In 2002, Frieda and his business partner, Gail Federici, sold the company to the Japanese conglomerate Kao for $450m (£334m). Prior to his passing, Frieda offered advice to the next generation of British hairdressers when speaking to the British Beauty Council in June, advising them to focus on providing the best haircut for a client rather than financial considerations.

Frieda was married to the singer Lulu from 1977 until 1990, and they had one son from that marriage, Jordan Frieda, who is an actor turned food entrepreneur. He later married Avery Agnelli, the widow of Fiat heir Giovanni Agnelli, and they had two children together, as well as a stepdaughter.

Frieda's step-daughter, Asia Agnelli Lagrange, posted a series of photos on Instagram showing moments with him over the years, accompanied by the caption, "Today we lost the best man to ever exist," and added, "I share this because I know he touched the lives of so many."

In response to the news, the British Beauty Council offered its "love and condolences," while TV presenter and fellow beauty entrepreneur Trinny Woodall shared her sentiments, stating, "Sending so much love to you all."

Jo Wood, the ex-wife of Rolling Stones guitarist Ronnie Wood, expressed that the news of his death was "so sad," recalling that Frieda used to do her hair when she was 16 while he was an assistant at Leonard's, noting how great he was. Cetera Lamb, the creative director at Frieda's London salon, stated that the industry has lost "a true legend, a real maverick in hairdressing," and mentioned that for 50 years, he led the salon, leaving behind a legacy of passion, creativity, vision, and outstanding hairdressing.