John Frieda, the legendary hairstylist behind that remarkable journey, has died at the age of 75. His death was announced by his salon team in an emotional statement shared on Instagram on November 4, which read: “It is with heavy hearts that we share the news that our dear John passed away peacefully… surrounded by his family.”

The statement continued, “John was more than a mentor to us; he was a true icon of the hair industry.” According to his longtime business partner Gail Federici, Frieda died of cancer at a hospital near his home.

From Humble Beginnings to the Biggest Stars

Born Alan Howard Frieda in London in 1951, he came from a family steeped in the hairdressing trade. His father owned a salon, and his grandfather had worked as a barber before him.

Frieda’s father hoped his son would become a doctor, but the younger Frieda was set on hairdressing instead, saying he chose it partly “to get out of studying.” He joined the prestigious House of Leonard salon in London, working as an assistant to renowned stylist Leonard Lewis. It was there that he took the name John, since another stylist at the salon was already called Alan.

His talent didn’t go unnoticed for long. Soon he was working alongside fashion magazines including British Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar, and his client list grew to include some of the most famous faces in the world: Princess Diana, Madonna, Twiggy, Jackie Kennedy Onassis, Nicole Kidman, and Scarlett Johansson among them. He also worked with music icons Mick Jagger and Paul McCartney.

Following news of his death, McCartney paid tribute to his friend. “Having known John since the 1960s, he always impressed me with his charm and wonderful sense of humor,” McCartney wrote, recalling an elegant man who always made him laugh, whether they met privately or at a concert. “I can’t believe I am saying ‘the end,’ but it is unfortunately true,” he added.

The Haircut That Made Him Famous

One particular style would turn Frieda into a household name. In 1976, he created the now-iconic “Purdey” haircut for actress Joanna Lumley, who wore it while playing the character of the same name on the television series The New Avengers.

The short, layered look became an overnight sensation, with women everywhere asking their own hairdressers to copy it. That same year, at just 25, Frieda opened his first salon in London.

His reputation only grew from there. He expanded internationally, eventually opening salons in New York and Los Angeles as well. But his most significant success was still to come.

Building a Haircare Empire

Though Frieda had already made his mark styling celebrities, he would become even more widely known for the products that carried his name. In the late 1980s, he partnered with American haircare executive Gail Federici to create professional-quality products for everyday consumers.

Their breakthrough came with Frizz-Ease, launched in 1988. Designed to tame frizzy hair, the product became a major commercial hit, particularly in the United States. The brand later grew with additional lines, including Sheer Blonde, introduced in 1998.

What had begun as one hairdresser’s ambition had become an international beauty business. In 2002, Frieda and Federici sold their haircare company to the Japanese cosmetics giant Kao Corporation in a deal worth approximately $450 million. Even after the sale, Frieda continued running his salons in London, New York, and Los Angeles.

Marriage, Family, and Legacy

Frieda’s personal life also drew public attention over the years. In 1977, he married Scottish singer Lulu, known for her hit “To Sir with Love.” The couple had one son, Jordan, before divorcing in 1991.

He later found love again with Frances Avery Agnelli, whom he married in 2019. Together they had two children, Jackson and Leyla. Frieda also shared a close bond with his stepdaughter, Asia Agnelli Lagrange, who wrote following his death, “Today we lost the best man to ever exist.”

John Frieda is survived by his wife, children, and grandchildren. His influence, though, reaches far beyond the family he leaves behind and the salons that still carry his name—a legacy built on talent, reinvention, and an eye for the style that defined a generation.