British celebrity hairstylist and entrepreneur John Frieda has died at the age of 75, according to announcements from his salon teams. The news was shared via Instagram on November 3, noting that he passed away peacefully while surrounded by his family.
Associates indicated that he had been fighting an illness for some time, Purepeople reports, though the specific cause of death has not been made public.
Creating the Purdey Haircut and Styling Icons
Born in London in 1951, Frieda grew up in a family with deep roots in the hair industry, CNews notes. His father ran a salon in Ealing, and his grandfather worked as a barber on Fleet Street, CNews adds. He began assisting in his father’s salon at age 16, a move he later described as being motivated for the wrong reasons,
according to Purepeople.
He was born Alan Howard Frieda in London and grew up in Kenton, in the Middlesex area, CNews notes. Before opening his own establishments, he worked at the famous London salon House of Leonard as an assistant to Lewis Leonard, CNews points out.
In that role, he collaborated with Leonard’s clients such as Twiggy, Jackie Onassis, and Mick Jagger, CNews adds. He subsequently collaborated with fashion publications including British Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar, CNews reports.
Frieda opened his own salon in central London in 1976, Grazia. He became famous for creating the “Purdey” haircut for actress Joanna Lumley in 1976, Grazia.
His first salon achieved such rapid success that appointments were booked out months in advance, Alayamegy notes. He later expanded with additional branches in locations such as Barbados, Ibiza, and Los Angeles, Beninwebtv.
His client list included high-profile figures such as Princess Diana, Madonna, Mick Jagger, Jackie Kennedy-Onassis, and Twiggy, Grazia. He also worked with Nicole Kidman, Gwyneth Paltrow, Scarlett Johansson, and Naomi Watts, CNews.
Expanding a Multi-Million Dollar Brand
During the 1990s, Frieda gradually stepped away from daily hairstyling to concentrate on developing his product range, Beninwebtv reports.
The brand expanded further with the Sheer Blonde line in 1998, Grazia. The company subsequently expanded into the United States and other international markets, Beninwebtv notes.
Despite the sale, he continued to manage and supervise prestigious salons in London, New York, and Los Angeles, Purepeople.
@InMemoriamX RIP John Frieda, hairstylist.
Honoring a Lifetime in Hair Care
The loss has been felt deeply by his professional team, who released a statement via Instagram honoring his influence on the industry. His stepdaughter, Asia Agnelli Lagrange, also confirmed his passing on Instagram, writing that they had lost the finest man to ever exist and sharing the news because he touched so many lives, CNews reports.
John was much more than a mentor to us; he was a true icon of the hair industry. He taught us everything, believed in us, and allowed us to become better. His talent and passion touched so many people, and his legacy will live on in each of us. We will continue to make him proud.
Frieda’s personal life included a marriage to Scottish singer Lulu from 1977 to 1991, CNews notes. Lulu recorded the theme song for the James Bond film The Man with the Golden Gun, and they had a son named Jordan, CNews reports.
He later married Frances Avery Agnelli in 2019 after a seventeen-year relationship, and the couple had two children, CNews reports. Overall, he leaves behind his second wife, four children including his son with his first wife, two grandchildren, CNews states, and an adopted daughter, Alayamegy notes.
John… taught us how to look at hair and how to love it
More on John Frieda
John Frieda, the legendary hairstylist whose work helped shape the beauty industry and earned him a place among some of the world's most recognizable names, has died at 75. The British beauty mogul, who famously worked closely with Princess Diana, passed away peacefully… pic.twitter.com/WNibf6G812