John Frieda, the British celebrity hairstylist and founder of an international haircare business, has died at the age of 75. His salon announced the death on Tuesday, November 3, saying in an Instagram post that he had passed away peacefully surrounded by his family.
The salon described Frieda as more than a mentor and called him a true icon of the hair industry. In its statement, it said he had taught its team, believed in them and helped them improve. Cetera Lamb, creative director at the salon, said the industry had lost a true legend and a real maverick in hairdressing.
A career that began in London
Frieda was born in 1951 into a family of hairdressers and trained at the House of Leonard salon in London. During the 1970s he built a reputation as a hairstylist to stars and high-fashion magazines. He later opened his own salons, which expanded into an international haircare empire.
His clients included Jackie Kennedy, Princess Diana, Twiggy, Mick Jagger, Nicole Kidman and Madonna. The roster connected him with royal, fashion, music and film circles, while his own salons and product brand gave his name a separate commercial presence.
A haircare brand with global reach
Frieda's product brand, John Frieda Professional Hair Care, was behind the cult Frizz-Ease line. The business was sold to the Japanese cosmetics conglomerate Kao in 2002, a transaction that underlined the international reach of the brand he had built.
His salons and products gave him a public profile beyond the styling chair. The Frieda name appeared on salon doors and on haircare products, linking his work with individual clients to a wider consumer business.
Family and industry reaction
Frieda was married twice and had four children. His salon's announcement focused on his role as a teacher and colleague as well as a stylist, describing the loss in personal terms. Lamb's tribute described him as a legend and maverick in hairdressing.
From training in a London salon to building a name recognized in haircare, Frieda's career spanned decades and several areas of the beauty business. His client list connected him to figures from royal life, fashion, music and film, while his product line carried his name to consumers who may never have visited one of his salons.
His death was announced by the salon that bears his name, and the statement emphasized the people he trained as much as the famous clients he styled.