John Frieda, the British celebrity hairstylist and beauty-industry figure, has died at 75, his salon announced on Tuesday, November 3. The John Frieda salon said in an Instagram post that he died peacefully surrounded by his family.
The salon described Frieda as more than a mentor and as a true icon of the hair industry, saying he taught its team, believed in them and made them better.
Born in 1951, Frieda came from a family of hairdressers and trained at the House of Leonard salon in London. In the 1970s he became known as a hairstylist to stars and high-fashion magazines before opening his own salons, which expanded into an international haircare empire.
Over his career he looked after the hair of celebrities including Twiggy, Mick Jagger, Nicole Kidman and Madonna. He also tended to the hair of Jackie Kennedy and Princess Diana, among others.
His product brand, John Frieda Professional Hair Care, was behind the Frizz-Ease line and was sold to the Japanese cosmetics group Kao in 2002. Frieda married twice and had four children.
Cetera Lamb, creative director at his salon, said the industry had lost a true legend and a real maverick in hairdressing.