John Frieda, hairstylist to Diana and Madonna who built a $450m brand, dies at 75

John Frieda, the British hairstylist who invented the Frizz Ease serum, created one of the most recognisable haircuts of the 1970s, and built a haircare company he sold for $450 million, has died. He was 75, and passed away peacefully surrounded by his family, according to a statement posted to his salon's Instagram account.

It is with heavy hearts that we share the news that our dear John passed away peacefully … surrounded by his family.— John Frieda salon, Instagram statement

Born Alan Howard Frieda in London in 1951, he came from a family steeped in the trade: his father owned a salon in Ealing and his grandfather was a Fleet Street barber, according to the Independent. His father had wanted him to become a doctor, but Frieda told The Standard in 2012 that he pursued hair to get out of studying.

He began his professional life working for his father before joining the London salon House of Leonard, where he became assistant to Leonard Lewis — the stylist credited with creating the haircut that launched Twiggy's modelling career. Through Lewis, Frieda gained access to clients including Twiggy, Jackie Kennedy Onassis, and Mick Jagger, and went on to work for British Vogue and Harper's Bazaar.

In 1976, at 25, he opened his own salon — and in the same year created what would become one of his most enduring contributions to popular culture. Dame Joanna Lumley asked him for a schoolboy's haircut for her role in The New Avengers; the result was the 'Purdey' bowl cut, according to the Independent. That year he also married Scottish singer and actor Lulu; the couple had one son before divorcing.

Over the following decades his client list expanded to include Princess Diana, Madonna, Nicole Kidman, Scarlett Johansson, and Sarah Jessica Parker. He styled models for Vogue fashion shoots and opened branches of his salon in New York and Los Angeles, eventually running five locations — two in London, two in New York, and one in Los Angeles.

The commercial turning point came in 1988, when Frieda partnered with American haircare executive Gail Federici to launch Frizz Ease, a serum designed to tame frizzy hair. The product grew into a full line sold in drugstores and salons around the world. In 2002, he sold the haircare company to Japanese conglomerate Kao for $450 million — while retaining his five salons.

Also in 2002, he met Frances Avery Agnelli, the widow of Fiat heir Giovanni Agnelli. The couple married in 2019. Frieda is survived by his wife, four children, and two grandchildren, according to the Independent.

Today we lost the best man to ever exist. I share this because I know he touched the lives of so many.— Asia Agnelli Lagrange, stepdaughter

Tributes came from across the industry. Jo Wood, ex-wife of Rolling Stones guitarist Ronnie Wood, recalled Frieda doing her hair when she was 16 and he was working as an assistant at Lenards. Cetera Lamb, creative director at Frieda's London salon, described him as 'a real maverick in hairdressing' who had led the salon for 50 years.

The industry has lost a true legend, a real maverick in hairdressing. For 50 years, he led our wonderful salon, leaving behind an incredible legacy of passion, creativity, vision and outstanding hairdressing.— Cetera Lamb, Creative Director, John Frieda London salon

John was more than a mentor to us; he was a true icon of the hair industry. He was the person who taught us everything, believed in us, and made us better. His talent and passion touched so many, and his legacy will live on in every single one of us.— John Frieda salon, Instagram statement

Why it matters — Frieda shaped how millions of people manage their hair through both his salon work with some of the most famous faces of the 20th century and a mass-market product empire that redefined the drugstore beauty aisle.

Reported by nbcnews.com, usatoday.com, nytimes.com, thetimes.com, wwd.com, independent.co.uk