John Frieda dies — John Frieda, the British hairstylist whose scissors shaped the looks of models, actors and royals before his name became a global hair care brand, has died at 75. His London salon announced the news on Instagram, saying he passed away peacefully surrounded by his family.
The salon described Frieda as a mentor and a defining figure in the industry, crediting him with teaching its staff and setting a standard they continue to follow. His stepdaughter, Asia Agnelli Lagrange, also paid tribute on Instagram, calling him the best man and noting the reach of his influence.
From family barbering to Vogue and Harper's Bazaar
Born Alan Howard Frieda in London in 1951, Frieda grew up close to the trade. His father ran a salon in Ealing, west London, and his grandfather had worked as a barber on Fleet Street. After entering the family business, he moved to Leonard Lewis’s House of Leonard, the salon known for creating Twiggy’s famous crop, where he worked as an assistant. He later contributed to British Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar.
By 1976 he had opened his own central London salon, which became so sought-after that appointments were booked months ahead. Additional locations followed around the world, including in Barbados, Ibiza and Los Angeles.
A cut that defined an era
Among Frieda’s best-known creations was the Purdey bowl cut, which he designed for Joanna Lumley in 1976 for her role in The New Avengers. The style became one of the defining looks of the decade.
His client list reflected his reach across fashion, film and public life. He cut hair for Twiggy, Jackie Kennedy and Mick Jagger, and later worked with Diana, Princess of Wales, Madonna, Nicole Kidman and Scarlett Johansson. Sarah Jessica Parker was among the high-profile clients associated with his salon.
Building a hair care empire
In the 1990s Frieda shifted his focus from cutting hair to developing his own products. Frizz-Ease, a hair serum he created in 1988, became a flagship item as the brand expanded rapidly into the United States and other markets over the following decade.
In 2002, Frieda and business partner Gail Federici sold the company to the Japanese conglomerate Kao for $450 million, equivalent to £334 million at the time.
Speaking to the British Beauty Council earlier this year, Frieda offered advice to the next generation of hairdressers: that the focus should be on the work rather than the money, and that giving a client the best haircut possible is its own reward.
Family and tributes
Frieda was married to singer Lulu from 1977 to 1990, and they had one son, Jordan Frieda, who became an actor and later a food entrepreneur. In 2019 he married Avery Agnelli, the widow of Fiat heir Giovanni Agnelli, with whom he had two children and a stepdaughter.
Tributes came from across the beauty world. The British Beauty Council offered condolences, and TV presenter and beauty entrepreneur Trinny Woodall sent messages of support. Model and TV personality Jo Wood recalled that Frieda had styled her hair when she was 16 and he was an assistant at Leonard’s.
Cetera Lamb, creative director at Frieda’s London salon, said the industry had lost a true legend and a maverick, noting that he had led the salon for 50 years and left a legacy of passion, creativity and outstanding hairdressing. The salon said it would carry on in his honour.
