John Frieda dies at 75 after 50-year career in salons and hair products
The London-born stylist and founder of the Frizz Ease brand died peacefully, according to his salon.
By Ana Salazar ·
John Frieda, the hairstylist who built a global brand from his London roots, has died at age 75. His London salon confirmed the news on Instagram, stating he passed away peacefully surrounded by family. The cause of death has not been released to the public.
Born Alan Howard Frieda in Kenton, Middlesex, in 1951, he started working at London’s House of Leonard salon. He changed his name to John because another stylist there was already called Alan. His father was a hairdresser and his grandfather a barber. Frieda opened his first salon in 1976 at age 25. He became known for styling high-profile clients, including Princess Diana, Madonna, Scarlett Johansson, Nicole Kidman, Twiggy, and Jackie Kennedy Onassis.
In 1976, he created the bowl cut known as the Purdey for Joanna Lumley’s role in The New Avengers. He also styled for British Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar. In the 1980s, he worked with American executive Gail Federici to develop his own product line. He launched Frizz Ease in 1988 and the Sheer Blonde line in 1998.
Frieda married Scottish singer Lulu in 1977. They had one son, Jordan Frieda. He moved to the United States in 1990 to manage his growing hair care business, which ended the marriage. In 2002, he sold his hair care company to the Japanese conglomerate Kao for $450 million. He kept ownership of five salons: two in London, two in New York, and one in Los Angeles. He met his second wife, Avery Agnelli, in 2002. They married in 2019 and have two children, Jackson and Leyla. He was also stepfather to Agnelli’s daughter, Asia Agnelli Lagrange.
Asia Agnelli Lagrange posted photos of them together on Instagram. She wrote, “Sadly my J has passed away. Today we lost the best man to ever exist. I share this because I know he touched the lives of so many.” Jo Wood, wife of Rolling Stones guitarist Ronnie Wood, also paid tribute. She recalled how Frieda did her hair when she was 16 and said, “RIP John it was lovely to know you.”
Cetera Lamb, creative director at Frieda’s London salon, called him a maverick in hairdressing. The salon posted that he was a mentor and an icon who taught their team everything. They said his legacy would live on in their work.
Frieda’s career spanned five decades. He left behind a brand that remains a staple in hair care stores worldwide.
Source: The Guardian
