John Frieda, the British celebrity hairstylist and beauty-industry figure whose clients ranged from Jackie Kennedy and Princess Diana to Madonna and Nicole Kidman, has died at 75. His salon announced the death in an Instagram post on Tuesday, November 3, saying that Frieda 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. It said he had 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. He established himself in the 1970s as a hairstylist to stars and high-fashion magazines before opening his own salons, which grew into an international haircare empire. His career combined salon work, editorial hairstyling and a product business.
Over his career, he looked after the hair of celebrities including Jackie Kennedy, Princess Diana, Twiggy, Mick Jagger, Nicole Kidman and Madonna.
His hair 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. Frieda was 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.