John Frieda, the celebrated hairstylist who transformed the beauty industry and built a multimillion-dollar haircare business, has died at 75. Known for creating the popular Frizz-Ease haircare line, Frieda passed away peacefully surrounded by his family, according to an announcement from his salon on Tuesday, November 3. His death was announced without any details about where he died or what caused his death.
The John Frieda Salon shared the news in an emotional statement, remembering him as much more than a successful businessman. The salon described him as a mentor who taught generations of hairstylists, believed in their abilities and helped them become better at their craft. His colleagues also praised his talent and passion, saying his influence would continue through the people he trained and worked with over the years.
Born Alan Howard Frieda in Middlesex, England, in 1951, he grew up in a family where hairdressing was already part of everyday life. His father, Isidore Frieda, owned a salon and initially wanted his son to pursue medicine. However, Frieda eventually found his way into the hair industry, beginning a career that would take him from a young assistant in London to one of the most recognized names in international beauty.
At just 16, he began working at the prestigious House of Leonard in London’s Mayfair district. There, he gained experience working with fashion photographers, models and famous personalities. His early professional circle included Twiggy, Jackie Kennedy Onassis and members of The Beatles. Those experiences helped him develop the skills and reputation that would later attract some of the biggest names in entertainment and fashion.
One of the defining moments of his early career came in 1976 when he created the famous “Purdey” hairstyle for actress Joanna Lumley, who played the character in the television series The New Avengers. The distinctive haircut became widely recognized and helped establish his reputation as a creative force in hairstyling. That same year, at 25, he opened his own salon in London and began building a business that would eventually reach an international audience.
His client list continued to grow over the following decades. Princess Diana, Madonna, Sarah Jessica Parker, Nicole Kidman and Scarlett Johansson were among the famous women whose hair he styled. His work also appeared in major fashion publications, including British Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar. He became known not only for working with celebrities but also for creating hairstyles that influenced wider fashion and beauty trends.
Frieda’s biggest business breakthrough came when he moved beyond salon appointments and began developing haircare products for everyday consumers. Working with American haircare executive Gail Federici, he helped create the Frizz-Ease line, which launched in 1988. The products became particularly popular among people looking for ways to control frizzy hair. The business later introduced Sheer Blonde in 1998, adding another successful name to his growing haircare brand.
In 2002, Frieda sold his haircare company to Japan’s Kao Corporation in a deal valued at approximately $450 million. However, he did not completely walk away from the industry. He retained interests in five salons across London, New York and Los Angeles, continuing to maintain a presence in the business he had spent decades building.
His personal life also included two marriages and a family that remained an important part of his story. He was first married to Scottish singer and actress Lulu, with whom he had a son, Jordan. After their separation, he later married Frances Avery Agnelli in 2019. They had two children together, Jackson and Leyla, while Frieda also became a stepfather to her daughter, Asia Agnelli Lagrange. He is survived by his wife, four children and two grandchildren.
As news of his death spread, tributes came from people who knew him personally and professionals who admired his work. His stepdaughter, Asia Agnelli Lagrange, shared photographs of them together and described him as the best man to ever exist. Cetera Lamb, creative director at his London salon, also remembered him as a true legend and a maverick whose work shaped the industry for five decades.
Frieda had continued to speak about his work and career in recent years. During a June 2026 interview marking 50 years in the salon business, he stressed the importance of maintaining high standards and giving every client the best possible experience. That approach helped define his career, from his early days working with fashion figures to the international success of his haircare products.
His death brings an end to a career that stretched across five decades and changed both celebrity hairstyling and the consumer haircare business. Millions of people came to know his name through Frizz-Ease, while countless others encountered his work through fashion magazines, television and celebrity hairstyles. For the stylists he trained and the family, friends and colleagues he leaves behind, his influence goes far beyond the products that made him famous.