John Frieda, who sold $450 million of hair products, dies at 75
The British stylist behind Frizz Ease and celebrity clients like Princess Diana has died, according to his London salon.
By Jisoo Vega ·
John Frieda, the British hairstylist who built a commercial empire around his eponymous haircare line, has died at the age of 75. His London salon announced the news on Wednesday via Instagram, stating he passed away peacefully and surrounded by family. The statement did not specify a cause of death.
Frieda’s brand became a household name in the early 1990s with the launch of Frizz Ease. The anti-frizz serum was designed to be applied to wet hair after shampooing. Frieda marketed the product with a simple promise in a 1993 television commercial: it would turn dry, frizzy hair into smooth, shiny hair quickly. The product’s success created a new category in the haircare market that did not previously exist.
The entrepreneur’s career began in the late 1960s as an assistant at London’s House of Leonard. He worked with high-profile clients including Mick Jagger and Jackie Kennedy Onassis. In 1976, he opened his own salon in London’s West End. That same year, he created a style called the “Purdey” for actor Joanna Lumley, who wore the look in the television series “The New Avengers.”
By the 1980s, Frieda had expanded his client list to include Princess Diana, Madonna, and Paul McCartney. He also opened a second salon in the Mayfair neighborhood. Seeking a greater mental challenge, he moved into product development. In 1989, he partnered with Gail Federici to launch John Frieda Professional Hair Care. They debuted the line in the UK before releasing it in the United States in 1990.
Frieda expanded his salon presence in the United States during the 1990s, opening locations in New York and Los Angeles. His brand grew beyond Frizz Ease to include lines for specific hair types, such as the Sheer Blonde range launched in 1998. In 2002, Frieda and Federici sold the company to Japanese firm Kao Corporation for $450 million. The Sunday Times Rich List valued his wealth at £150 million, or $202 million, last year.
Frieda was born Alan Howard Frieda in London in 1951. He adopted the name John after joining the House of Leonard, which already employed a stylist named Alan. He married Scottish singer Lulu in 1977; they share a son. He is also survived by his second wife, Avery Agnelli, and their two children. His stepdaughter Agnelli Lagrange confirmed his death on social media, calling him “the best man to ever exist.”
Source: CNN
