John Frieda, Creator of Frizz Ease, Dies at 75; Clients Included Diana, Madonna
The hairstylist behind Frizz Ease who worked with Princess Diana and Madonna, has died at 75. His death was confirmed on Instagram, while tributes remembered…
Celebrity hairstylist John Frieda, whose clients included Princess Diana and Madonna, has died at 75, his Instagram page confirmed on Nov. 3. The British hairstylist and beauty entrepreneur created the Frizz Ease hair care line and built a career spanning salons, fashion magazines and product development.
The announcement said Frieda died peacefully, surrounded by his family. His stepdaughter, Asia Agnelli Lagrange, also shared news of his death in an Instagram tribute, writing: “Sadly, my J has passed away. Today we lost the best man to ever exist.”
Frieda’s work reached beyond celebrity styling. His products helped turn his name into a familiar presence in hair care, while his salons and fashion work placed him at the center of the industry he had entered as a young assistant.
How John Frieda built his name in hair
Born Alan Howard Frieda on July 9, 1951, in Kenton, Middlesex, England, he grew up in a family connected to hairdressing. His father owned a salon and his grandfather worked as a barber.
He began at London’s House of Leonard salon as an assistant to hairstylist Lewis Leonard. Frieda adopted the name John because another stylist there was already called Alan, and workers in the salon used first names to distinguish themselves.
“In the salon, you go by your first name. There was another Alan. You can't have two hairdressers going by the same name,” Frieda told The Times in a piece published in June.
He went on to work for fashion publications including British Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar, as well as clients such as Jackie Onassis and Mick Jagger. Among his signature styles was the “Purdey” bowl cut, which he created in 1976, the same year he opened his own salon.
That was a turning point.
Frieda later described wanting a new challenge after becoming bored with hairdressing. “I get bored quickly,” he told The Independent in 1999. “I was thinking of giving up hairdressing. I needed a new challenge.”
What made Frizz Ease a lasting part of his career?
Frieda teamed up with American hair care executive Gail Federici to launch Frizz Ease in 1988. The line reached the United States in 1990, and the pair introduced Sheer Blonde in 1998.
Frieda moved to the United States in 1990 to focus on the growing brand. The business gave his work a reach beyond the salon chair: customers could buy products associated with his approach to styling, while his name became linked to a broader hair care operation.
In 2002, he sold the hair care company to Japanese conglomerate Kao in a deal valued at $450 million. He kept ownership of five salons, with two in London, two in New York and one in Los Angeles.
Frieda’s personal life also crossed with the entertainment world. He married Scottish singer Lulu in 1976, at a ceremony attended by Tom Jones, Ringo Starr and Elton John. They had a son, Jordan. Frieda met his second wife, Frances Avery Agnelli, in 2002; they married in 2019 and had two children, Leyla Luna and Jackson. He was also stepfather to Agnelli’s daughter, Asia.
His death announcement drew tributes from those who worked closely with him. A message posted on his Instagram page described Frieda as a mentor and an icon of the hair industry, saying: “His talent and passion touched so many, and his legacy will live on in every single one of us.”
