Celebrity hairstylist, John Frieda has passed away aged 75.
The beauty entrepreneur's death was confirmed via a post shared on the official Instagram account for his eponymous hair salon.
“It is with heavy hearts that we share the news that our dear John passed away peacefully…surrounded by his family". the statement read. “John was more than a mentor to us; he was a true icon of the hair industry. He was the person who taught us everything, believed in us, and made us better".
“His talent and passion touched so many, and his legacy will live on in every single one of us. We will continue to do him proud", the statement added “Our thoughts are with John’s family and everyone who loved him. Rest in peace, John. You will be forever in our hearts".
View this post on Instagram
Frieda's stepdaughter, Asia Agnelli Lagrange also paid tribute to him on social media.
Alongside a series of photos of the pair over the years, she wrote: “Today we lost the best man to ever exist".
“I share this because I know he touched the lives of so many".
View this post on Instagram
Others who paid tribute include Jo Wood, model, TV personality and ex wife of Rolling Stones' guitarist, Ronnie Wood.
“Oh No… that’s so sad. When I was 16 and John worked as an assistant at Lenards he would do my hair. He was so great… we would go to the pub after… but I couldn’t drink. RIP John it was lovely to know you", she said.
Having started out by working for his father who was also a hairdresser, John Frieda became the assistant of Leonard Lewis, after joining hair salon House of Leonard. Lewis was credited with creating the haircut which launched the career of model, Twiggy.
Frieda went on to work for British Vogue, and Harper's Bazzar, along with several of Lewis' clients, including Twiggy, Mick Jagger, and Jackie Onassis.
He invented the "Purdey" hairstyle, creating the bowl cut for Dame Joanna Lumley, after she asked him for a schoolboy's haircut for her role in The New Avengers.
That occurred in 1976, the same year he opened his own salon and also married his first wife, Scottish singer, Lulu.
The 1980s saw him work with American haircare executive Gail Federici to create his own product line, Frizz-Ease in 1988.
Having separated from Lulu in 1991, Frieda met his second wife, Frances Avery Agnelli in 2001, with the pair marrying in 2019.
Retaining five salons, including two in London, two in New York and one in LA, Frieda's client list includes Madonna, the late Princess Diana, Scarlet Johansson and Nicole Kidman.
John Frieda is survived by his wife, four children and two grandchildren.
