JOHN FRIEDA DIES AT 75: THE FRIZZ-EASE GENIUS WHO SAVED A MILLION BAD HAIR DAYS
If you have ever reached for a little bottle of serum on a humid morning, you have John Frieda to thank.
The London hairdresser, whose name has sat on bathroom shelves around the world for decades, has died aged 75.
His death was announced on Tuesday by his salon on Instagram, which said he had passed away peacefully, surrounded by his family.
No cause of death has been made public.
The salon described him as "a true icon of the hair industry", and for millions of women that is no exaggeration.
How John Frieda Became The Hairdresser To The Stars
Born Alan Howard Frieda in London in 1951, he grew up around hairdressing, working part-time in his father's salon while still at school.
By the 1960s and 1970s he was styling some of the most famous heads of the era.
According to the BBC report republished by Yahoo Lifestyle, his clients included Twiggy, Jackie Kennedy and Mick Jagger.
He also created the sleek, bowl-shaped Purdey cut for Joanna Lumley, a look that was copied in salons everywhere.
He opened his own London salon in 1976 and later expanded to other cities and countries.
As Parade reports, Princess Diana was among the high-profile women who trusted him with their hair.
The Little Bottle That Changed Everything
John Frieda's real genius was bringing the salon home.
Frizz-Ease, created in 1988, promised to calm unruly, puffy hair without a trip to the hairdresser.
For anyone with curls, waves or hair that balloons at the first hint of humidity, it felt like a small miracle.
The range grew to include products for different hair types, including the much-loved Sheer Blonde line for lighter shades.
In 2002 he and business partner Gail Federici sold the haircare company to Japanese beauty giant Kao, in a deal the BBC put at $450 million.
He kept his salons, and he spent years training and mentoring young stylists.
Tributes Pour In For John Frieda
The tributes from the hair and beauty world have been warm and heartfelt.
Staff at his salon called him more than a mentor and said his legacy would live on in each of them.
The creative director of his London salon, Cetera Lamb, described him as a real maverick in hairdressing.
Television presenter and style expert Trinny Woodall sent her love to his family, while former model Jo Wood called the news very sad.
The British Beauty Council also shared its condolences.
His stepdaughter, Asia Agnelli Lagrange, wrote that the family had lost "the best man to ever exist".
A Life Full Of Love And Family
John Frieda was married to Scottish singer Lulu from 1977 until their divorce in 1991.
Together they had a son, Jordan Frieda, who became an actor.
He later married Avery Agnelli, and the couple had two children together.
What We Can Learn From His Approach To Hair
If frizz is your nemesis, a few simple salon-inspired habits are worth trying at home.
Pat hair gently with a soft towel or old cotton T-shirt rather than rubbing it, which roughs up the hair cuticle.
Apply a smoothing serum or cream to damp hair, focusing on the mid-lengths and ends rather than the roots.
If you blow-dry, point the nozzle down the hair shaft and finish with a blast of cool air to help set the style.
And if your hair has suddenly changed texture or started thinning, it is worth chatting to your hairdresser or GP to find out why.
A Beauty Pioneer Remembered
John Frieda became a household name by solving an everyday problem women knew all too well.
So the next time your hair behaves itself on a sticky summer's day, spare a thought for the man who made it a little easier.
Our thoughts are with his family, friends and colleagues.
