British celebrity hairstylist and beauty brand entrepreneur John Frieda has died aged 75.

Frieda became a firm favourite with celebrities throughout the 1960s and 1970s, and is known to have cut hair for clients including Twiggy, Jackie Onassis and Mick Jagger.

He was also known for the range of hair products bearing his name, and the iconic Purdey bowl cut which he created for actor Joanna Lumley in 1976.

His death was announced by his hair salon in an Instagram post on Tuesday., external

"It is with heavy hearts that we share the news that our dear John passed away peacefully ….surrounded by his family", the statement said

"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.

"Rest in peace, John. You will be forever in our hearts".

The stylist invented the popular Purdey cut for Joanna Lumley in the 1970s

Frieda was married to Scottish singer Lulu (pictured in 1976) for 14 years

A-list clients at John Frieda's salon included Sex and the City star Sarah Jessica Parker (second right)

In 2019, Frieda married Avery Agnelli, with whom he had two children and step-daughter

Frieda pictured being interviewed in 1991

The stylist photographed with model Lily Cole at Claridges Hotel in 2013

In 1976, he opened his own salon in central London which became massively successful and booked up months in advance as his reputation as an influential stylist grew.

He subsequently opened branches across the world, including in Barbados, Ibiza and Los Angeles.

In the 1990s, Frieda stepped back from cutting hair and concentrated on developing his own brand of hair products, including Frizz-Ease hair serum which he created in 1988.

His business empire grew rapidly over the following decade as it expanded into the US and across the world.

In 2002, he and his business partner Gail Federici sold the company to a Japanese conglomerate Kao for $450m (£334m).

Frieda was married to the singer Lulu from 1977 to 1990 and had one son from that relationship.

He was later married to Avery Agnelli, the widow of Fiat heir Giovanni Agnelli, with whom he had two children and a stepdaughter.

Related topics