John Frieda, the British celebrity hairstylist and beauty industry figure who tended the hair of Jackie Kennedy and Princess Diana among others, has died at the age of 75, his salon announced on Tuesday, November 3.
In a statement posted on Instagram, the John Frieda salon said he had "passed away peacefully... surrounded by his family," calling him "more than a mentor" and "a true icon of the hair industry" who taught the team everything, believed in them and made them better.
Born in 1951 into a family of hairdressers, Frieda trained at the House of Leonard salon in London. He established himself as a stylist to the stars and to high-fashion magazines in the 1970s before opening his own salons, which grew into an international haircare empire.
Over his career he looked after the hair of celebrities including Twiggy, Mick Jagger, Nicole Kidman and Madonna.
His product brand, John Frieda Professional Hair Care, behind the cult "Frizz-Ease" line, was sold to the Japanese cosmetics conglomerate Kao in 2002.
Married twice, Frieda had four children. Cetera Lamb, creative director at his salon, said the industry had lost "a true legend, a real maverick in hairdressing".