John Frieda obituary traces a career from celebrity cuts to Frizz Ease
Original report:
The Guardian’s November 2026 obituary reports that hairstylist John Frieda died aged 75. Known for Joanna Lumley’s Purdey bob and his discreet celebrity clientele, he also built a haircare business around products addressing frizz, volume and texture.
John Frieda, the hairstylist behind Joanna Lumley’s Purdey bob and the Frizz Ease range, died aged 75, according to the Guardian’s obituary published on 8 November 2026. He trained with Leonard Lewis in London before opening his own salon in 1976. His clients included the Beatles and Diana, Princess of Wales, and the obituary describes discretion as central to his reputation.
Frieda moved into commercial haircare after Boots approached him in 1988. He established John Frieda Professional Hair Care with industry executive Gail Federici in 1989, followed by the original Frizz Ease serum in 1991. The partners sold the company to Japan’s Kao Corporation for $450m in 2002; Frieda retained his salons.
The obituary places Frieda’s significance beyond celebrity styling: his products addressed hair texture and everyday manageability, alongside his work on fashionable cuts. It credits him with helping make possible a shift from carefully fixed hairstyles towards hair that appeared naturally well-conditioned, whether straight or textured.
Source
the Guardian — 8 November 2026
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