John Frieda's London salon announced his death on Instagram on Tuesday, writing that he "passed away peacefully … surrounded by his family" and calling him "a true icon of the hair industry." The Guardian reports the cause of death has not been made public.

Both BBC and The Guardian confirm the stylist died aged 75.

Born Alan Howard Frieda in London in 1951, he came from a hairdressing family — his father ran a salon in Ealing and his grandfather was a Fleet Street barber, according to BBC.

He began at Leonard Lewis's House of Leonard salon, where The Guardian says he adopted the name John because another stylist was also called Alan. He opened his own salon in 1976 at age 25 and created the iconic Purdey bowl cut for Joanna Lumley in 'The New Avengers' that year.

His clients reportedly ranged from Twiggy and Jackie Kennedy to Diana, Princess of Wales, Madonna and Scarlett Johansson.

Both outlets report that Frieda pivoted from cutting hair to product development, launching the Frizz Ease serum in 1988 and, per The Guardian, a Sheer Blonde line in 1998.

In 2002 he and business partner Gail Federici sold the company to Japan's Kao for $450 million (£334 million), a figure both BBC and The Guardian cite. The Guardian adds he retained ownership of five salons — two in London, two in New York and one in Los Angeles.

Salon creative director Cetera Lamb told both BBC and The Guardian the industry lost "a true legend, a real maverick in hairdressing," pledging to keep his legacy alive.

Tributes also came from the British Beauty Council, Trinny Woodall and Jo Wood, who recalled Frieda doing her hair as a 16-year-old. BBC reports his advice to young hairdressers: "The reward is giving her the best haircut she's ever had."

The BBC says the salon will continue in his honour.