Vidal Sassoon Died: Iconic Hairstylist Dies Aged 84
World-renowned hairstylist Vidal Sassoon died at his Los Angeles home at the age of 84 on Wednesday morning.
The British-born hairstylist was originally reported to have died of natural causes, but his family later confirmed that Sassoon had in fact lost his battle with leukemia that had gone on for years.
"It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Vidal Sassoon CBE, who died this morning at his home in Los Angeles surrounded by loved ones. The 84-year-old hairdresser was born in 1928 and sadly lost his battle with leukemia today," a statement released by the family read.
Get Our Latest News for FREE
"He will be greatly missed by his wife of 20 years Ronnie, his children, grandchildren, family and friends," the statement added.
Sassoon began his career at the age of 14 working an apprenticeship as a "shampoo boy" during the Second World War. He opened his first salon in London in 1954, which eventually became a worldwide chain with shops across the United Kingdom and United States.
Sassoon has been credited with creating the modern "bob" and had been a true pioneer in hairstyling due to his approach to designing low maintenance and efficient hairstyles that would allow for a simple "wash and wear" approach.
Sassoon was of Jewish heritage and in 1948 he joined the Israeli Defense Forces and fought in the 1948 Arab-Israeli War. He later described the experience as the "best year of my life."
"When you think of 2,000 years of being put down and suddenly you are a nation rising, it's a wonderful feeling," he told the Telegraph.
A documentary, "Vidal Sassoon: The Movie" was released in 2010. The film follows the hairdresser's life from his humble beginnings as a young child living in a Jewish orphanage to his revolutionary career that made him one of the most notable men in hairstyling.
"If you can get to the root of who you are and make something happen from it, my sense is you're gonna surprise yourself," Sassoon said in the film.
