Celebrity hairdresser Trevor Sorbie has died aged 75 after being diagnosed with terminal cancer – just weeks after revealing his condition on ITV’s This Morning.
The Scottish-born stylist, who gained fame with the creation of the wedge cut, had said on October 9 that he had weeks to live after his bowel cancer spread to his liver.
Sorbie – who opened his first salon in 1979 – was known for cutting the hair of the rich and famous including Grace Jones, The Beach Boys and Dame Helen Mirren.
He also helped sick people suffering from hair loss after setting up ‘My New Hair’ to give advice to patients and NHS staff on wig styling and regrowth after treatment.
Today, a statement from Sorbie’s salon team said the four-time British Hairdresser of the Year winner died ‘peacefully with his family and beloved dog by his side’.
Along with his trend-setting styles, Sorbie was well known from his TV appearances on The Wright Stuff, GMTV and Mary Queen Of Shops – as well as This Morning.
His salon team said in a statement this afternoon: ‘It is with heartfelt emotion that we share the passing of our esteemed founder, Trevor Sorbie. Trevor passed away peacefully with his family and beloved dog by his side.
A post on Trevor Sorbie’s social media accounts said:
‘It is with heartfelt emotion that we share the passing of our esteemed founder, Trevor Sorbie.
‘Trevor passed away peacefully with his family and beloved dog by his side.
‘Trevor’s journey, marked by unparalleled creativity and kindness, has left an indelible mark on the world of hairdressing and beyond.
‘From pioneering The Wedge five decades ago to establishing our first salon in 1979, Trevor’s vision set new standards and continues to inspire generations.
‘As we commemorate 45 years of Trevor Sorbie salons, we remain steadfast in upholding the passion, artistry, and dedication that he embodied.
‘Trevor often reminded us to ‘be bold, be different, but always do everything in good taste’.
‘His ethos of kindness, care, and excellence continues to guide us. He expressed immense pride in our team and confidence in our commitment to carrying forward his legacy.’
‘Trevor’s journey, marked by unparalleled creativity and kindness, has left an indelible mark on the world of hairdressing and beyond.
‘From pioneering The Wedge five decades ago to establishing our first salon in 1979, Trevor’s vision set new standards and continues to inspire generations.
‘As we commemorate 45 years of Trevor Sorbie salons, we remain steadfast in upholding the passion, artistry, and dedication that he embodied. Trevor often reminded us to ‘be bold, be different, but always do everything in good taste’.
‘His ethos of kindness, care, and excellence continues to guide us. He expressed immense pride in our team and confidence in our commitment to carrying forward his legacy.’
The stylist previously set up the charity My New Hair to provide ‘public advice and support a national network of independent salons and professionals who provide a wig styling service for people suffering from cancer and medical hair loss’.
His team said they were going to honour Sorbie’s wishes for there to be no funeral, and instead of flowers they invited people to support four charities that were “close to his heart” – Marie Curie, Cancer Research UK, Rowans Hospice and My New Hair.
The statement added: ‘We also plan to celebrate his remarkable life and contributions with a special event next year and will share details in due course.’
Born in Paisley on March 13, 1949, Sorbie’s family later moved to England where he was bullied at school, leading him to drop out as a teenager when he began as an apprentice in his father’s barber shop.
In 1979 he opened the first Trevor Sorbie salon in London’s Covent Garden, with the company going on to open locations in Brighton, Bristol, Hampstead, Manchester and Richmond.
Sorbie’s methods helped to transform the world of hairdressing through trend-setting styles such as the wolf man, sculpture, and the wave – and a fast-drying process called the scrunch.
He garnered increased public attention thanks to various broadcast appearances including This Morning, The Wright Stuff, GMTV and Mary Queen Of Shops.
‘As we commemorate 45 years of Trevor Sorbie salons, we remain steadfast in upholding the passion, artistry, and dedication that he embodied.
He also appeared on Channel 4 programme Faking It, where a professional would show a novice how to excel in their field, as a mentor along with TV chef Gordon Ramsay.
Despite numerous awards and styling the hair of Chris Tarrant, Chesney Hawkes, and Olympic skaters Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean, Sorbie said his ‘biggest accolade’ was being made an MBE by Queen Elizbeth II in 2004.
During his career, he also created a popular eponymous haircare brand.
Sorbie began volunteering at Princess Alice Hospice in Esher, Surrey, after beginning to step back from the salon floor in 2006.
He told The Times ‘it really unnerved’ him when he was asked to cut the wig of a patient for her wedding, but told she might die before then.
‘She died the next day, but as I shut the door (after cutting her wig), I remember thinking for the first time in my life, ‘I’m not just a hairdresser, I feel special’,’ he recalled.
In 2009, he began to focus his efforts on My New Hair, which gives advice to patients and NHS staff on wig styling, hair loss and re-growth after treatment.
‘It was my personal experience of helping a family member during cancer treatment that inspired the idea of My New Hair,’ he said in a statement on the charity’s website.
In 2018, he launched a free wig customisation service for NHS patients who have experienced medical hair loss, including those undergoing chemotherapy, at his home through My New Hair.
A year later, he revealed to BBC Radio 4’s Desert Island Discs he was seeking to retire, but would continue to cut wigs for people who had lost their hair.
Later, Tom Connell, international artistic director, headed up the business as Sorbie focused on his charity.
Sorbie also told the Sunday radio show that he had been going through depression and anxiety for much of his life.
He said kiss-and-tell coverage of him during the mid-2000s drove him to consider taking his life, and help came through getting a pet.
Sorbie said: ‘I read this article years ago and they said that anyone suffering with anxiety and depression, the best medicine is a dog.
‘So I went and got a dog and you know what? It’s right. It’s so good for me, that little boy. I have to go out for an hour walking and I absolutely adore this little boy.’
He was later diagnosed with bowel cancer, and revealed the extent of his condition last month during an appearance on ITV’s This Morning on October 9.
Sorbie revealed he got his initial diagnosis of bowel cancer after going to the hospital when he lost a lot of blood one night.
He said he was told in June 2024 that he had ‘maybe six’ months to live, after the cancer spread to his liver and undergoing a six-and-a-half-hour operation to remove sections of it.
Sorbie said that his surgeon would no longer operate as it was too close to a major blood vessel.
He also said he would spend the time he had left with his wife, Carole, and loved ones.
Sorbie also created training manuals for the industry including the 2005 Bridal Hair Book, and 1998’s Visions In Hair, and in 2023 the Fellowship for British Hairdressing launched a prize in his name, called the Trevor Sorbie Award for creative and commercial innovation.
Today, Mark Hayes, international creative director of House of Sassoon, said: ‘The hair industry has lost a true visionary and icon in Trevor Sorbie.
‘At Vidal Sassoon, Trevor quickly became a legend, most famously creating ‘The Wedge’ – an iconic style that has been emulated countless times but never surpassed.
‘Yet, his legacy goes well beyond one haircut; Trevor was revered around the world for his inventive spirit, exceptional talent, and leadership. After leaving Sassoon, Trevor continued to evolve, exploring new creative frontiers and captivating audiences on stages across the globe.
‘His work was marked by an ever-present drive to innovate, and he constantly set new standards in artistry and technique. Throughout his career, he inspired and mentored a generation of stylists, shaping the careers of many who are now leaders in their own right.
‘Trevor’s humility and grace were as memorable as his artistry, and he remained grounded despite his immense achievements. From all of us at Sassoon, we celebrate the life of a gentleman and a creative force whose contributions to the industry will be felt for generations. Trevor Sorbie was, and will always be, an enduring icon. Rest in peace, Trevor.’