Celebrity hairdresser Trevor Sorbie dies aged 75
Trevor Sorbie died "peacefully" alongside his family and beloved dog at his side on Friday, as ITV News' Cari Davies reports
Celebrity hairdresser Trevor Sorbie has died aged 75, his company has announced.
The Scottish stylist gained fame after his creation of the wedge cut, alongside his TV appearances. Sorbie was known for cutting the hair of the rich and famous including Grace Jones, The Beach Boys and Dame Helen Mirren.
In October, he revealed he had weeks to live after his bowel cancer had spread to his liver. Speaking on ITV's This Morning, he said his surgeon would no longer operate as it was too close to a major blood vessel.
He died "peacefully" alongside his family and beloved dog at his side.
His company announced the news of his death on Instagram. A post said: "It is with heartfelt emotion that we share the passing of our esteemed founder, Trevor Sorbie MBE.
“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...
“Honouring Trevor’s wishes, there will be no funeral. In lieu of flowers, we invite you to support four charities: Marie Curie, Cancer Research UK, Rowans Hospice and My New Hair, all close to his heart.
“We also plan to celebrate his remarkable life and contributions with a special event next year and will share details in due course.”
He also used his platform as an opportunity to help sick people suffering from hair loss, volunteering at the Princes Alice Hospice in Surrey, after beginning to step back from salon work in 2006.
The award-winning 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”.
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.
Sorbie was a four-time British Hairdresser of the Year winner and his 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.
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Born in Paisley, Scotland, on March 13 1949, his family later moved to England where Sorbie 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 Covent Garden, London, with the company going on to open locations in Brighton, Bristol, Hampstead, Manchester and Richmond.
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.
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