Celebrity hairdresser and the pioneer behind the wedge cut Trevor Sorbie has died.
He passed away “peacefully” aged 75 next to his family, after being diagnosed with terminal bowel cancer in October 2024.
Sorbie revealed on UK chat show This Morning that the cancer had spread to his liver, and said surgeons would not operate any longer due to the proximity of a major blood vessel.
He leaves behind his wife, Carole, his daughter Jade, his stepson, Christian, and his brother, Mike.
“Trevor’s family was an essential part of his life,” the Trevor Sorbie brand said in a statement.
“He cherished the support of his devoted wife, Carole, and found joy and comfort in his beloved dog, Lisbon.”
Tributes towards the hairdressing icon, and stylist for the likes of Grace Jones, Paul McCartney and Dame Helen Mirren, have poured in from across the beauty industry.
Sallie Berkerey, Managing Director at CEW, said Sorbie left an “indelible mark on the world of hairdressing and beyond”.
“Our thoughts are with his family, friends and colleagues,” Berkerey added.
“Even though he had been very ill for some time, he continued to be fully committed to his amazing and talented team and the industry he so loved, and he showed a great sense of humour and humility at all times.”
Mark Hayes, International Creative Director at House of Sassoon, where Sorbie first achieved fame, said Sorbie was a creative force “whose contributions to the industry will be felt for generations”.
Hayes said: “Trevor Sorbie was, and will always be, an enduring icon. Rest in peace, Trevor.”
British celebrity stylist Adam Reed also stated on Instagram: “Thank you Trevor, for everything.”
The British Beauty Council, meanwhile, was “saddened to hear of the passing of the iconic British hairdresser” and “shares its sympathies with Trevor Sorbie’s friends, family and colleagues”.
Celebrity hairdresser Sam McKnight added: “Trevor elevated the idea of being a hairdresser to stratospheric levels, and paved the way for many others
“All the while being a very nice chap. Rest in Peace Trevor, you really did make a difference, and your legacy will live on.”
Sorbie opened his flagship salon in Covent Garden, London, in 1979, and in 2006 founded My New Hair, a charity that supports cancer patients with personalised wig styling.
Sorbie has also been awarded British Hairdresser of the Year four times and received an MBE from Queen Elizabeth II in 2004 for services to British hairdressing.
He featured on numerous TV shows including Channel 4’s Faking It.
“Trevor’s legacy is carried forward by the team he mentored and inspired, who continue to uphold the values and excellence he championed,” Sorbie’s brand added.
“His contributions resonate through the industry, marked by a commitment to innovation, compassion, and mentoring future generations.”
Sorbie requested there to be no funeral and instead urged people to donate to charities such as Marie Curie, Cancer Research UK, Rowans Hospice and My New Hair.
“Trevor Sorbie will be remembered not only for his artistic genius but for his humanity – a legacy that will live on through his team, the 45-year-old Trevor Sorbie brand, and the expanded reach of My New Hair,” the statement continued.