The hair community is mourning the loss of celebrity hairstylist Trevor Sorbie, MBE, who passed away of bowel cancer on November 8, 2024 at the age of 75.
"Trevor passed away peacefully with his family and beloved dog by his side," his team said in a statement posted to Instagram. "Trevor’s journey, marked by unparalleled creativity and kindness, has left an indelible mark on the world of hairdressing and beyond."
The Scottish-born hairstylist got his start in the industry at age 15 when he started to apprentice for his father. He went on to open his first salon in 1979 in Covent Garden, London and later expanded to locations in Brighton, Bristol, Hampstead, Manchester and Richmond. He also launched his own line of styling products in 1986.
Sorbie shaped the hair industry prominently in the 1970s and 80s by developing several innovative hair cut and styling techniques. While working as Vidal Sassoon's Art Director in London in 1974, Sorbie introduced the Wedge Cut. Achieved by detailed graduation from angular fullness on top, tapering to a teardrop at the nape, the Wedge Cut was the first hairdressing picture to be published as a double-page spread in Vogue magazine.
“The Wedge captured the spirit of the time and was flaunted in nightclubs around the world,” Sorbie reflected of the cut on his website.
The Wedge Cut by Trevor Sorbie as featured in Vogue magazine.Courtesy of @trevorsorbie via Instagram.
He also popularized the spiky Wolfman cut, sported by names like Sting and Annie Lennox. In the 1980s, Sorbie originated the Scrunch Technique, which helped accelerate the hair drying process in the salon, as a result, voluminous, natural texture began to sky rocket in popularity.
Sorbie's trendy styles led him to work with clientele like The Beach Boys, Helen Mirren and Beatles members Paul McCartney and George Harrison.
Beyond the styles he created behind the chair, education served as one of Sorbie's core values. He is responsible for creating two hairdressing academies. He also required all his hairstylist and technician team members to partake in a vigorous training process and final test that they were required to pass to work for the company. Currently, Sorbie's team provides educational training and seminars for other stylists and technicians who want to improve their skills.
Later in life, Sorbie began to dedicate his time to charity, founding My New Hair in honor of his sister-in-law who reached out to him prior to undergoing treatment for cancer. The non-profit provides support, advice and resources for medical hair loss.
With a resume this impressive, it's no surprise that Sorbie was awarded British Hairdresser of the Year four times. He was also the first hairdresser to be named Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (MBE) by Queen Elizabeth II in 2004.
In leiu of flowers, Sorbie's team is asking fellow hair professionals to support any of the following charities: Marie Curie, Cancer Research UK, Rowans Hospice and My New Hair. There are also plans to celebrate Sorbie's life and legacy with an event set to be held next year, with details to come.
