A legendary hairstylist who worked with Princess Diana and Martha Stewart, has sadly died aged 66.

John Barrett, who was born in Limerick, Ireland but grew up in London, opened his first salon in Recent York City in 1996 and ran his salon at Bergdorf Goodman for greater than 20 years. 

A detailed friend, Julianne Jaffe, revealed his explanation for death was blood cancer in line with WWD.com.

Taking to his salon’s Instagram page his team broke the devastating news to their customers.

The statement read: ‘On behalf of The John Barrett Salon Team, we regretfully announce with great pain, the passing of our founder and owner, the legendary John Barrett.

‘John lit up any room that he walked into together with his charm, wit and candor. 

‘His superhuman talent was his ability to make anyone who sat in his chair feel like essentially the most beautiful person on the planet. 

‘He lived by the phrase, “It is not just concerning the hair, it’s concerning the care”. He cared with great passion for his beloved family, salon and staff.’

The post concluded with a heartfelt message to the salon’s clientele before addressing the late hairstylist directly.

‘Now, greater than ever, we’ll come together because the JB Family that John so proudly created and cared for, and proceed working hard to make our clients from N.Y.C. and afar appear and feel their best,’ the announcement continued. 

‘John — We are going to at all times miss you, love you and we’ll carry on in your honor and memory. Thanks for all you’ve gotten done for us and the wonder industry. Rest in peace our dear friend.’

Friends and celebrity pals of the hairdresser rushed to the comments to pay their respects.

Donna Air said: ‘Such a sort and generous soul, grateful to your kind hospitality in NYC. RIP John’

One other said: ‘He gave me opportunities nobody has ever did ! Let me run a floor for him when no person desired to !

‘Gone and still appreciated every moment ! from the closing in bergdorf to the grand opening to his own place ! the sweats and the tears i did all of it for him !! from his lox within the morning to his chicken sandwiches it was all an honor and a tremendous thing to be apart of ! PRAYING FOR THE ENTIRE INDUSTRY AND THE JOHN BARRETT TEAM!!’

While one other wrote: ‘John won’t ever be forgotten what a phenomenal legacy he left as is demonstrated in these comments.’ 

John has worked with many celebrities through the years but most notably he styled the hair of Hillary Clinton, the Olsen twins and Princess Diana.

John previously opened up about working with the late royal in an April interview with Page Six. 

He said: ‘I used to be so nervous, I get to her suite, and immediately she’s sitting on the bed with my assistant taking a look at photographs of my assistant’s children. The chatting was easy.’

He went on to inform Page Six that Diana trusted him to ‘just do’ what he liked, which he found to be daunting. 

He added: ‘With someone like that, if I did anything bad or improper it could be visible to the entire world.’