Chris Appleton, WWD’s Style Awards Hairstylist Honoree, on Telling Stories Through Hair

A quick scroll through Chris Appleton’s Instagram looks like a who’s-who of Hollywood’s best hair.

In between photos of Kim Kardashian and Jennifer Lopez or his makeover of Drew Barrymore are his own media appearances and event photos. In many ways, Appleton is a celebrity in his own right.

“I like to create a moment, and I like to bring out the best in someone,” Appleton said. “Whether it’s a music performance or a red carpet, every event tells a story. And I tell a story with hair.”

Appleton thinks it’s that clarity of vision that keeps his clients coming back. Among his greatest hits are Kardashian’s myriad looks for past Met Galas, Lopez’s blowout for the 2020 Super Bowl halftime show, “or the time we put hoops in Ariana [Grande’s] hair and made her ponytail longer,” he said. 

“Those moments are distinctive to me, not just because it’s about a dream I had, but because people love formulas that they can stick to. And part of pop culture is about moving on and evolving, and I hope I can evolve, too.”

Evolving is crucial to Appleton, though he also thinks the key to keeping clients happy is a simple one. “When you sit down with someone and talk to them about what they aspire to look like, or what story they’re trying to tell, it creates a special bond and a relationship,” he said.

“A brand wanted to work with me and when I asked why, they said ‘You’re the only person that has evolved outside of hair and you’re bigger than just doing hair,’” he continued. “It’s interesting because the reason people come to me is really basic. I just want to make people look and feel their best and never turn up to a job uninterested.”

Appleton first started working in a salon when he was 13 “and I wanted to be good at everything I did,” he recalled. “I learned everything I could about hair. I got a color degree, I did every course education program, and I was constantly looking outside of the box. I was up and down London just trying to learn different things.”

Stints doing editorials and fashion week led to a call from Lopez’s team to do a show in Las Vegas, which marked his move to the U.S. “I was like, ‘how can I go to Hollywood and do famous people?’” Appleton said. “Then the first call was Christina Aguilera on ‘The Voice.’”

That coincided with the rise of social media. Appleton has north of 4 million followers on Instagram alone, and he was one of the early adopters of the platform. In addition to amassing his own following, Appleton noticed it also sped up the cycle of beauty trends.

“People started to understand you didn’t have to stick with the same hairstyle for 10 years. You could change it daily and not have to commit,” he said. “For me, it’s OK to wear extensions or wigs, or be blonde for a couple of months.”

Social media can be a double-edged sword, but Appleton leans into its more democratic elements. “If I hadn’t had social media, I wouldn’t be in America and I wouldn’t be doing celebrities. JLo saw me because I was posting what I did, and it enabled me to tell a story,” he said.

“You used to take your portfolio into places. Now people just look at your Instagram. It’s made the world a smaller place where you can excel and be seen against all odds. I’m aware of the negative aspects, and I block out the negative side,” Appleton continued.

Although Appleton is quick to move onto the next look, he said his references are anything but ephemeral. “Veruschka had amazing hair back in the day — Sophia Loren, Brigitte Bardot — all the classics,” he said. “They’ve all influenced different things. I just like to take something, twist it and evolve it.”

He’s become known for an ultimately polished look, even if he’s going for a slightly messier style. “Kim Kardashian once said to me she could tell when I’ve done people’s hair because of the finish I get to the hair,” he said. “It’s not about the style — even if it’s messy, it looks on the right side of messy. It’s more about the finish.”

Even with lofty expectations from clients, Appleton isn’t one to feel the heat. “I’ve always worked better under pressure,” he said. “Sometimes when you have too much time on your hands, you overthink everything you know. Under pressure, I know what I’m doing.”

Appleton prefers to collaborate with his clientele on a look — ”I don’t need full creative control,” he said — but does look to garner trust to take liberties.

“A lot of people will instinctively say no to something. We all do it. But I like it to be a collaborative experience,” he said, likening red carpet prep to baking. “It’s like making a cake. I like to be an ingredient in the cake, and to be a part of the process and end result.”