Chris Appleton is one of the most influential hairstylists in the world — the creative force behind some of the most recognizable looks in modern pop culture. From red carpets to campaigns to cultural moments that define an era, his work is instantly recognizable. But what happens behind the scenes — in the chair, in the quiet, in the human part — is what makes Chris so singular.
In this conversation, Yale sits down with Chris to talk about his new book, Your Roots Don’t Define You — a project that’s not really about hair or beauty, but identity. Chris opens up about what it took to write something this personal, why the original proposal wasn’t honest enough, and what it means to finally feel aligned on the inside and the outside. They talk about shame, self-talk, and the voice that tears us apart in the mirror — and how healing isn’t deleting your past, but learning to live with it without letting it run your life.
Chris shares defining moments: the night coming out broke him, the decision to stop abandoning himself, and the career-changing day he almost let fear win — sitting outside Christina Aguilera’s trailer, doubting himself, then choosing to bet on himself anyway. They also get into fatherhood, friendship, the difference between love and alignment, rebuilding a relationship with home, and what it means to be proud of who you’ve become — not just what you’ve achieved. The result is vulnerable, sharp, and unexpectedly grounding — a conversation in Chris’s Office.
Don’t miss this episode where Chris opens up about:
- Why his book had to be rewritten to tell the truth
- The “therapist in the chair” reality of hairstyling
- How to quiet the hater voice
- The childhood moment that changed everything
- Coming out, shame, and surviving the moment he didn’t think he could
- The career pivot point that almost didn’t happen
- Finding alignment, boundaries, and what he learned through divorce
- Fatherhood, honesty, and the moment his kids told him they were proud
- Why Your Roots Don’t Define You is a permission slip to change
Find Chris:
IG: @chrisappleton1
TikTok: @chrisappletonhair
Questions, comments…sharp takes? Shoot us a note at WhatsUp@officeof.world
Find out more about the Office Of Podcast
One more thing! Not all offices are created equal. See who else is part of our world and all of the unstructured, messy behind-the-scenes that comes with it on our Instagram & TikTok.
And! If you particularly enjoyed this episode – or any others – please subscribe and leave a rating and review on Apple or Spotify or where ever you get your podcasts.
Recorded at The Newsstand Studios at Rockefeller Center.
Thank you for listening.