The Skinny Confidential Him And Her Show Chris Appleton On Finding Your True Identity, Resilience, & Breaking His Silence To Live Authentically
Feb 5, 2026
Chris Appleton, TV personality, celebrity hairstylist, and author of Your Roots Don't Define You, shares his journey from childhood bullying to embracing authenticity. He discusses mental health, coming out, rewrites of his book to be honest, and how hair creates connection. He reflects on parenting, breaking inherited patterns, and choosing growth and vulnerability.
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First Hair Moment Sparked A Career
- Chris Appleton first felt the power of hair when he styled his mother's hair at nine and saw her reaction in the mirror.
- That early moment convinced him hair could change how people feel and launched his lifelong focus on hairstyling.
Bullying Shaped His Self-Image
- Chris was bullied violently at school for doing hair and being perceived as different, which programmed him to prove others wrong.
- That pressure led him to abandon parts of himself and pursue perfection to escape shame.
Turning Point After His Breakup
- After a breakup in his late twenties, Chris began exploring his sexuality and formed a pivotal friendship with a man who later disclosed he was HIV positive.
- That revelation reinforced Chris's childhood fears about being gay and delayed his self-acceptance.