When it comes to glam teams, there’s A-List and there’s iconic, and celebrity hairstylist Chris Appleton has reached the stratosphere of fame with his notable work on high-profile clients like Kim Kardashian, Jennifer Lopez, Dua Lipa, Drew Barrymore, and more. When we sat down with him, Appleton had just come off a high-energy influencer event in the Miami humidity to launch Color Wow’s new Extra Strength Dream Coat. The newly-brunette and newlywed star (he just wed actor Lukas Gage in late April) took a minute to chat with us and share some of his best tips for summer hair and the looks he’s loved most from the last year.
How does it feel to be a brunette and stray from your signature platinum blonde?
“The blonde was a long-time thing. I had it for six years, and Color Wow played a role in it as part of my branding. Everyone knew me as a blonde, so every time I thought about changing it, I hesitated. When you walk into a room as a blonde, people notice you, but when you’re brunette, it’s quite the same. My hair was so fried and hard to manage. It never looked as good as when it was first bleached. When there was a bit of root growth, it was okay, but when it was too much root and frosted tips became a problem for photo shoots or red-carpet events. If the roots were too noticeable, I couldn’t touch them up because it would look crazy after bleaching. Eventually, I had to keep cutting it off because of the damage. I used to spend five hours sitting there every time I had to color my hair, and it would give me a terrible headache. Blow-drying became difficult too; it felt like dealing with a sponge that would break and fall out. So, I made this change for the sake of my hair’s health.”
What are your top tips for achieving the best summer hair?
“My number one game-changing tip is the new Color Wow Extra Strength Dream Coat ($32). This is perfect for those struggling with frizz or hair that won’t stay in place after blow-drying. It has amazing waterproof technology to keep your style intact and provides deep hydration. It’s ideal for people with dehydrated or very curly hair who need to tame their mane. If you live in Miami, a humid environment, or even rainy areas, this product will keep your style in place. There’s no other product like it on the market, so if you haven’t tried it, give it a shot. It’s highly moisturizing and it took a long time to develop the technology to combine waterproof properties and hydration. That’s why I’m so excited to use it during the summer and all year round.
Tip number two is the hydration station. Make sure to add moisture to your hair, especially in the heat. My Money Masque ($45), that I did in collaboration with Color Wow, is an amazing treatment that you can leave in your hair. Apply it after being in the water or when styling slicked-back buns or high ponytails. It not only keeps your hair looking great but also conditions it.
For tip number three, I always recommend doing loose braids before going to sleep for second-day hair in the summer. When you wake up, you’ll have effortlessly styled, beautiful, and slightly undone texture. I often do this with hair extensions to achieve a relaxed look. It’s cooler than using a curling iron and perfect for the summer.”
Congrats on your recent nuptuals. How has married life been? And have you binge watched all of his shows?
“It’s interesting to have a partner who is also in the public eye because when we’re working, we portray different personas. At home, we get to see the real person. I haven’t watched his shows. I’ve never seen White Lotus, but I do enjoy watching clips of his work, especially when he writes movies because I know they come from his stories. When he’s playing a role, it’s not really him. I know he’s a talented actor, so I don’t need to watch everything. It’s different from my work. If I do a significant project, he’ll watch it, but it’s not necessary. Getting married has been an interesting experience. It’s been a whirlwind, but also a lot of fun.”
Which of your recent celebrity looks are you most proud of?
“Kim’s Met Gala Hair, then probably the Dolce and Gabbana blonde phase that Kim was in with that Bardot look. Everyone really loved the shorter lob. It was just like a different Kim. I love that kind of era. That was really fun and she was doing all this stuff. I miss that hair. Also, Jenny’s wedding look. It was inspired by Priscilla Presley. That’s my favorite because obviously that was a really big moment.”
