It’s not often that someone comes into your life and changes it in such a major, special way… and Chris Appleton is just that for me. He just simply is the best and pushes me to try new looks, try new things, try new colors, try new wigs, cuts, everything. Chris takes you out of your comfort zone and just makes you feel special. This man changed my life.
Most of us aren’t taught how to reinvent ourselves. We try to change how we look, hoping it will change how we feel – but we don’t know where to start, what to let go of, or how to stop being defined by our past. Until now. In Your Roots Don’t Define You, celebrity hairstylist Chris Appleton – known for creating some of the most iconic beauty moments of our time, from Kim Kardashian’s wet look to J.Lo’s Super Bowl glam – shares his deeply personal and hard-won blueprint for transformation from the inside out.
This isn’t just a book about hair. It’s about healing the parts of yourself you’ve been hiding, silencing the voice that says “you’re not enough,” and using both your past and your pain as fuel for an unforgettable comeback. Blending self-help insights, real-life stories, and the same confidence-igniting tools he uses with his A-list clients, Chris shows you how to break free from shame, rewrite your self-image, and step fully into the person you were always meant to be.
If you’ve ever felt stuck, unseen, or secretly wondered if it was too late to change, this book is your wake-up call. Your roots may have shaped you, but they don’t get to define you. Your transformation starts here.
What you’ll learn in this book
A step-by-step guide to reclaiming your confidence, redefining your style, and creating your own comeback.
How to stop letting your past define you
Learn to break free from old labels, family patterns, and self-doubt that have kept you stuck.
The secret connection between style and self-worth
Discover how changing your look can trigger deep internal transformation—and why it works.
How to silence your inner critic
Dismantle the voice that says, “You’re not enough,” and replace it with one that empowers and uplifts.
The real reason confidence isn’t about luck or looks
Master the rituals and mindset habits that build confidence daily—no matter where you’re starting from.
How to detox from relationships that drain you
Spot the signs of emotional dead weight and learn how to walk away with strength and self-respect.
The formula to becoming unapologetically YOU
Your “It Factor” isn’t something you chase—it’s something you uncover. This book shows you how.
Testimonials
Kim Kardashian
There is only one person we would turn to, to make this [transformation] happen. That is hairstylist to the stars, Chris Appleton.
Jenna Bush Hager and Hoda Kotb
The TODAY Show
This book, this movement of your roots not defining you – isn’t just about makeovers. It’s about the moments behind the mirror: the self-doubt, the struggle, the healing, the breakthrough that happens when you decide to own your truth.
Kris Jenner
Chris is so much more than a hair guru. I am so excited for everyone to learn who he is as he shares his personal journey!
Drew Barrymore
About the author
Chris Appleton is one of the most sought-after hairstylists in the world, known for creating era-defining looks for celebrities like Kim Kardashian, Jennifer Lopez, Ariana Grande, and Dua Lipa. His work has graced the covers of Vogue, GQ, Harper’s Bazaar, and Vanity Fair, and has lit up stages at the MET Gala, the Super Bowl, and red carpets around the globe.
But Chris is more than a glam expert—he’s a storyteller, mentor, and self-made success who has turned personal pain into purpose. From a difficult upbringing in northern England to becoming the first hairstylist on the cover of GQ, Chris has overcome bullying, identity struggles, and heartbreak to build a life rooted in authenticity, creativity, and healing.
Known for his honest advice, empowering presence, and viral transformations, Chris shares his signature philosophy with millions across Instagram, TikTok, and national television, including regular appearances on The Today Show and The Drew Barrymore Show. InYour Roots Don’t Define You, Chris brings his magic out of the salon chair and onto the page—offering readers the same transformation that’s helped some of the most powerful women in the world reclaim their confidence, worth, and style. Because no matter where you come from, you have the power to rewrite your story.
