From Kim Kardashian, J.Lo, and Ariana Grande, Chris Appleton has styled the biggest names in Hollywood, but his journey getting there was not easy. Today, Chris opens up about the hustle it took to go from a small-town salon in the UK to red carpets, and the bumps in the road along the way.

Chris shares the financial trauma, internal battles, and deep personal work it took to get to the top—and stay there. He gets vulnerable about the struggles behind the success: coming out after being in a heterosexual relationship, the breakthrough moment with Christina Aguilera that allowed him to beat his imposter syndrome, and why the word “fine” isn’t in his vocabulary.

Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Resources

Find video clips from the pod on Money Rehab’s Instagram and Nicole Lapin’s Instagram

Check Out Chris’ Book Your Roots Don’t Define You

Find a Financial Advisor or Financial Coach from Nicole’s company Private Wealth Collective

Here’s what Nicole talks about with Chris:

00:00 Money Rehab Presents: Chris Appleton

03:01 Childhood Struggles and Financial Trauma

06:53 Telling the Hater Inside to Quiet Down

10:54 Navigating a Scarcity Mindset

13:44 Chris’ Erewhon Smoothie

16:27 Chris’ Early Hustle Days and Evading Train Conductors 

21:52 Moving to LA and Chris’ Big Break with Christina Aguilera

26:07 Chris’ Coming Out Story and Hitting Rock Bottom

32:05 Why “Fine” Isn’t Fine

34:52 Why the Hair Salon Feels Like Therapy

38:01 How Chris Built His Reputation and How to Sell the Sizzle

41:46 Lessons from Kim Kardashian

44:42 Chris’ Take on Marriage, Relationships and Self Love

45:01 The Importance of Self-Love and Selectivity

48:46 Chris’ Tip Listeners Can Take Straight to the Bank