Entertainment
The man behind Hollywoods most sought-after hair Kims shine, Arianas ponytail is going places.
Hes bringing his husband, actor Lukas Gage, and kids with him.
His position as one of Hollywoods top hair stylists creates travel itineraries that rivalThe Amazing Race.
Why all the trips back to LA?
The trick, Appleton says, is to learn to sleep on planes.
Gage thinks Appleton simply doesnt get jet lag.
He has his own time clock in him, Gage tells me a few weeks later.
Hes calling from the Milan airport.
Hes literally dancing with people and a little dog right now.
Lo, Ariana, Dua.
[Clients] text me like, Hey, are you available?
This is really important to me.
So Ill just try and figure it out.
Its so fun to have them be a part of the journey, he says.
Growing up in Leicester, England, Appletonsambitions didnt square with his surroundings.
(Appleton didnt come out as gay until he was 26.)
Id get on the train for two hours just to assist people and learn.
I traveled to Paris for Fashion Week.
There was dirt in the bed and there wasnt a shower or anything.
I was like, How does he approach hair?
How does he talk to other people?
Eventually, in 2013, Appleton moved to London full-time, where he began working with up-and-comer Rita Ora.
I remember we had three hours for glam.
And shes like, Oh yeah, Ive tried wigs.
I dont like them.
I very much felt like an impostor.
Appleton adopted a fake it till you make it attitude You know what?
Appleton remembers his first encounter with each of his clients.
(Later he created thebraided, hoop-adorned partshe sported around the time of her engagement to Pete Davidson.)
When finally connecting with J.
Lo, she made him a cup of tea to make the expat feel at home.
And upon meeting Kardashian, he was instantly impressed by her willingness to take risks.
Everyone was like Shes cut her hair!
No one understood the power of a wig.
Appletons wig work got him noticed by big-name clients, but glass hair became his calling card.
He first gave the frizz-free, Keratin-on-steroids, so-shiny-its-reflective, straight hairstyle to Kardashian.
Then I realized [that style] looks better longer, thinner, andverystraight, Appleton says.
Then I was like, How do I get it like glass?
Thats how it became a trend.
Kim said to me once, I know when youve done other peoples hair.
I said, How?
She said, Its the finish you get.
Still, success in the business of hair is more psychological than pure trend-setting.
Gage believes Appletons strength lies in how he makes people feel.
Gage saw his husband work this magic on his mom.
That doesnt just come with just doing someones hair.
Its the other stuff underneath.
For nearly two decades,Appleton tells me, he has been in his grafting era.
Thats grafting in the British sense, which, as fans ofLove Islandknow, means something like hustling.
I met him at a party five years before.
I had a partner at the time, and he said something to me drunk.
I remember thinking like,Oh, f*ck off, Appleton says, suddenly giddy.
But anyway, I didnt forget him.
Then five years later I saw him on my Explorer page and I DMed him.
I just said, Boo!
Like the ghost emoji.
Then I said, You could be the flower girl, Appleton says.
Then I rang her back and I was like, Oh my God, you should marry us.
How f*cking hilarious would that be?
[Then] we went to Cabo, we all got tattoos at the end of the night.
Everyone was smiling and happy.
It just was a celebration.
Gage, who is 28, is a hit with the family, too.
Hes a great stepdad.
Hes the cool one, Appleton says.
When we go out, everyones like, Oh, is this your brother?
And Im like, Yeah, Im their brother.
Ill have an hour [of being overwhelmed] and then Im fine.
I just kind of recharge myself, he says.
Not at all, he says.I stilllovedoing it.
… Im just grateful for what I do.
If I ever have a down day, I wake up and Im like, I live in Hollywood.
I have my family.
For a moment I almost dont believe Appleton, until he starts doing my hair.
He compliments my hair and urges me to wear it up more often.
He offers to take a selfie of us, and his enthusiasm is infectious.
I get to make people look and feelgood, he says.
Its like a superpower.
