‘Our hair is such an important part of our identity,’ Chris Appleton, the LA-based celebrity hairstylist, tells ELLE UK. The man responsible for the tresses of some of the world's biggest style chameleons - Dua Lipa, Jennifer Lopez and the Kardashian clan, among many others - would know: his career, which has seen him create dramatic red carpet updos and style major transformations, centres on storytelling through hair.
Call it frivolous but there’s a certain power and joy to be found in experimenting with our lengths. And it's often the new year where the pull of starting afresh and doing something different (a razor-sharp bob haircut, perhaps?) becomes all the more appealing.
Here, Chris Appleton speaks exclusively to ELLE UK about the biggest winter hair trends to know and why there's a collective mood to shake things up this season.
On the freshest winter hair trends...
'The preppy bob made a comeback in 2023 and won’t be going anywhere this year,' says Appleton. 'It’s the perfect low-maintenance cut for the colder season. The slicked-back look is also sticking around, and I think we’ll start to see this transition into more wet-look styles over the next few months.'
On the power of a hair transformation...
'I say "Go for it!" You only live once and your hair is a great way of expressing yourself and your personal style.' His top tip? 'Don’t overthink it – you can always have a dig through TikTok to take inspiration from celebrities' hair transformations and models with a similar face shape to yours to help get an idea of how different cuts will look on you.'
On bringing hairstyles to life for the red carpet...
'It’s all in the finish. I always use high-quality hair tools that I can rely on to deliver stunning results, and then it comes down to the finer details like placement and smoothing to take red-carpet looks to the next level.'
On the rise of experimentation...
'Everyone loves a change of style for a new season, and right now, hair is at the forefront of pop culture and fashion, which is inspiring so many people to change their cut or colour,' he says. 'We also have easier access to more professional tips and tricks through social media, not to mention that brands have become even more innovative, which has made it easier to experiment and achieve results at home.'
On the connection between our hair and how we feel...
'Our hair is such an important part of our outward identity – I see it with all of my clients, whether they’re celebrities or people who come into the salon every day. When they’re in love with their hair they stand up straighter and show themselves more love,' Appleton says. 'Haircuts and styles can be a huge confidence boost for so many people and I think that’s what is so connected to how we feel inside. That’s why Shark Beauty’s ‘For All Hairkind’ campaign resonated with me so much as their global ambassador: to help even more people celebrate their hair and democratise high-end hairstyling so that everyone has a premium experience.'
