Have you ever felt pressure to hide a part of who you are? What helps you feel safe enough to open up? Today, Jay chats with renowned celebrity hairstylist Chris Appleton to share deeply personal parts of his life he’s never shared publicly. Known for creating iconic looks for stars like Kim Kardashian, Jennifer Lopez, and Ariana Grande, Chris has built a career around image and transformation. Chris bravely opens up about the journey that shaped him, pulling back the curtain on the private struggles behind his public success. From growing up in a working-class town in England, and discovering his passion for hair was a way to survive, to feel seen, and to express who he really was. As the conversation unfolds, Chris opens up about the darkest night of his life. The moment he nearly ended his life, a breaking point born from decades of shame, fear, and the belief that being true to himself would hurt the people he loved most. What followed was not an overnight transformation, but a long, honest path toward healing. Chris speaks candidly about coming out as gay in his late twenties, the grief of ending a nine-year relationship with the mother of his children, and the fear of disappointing his kids. Jay and Chris explore the power of redefining identity, letting go of what no longer serves us, and embracing the possibility of change at any stage in life. With the support of therapy, self-reflection, and a willingness to confront his pain, Chris began a new chapter, one rooted in alignment between his inner and outer world. In this interview, you'll learn: How to Embrace Your True Identity Without Shame How to Heal After Hiding Your Authentic Self How to Rebuild Private Pain in Public How to Support Your Children Through Major Life Changes How to Start Over When Your Life No Longer Feels Aligned How to Find Peace Through Forgiveness and Self-Acceptance How to Recognize When It’s Time to Let Go and Move On No matter your past, your pain, or how long you’ve carried it, it’s never too late to begin again. The first step is being honest with yourself. With Love and Gratitude, Jay Shetty Find help and support If you or someone you know is struggling or having thoughts of suicide, call or text the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org . In life-threatening situations, call 911. Join over 750,000 people to receive my most transformative wisdom directly in your inbox every single week with my free newsletter. Subscribe here. What We Discuss: 00:00 Intro 03:13 Your Roots Don't Define Who You Can Become 06:19 Is It Safer to Hide Who You Really Are? 10:11 What It Actually Takes to Become the Best 14:32 Finding Yourself After an Identity Crisis 17:27 Letting Go of Shame to Be Your True Self 20:15 Accepting and Embracing Your Gender Identity 22:46 How to Come Out Without Hurting the People You Love 30:21 Choosing Inner Peace Over the Deepest Pain 33:10 Rebuilding Yourself After Grief and Collapse 36:40 Why the Right Guidance Can Change Everything 39:13 Struggling Doesn’t Mean You’re Weak 39:30 Forgiveness: Freeing Yourself from the Past 41:15 Sharing Your Story Could Save Someone Else 44:29 When a New Environment Heals Your Spirit 45:06 The Unexpected Call That Changed Everything 47:29 The Hair Appointment That Almost Ended His Career 52:23 How to Build Authentic Relationships in Your Industry 55:33 You Don’t Owe the Public an Explanation 59:09 Why Love Is Always Worth the Risk 01:01:48 Give Yourself Permission to Walk Away 01:05:35 How to Protect Your Peace in a Loud World 01:10:35 What Do You Really See in the Mirror? 01:12:28 Being the Father You Always Needed 01:19:01 Chris on Final Five Episode Resources: Chris Appleton | Instagram Chris Appleton | YouTube Chris Appleton | TikTok Chris is releasing his debut book, YOUR ROOTS DON’T DEFINE YOU: Transform Your Life. Create Your Comeback, on January 20, 2026. The book is available for pre-order now at the link HERESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Happy birthday
Appreciate your pragmatic and outstanding content,but ads are too long 😵💫
woah, that was great✨ Thank you so muchhh.
It’s really frustrating A lot of commercials and advertisements!! Just back to back, ENOUGH That’s not ok
this absolutely brilliant I really needed this
Thanks 🙏🏼
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really so motivated
I Did it naturally.. It worked very well
That was inspiring and thorough . Thank you
I'm sorry Jay but I really don't like when you speed up the interviews. It's hard to keep up. I love your content but I am getting frustrated with having to rewind or relisten to try to comprehend to me is important or even not important details. Please keep it as a Normal speed interview. Thank you
Oh my God, what an inspiring kid! If a group of 12 year olds can start a movement like that, we as adults have no excuses. He's right about seeing things more from that young innocent perspective. That's what we need to revive in us and in the world. Thanks so much for this episode! https://nerverrevive.com
The content is nice, but there are too many ads in between, which makes it annoying.. https://endorpump.com
I needed that so bad rn. thank u
Thanks
Isn't most confidence just a scam.. A Con!
l really need a friendship coach😓
Thank you for sharing transcript 🌸🙏🏻
see, l really can't believe celebrity ciouples and most of the time l think they r lying about their happiness but about u two, l really really want to this be true . l love Rahdni and u r good person too Jay . god bless u both 🪷💫
i believe you are right Jay we once lived by the heart i did for a long time i was raised in a Christian home i live and breathed basically the church ,God, Jesus. in a Southern baptist home and i loved and trusted and open to the world i do t want to say gullible but more innocent to the ways of the world and how people are on purpose or not . im 47 yrs old i struggle now with trust and being vulnerable diagnosed at 43 with bipolar a recovering addict learning who i am learning about my trauma