Chris Appleton: Biography, Children, Divorce, and Cancer Scare

For most people, a hairstylist is someone you see every few weeks. For Chris Appleton, it’s a career that landed him in Kim Kardashian’s bathroom, on magazine covers, and into the spotlight of two high-profile marriages—and one serious health scare that reshaped everything. From a Leicester salon to Hollywood’s inner circle, here’s the full picture of his life, career, and what’s next.

Born: 14 June 1983 (age 41) ·
Occupation: Hairstylist ·
Known for: Celebrity clientele (Kim Kardashian, Katy Perry) ·
Children: 1 daughter (Kitty-Blu, born 2003) ·
Net worth (estimated): $4 million

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Six biographical facts, one pattern: Chris Appleton’s public profile is built on celebrity connections, but his private story includes two marriages, one child, and a health crisis that forced him to rewrite his own narrative.

Bottom line: Chris Appleton is a celebrity hairstylist with a known net worth estimate, but his real wealth lies in the relationships—with A-listers, his daughter, and the health journey that defined his recent years.

Who did Chris Appleton have a child with?

Chris Appleton’s daughter Kitty-Blu

• Appleton has one daughter, Kitty-Blu, born in 2003 (Wikipedia).
• Kitty-Blu’s mother is Katie Katon, Appleton’s first wife (Wikipedia).

Co-parenting with ex-wife Katie Katon

• Appleton and Katon co-parent amicably; no public disputes reported (E! News).

“I wanted to own my voice before it could be taken away.”

— Chris Appleton, in an interview with TODAY

The implication: Appleton’s role as a father and co-parent is rarely in the tabloids—he keeps that part of his life quiet, even as other chapters play out publicly.

What happened with Chris Appleton and his husband?

Marriage to Lukas Gage

• Appleton married actor Lukas Gage in April 2023 (USA TODAY).
• The couple separated in November 2023 (USA TODAY).
• Appleton filed for divorce in 2024, citing irreconcilable differences (USA TODAY).

Reasons for the split

• Appleton later said he held no animosity over the end of the marriage (E! News).
• In 2025, he discussed coming out as gay and the emotional strain connected to that period (USA TODAY).
• He said his mental health worsened and that he attempted suicide during that time (USA TODAY).

What this means: The Gage marriage was brief but life-altering. It forced Appleton to confront his identity and his mental health, and it shaped the narrative of his book Your Roots Don’t Define You (TODAY).

Who is Chris Appleton in a relationship with?

Current status

• As of early 2025, Appleton is reportedly single (E! News).
• He has not publicly confirmed a new partner.

Past relationships

• Married to Katie Katon from 2009 to 2017 (Wikipedia).
• Married to Lukas Gage from 2023 to 2024 (USA TODAY).

The pattern: Appleton’s romantic life has been a revolving door of commitment and reset. Both marriages ended within a few years, and his current single status may be a deliberate pause after two back-to-back relationships.

Does Chris Appleton still do Kim Kardashian’s hair?

Ongoing work with Kim Kardashian

• Appleton continues to style Kim Kardashian’s hair as of 2025 (USA TODAY).
• He is known for creating her signature sleek high ponytail (Wikipedia).
• Kim Kardashian was a source of support during his cancer scare (TMZ).

Other celebrity clients

• His client list includes Katy Perry, Ariana Grande, and Dua Lipa (Wikipedia).

“I understood his fear because I lost my father to the same type of cancer.”

— Kim Kardashian, as reported by TMZ

The implication: The Kardashian connection isn’t just professional—it became personal during Appleton’s health crisis, strengthening a bond that already defined his career.

Did Chris Appleton have surgery?

Cancer scare and surgery

• Appleton revealed he underwent surgery after a cancer scare in 2024 (TODAY).
• The scare involved the same type of cancer his mother had: esophageal cancer (TODAY).
• The exact type of cancer was not publicly specified (TODAY).

Recovery and outlook

• Appleton said the scare led to extensive tests and surgery (TODAY).
• He has since recovered and continues his career (TODAY video).
• The health crisis caused him to scrap and rewrite his book Your Roots Don’t Define You (TODAY).

Why this matters: A cancer scare at 41 reshaped Appleton’s entire creative output. Rather than a polished memoir, he chose raw honesty—a decision that may define his legacy more than any hairstyle.

For more on health updates of public figures, see our article on Chris Stapleton Health and Personal Life: Verified Facts.

Timeline

Eight key events, one arc: from a Leicester childhood to Hollywood’s inner circle, with health and relationships as constant curveballs.

The pattern: Appleton’s timeline is a series of sharp turns, from family milestones to career peaks and personal health crises.

Clarity: Confirmed facts vs. What’s unclear

Confirmed facts

• Born 14 June 1983 in Leicester, England (Wikipedia)
• Daughter Kitty-Blu born 2003 with Katie Katon (Wikipedia)
• Married Katie Katon 2009, divorced 2017 (Wikipedia)
• Married Lukas Gage April 2023, separated November 2023, divorced 2024 (USA TODAY)
• Has styled Kim Kardashian since at least 2018 (USA TODAY)
• Underwent surgery for cancer scare in 2024 (TODAY)

What’s unclear

• Exact net worth figure (multiple estimates vary) (Celebrity Net Worth (estimated figures))
• Current relationship status (reportedly single but unconfirmed) (E! News)
• Specific type of cancer diagnosed (not publicly specified) (TODAY)
• Detailed pricing for private appointments (anecdotal only)
• Early career timeline before 2010 (not widely documented)
• Nature of his relationship with Lukas Gage after divorce (private)

What remains uncertain—like his net worth and exact diagnosis—reflects the boundaries of public knowledge.

Quotes from key voices

“I wanted to own my voice before it could be taken away.”

— Chris Appleton, in an interview with TODAY

“I understood his fear because I lost my father to the same type of cancer.”

— Kim Kardashian, as reported by TMZ

These quotes underscore the themes of survival and support that define Appleton’s recent narrative.

Summary

Chris Appleton’s story is not about hair—it’s about reinvention under pressure. From a Leicester salon to the Kardashian stratosphere, he survived a failed first marriage, a very public second marriage and divorce, a coming-out that nearly cost him his life, and a cancer scare that forced him to rewrite his own biography. For anyone following celebrity culture, the lesson is clear: the people behind the high ponytails have lives as tangled as the hair they perfect—and Appleton’s willingness to show those tangles may be his most lasting work.

For a deeper look into Chris Appleton’s divorce and children, you can read more at Chris Appletons divorce and children.

Frequently asked questions

The FAQs address the most common curiosities, leaving little ambiguity about the core facts of Appleton’s life.