Conan O’Brien is known for his tall, bright red hairstyle that has been part of his image for decades. That is why fans were surprised when he recently appeared with a completely different look on his podcast.
The sudden change quickly became a talking point online. Many viewers wondered if the comedian had decided to try a new style. As it turns out, the real story was much funnier than anyone expected.
A New Hairstyle Leaves Fans Confused
Fans first noticed O’Brien’s different appearance during an episode of his podcast featuring fellow comedian Molly Shannon.
His hair looked flatter, slicker and very different from the signature style people have seen for years. The unexpected change led to plenty of questions across social media.
Some viewers thought it might be a new fashion choice, while others simply enjoyed joking about the dramatic difference.
The Story Began at a Chicago Event
O’Brien later explained that the situation started when he attended the opening of the Obama Presidential Center in Chicago on June 18.
The comedian said he did not realise beforehand that the event would take place outdoors. Since it was a sunny day, he decided to put sunblock on his face before heading outside.
At the time, he felt confident that he had prepared well for the weather.
Feeling Proud of His Sun Protection Plan
The event lasted for more than three hours, but O’Brien believed he had made the right decision by using sunblock.
During his podcast, he joked that he felt quite pleased with himself while spending time outdoors.
He even teased fellow comedians David Letterman and Stephen Colbert, saying he thought they had not been as prepared as he was.
For a while, it seemed like everything had gone perfectly.
A Painful Surprise Appears Days Later
A few days after the event, O’Brien noticed something was wrong.
His scalp began to feel extremely hot and uncomfortable. Soon after that, it became very itchy.
The comedian described how flakes started falling from his head whenever he scratched it. While telling the story, he used his usual sense of humour to make listeners laugh.
The symptoms quickly became impossible to ignore.
The Sunburn That Changed Everything
After seeking advice, O’Brien discovered that he had suffered a sunburn on his scalp.
He explained that this had never happened before because his thick hair usually protects him from the sun.
This time, however, the sunlight managed to reach his scalp and caused a painful burn.
The diagnosis finally explained why his head felt so uncomfortable after the event.
The Treatment Created an Unexpected Look
To help his scalp heal, O’Brien was told to apply oil to the affected area.
The treatment worked, but it also changed the appearance of his hair completely.
Unfortunately, he forgot that he had podcast duties later that day. When he arrived to record, his hair looked slick, shiny and flattened by the oil.
Instead of his usual hairstyle, he suddenly looked like a completely different person.
Conan and Fans Have a Good Laugh
Rather than feeling embarrassed, O’Brien turned the whole experience into a comedy routine.
He joked that he looked like a tough character from the 1950s and compared himself to an older member of the Thunderbirds gang from the film Grease.
His co-host Sona Movsesian and assistant David Hopping joined in on the fun, and fans online did the same. Social media users shared jokes and funny nicknames inspired by the unusual hairstyle.
What started as a painful sunburn ended up becoming one of the funniest celebrity stories of the week. O’Brien’s willingness to laugh at himself only made fans enjoy the story even more.
Featured Image Source: By Jay Dixit – Own work, CC BY 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=146265101
