Conan O'Brien Explains Viral Hair Change on "The Tonight Show"
The comedian revealed a sunburn and dermatologist's oil led to his slicked-down look that sparked widespread online discussion.
Conan O'Brien addressed the public's reaction to his altered hairstyle, which briefly replaced his signature voluminous look over the summer. Appearing on "The Tonight Show" with Jimmy Fallon, O'Brien explained the origin of his temporary slicked-down hairstyle.
Fallon brought up the topic, noting the significant online buzz surrounding O'Brien's appearance during an episode of his podcast, "Conan O'Brien Needs a Friend." Headlines from various outlets, including Page Six, questioned whether O'Brien had lost a bet.
O'Brien recounted attending an event for the Obama Presidential Center in Chicago. Despite applying sunscreen, he admitted to not wearing a hat and suffering a sunburn on his scalp. Following the burn, he consulted a dermatologist who recommended an oil for his scalp. O'Brien applied the oil shortly before recording his podcast episode with guest Molly Shannon.
"I slick the oil. I put the oil in my hair. It immediately feels better," O'Brien explained. "I jump into the room, I slick the oil. I put the oil in my hair. It immediately feels better. I jump into the chair. I start talking to Molly Shannon. My staff is watching, going, ‘What’s going on with him? He looks like a pornographer.'"
He further described how his publicist contacted him shortly after the podcast recording, informing him that his new look was a widespread topic of discussion online. "I never knew anyone cared," O'Brien remarked, finding it surprising that his hairstyle generated so much attention.
Fans had taken to social media to comment on the change. Some users compared his look to a taxi driver, while others speculated it was an AI-generated image or that O'Brien had been replaced by a doppelgänger. One comment on Instagram read, "AI got Conan’s hair wrong."
In a 2010 interview with "60 Minutes," O'Brien had previously discussed the deliberate nature of his distinctive hairstyle, stating he "invented" it in high school as a way to create a memorable persona for a future in show business. "Sometimes people don’t know my name. They’re like, ‘You’re the guy with the hair,'" he said at the time.