Conan O’Brien’s Greasy New Look Explained

During a recent taping of the “Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend” podcast, the 63-year-old comedian appeared with a slicked-back, 1950s-style haircut that starkly contrasted his usual pompadour. Fans noted the “grease-ball” appearance and compared him to characters such as Frankie Valli and Kenickie from *Grease*.

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O’Brien attended the grand opening of the Obama Presidential Center in Chicago on June 18. The outdoor ceremony lasted more than three hours, prompting O’Brien to apply sunscreen to his face before the event. He later observed that fellow attendees Stephen Colbert and David Letterman returned with “bright, bright red” faces.

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According to O’Brien, the unusual hairstyle resulted from a severe scalp sunburn sustained at the June 18 event. O’Brien said a friend advised him to rub oil into his scalp as treatment, which left his hair slick and greasy on camera. He added that he must continue combing oil through his hair until the sunburn heals, explaining why he now resembles a character from *Grease*.

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• “When it’s over, I’m so glad that I put the sunblock on, and I’m feeling really good about myself. Like, ‘Smart move,’” — Conan O’Brien

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• “I’m not used to [that] because I’ve got so much hair. But this sun just blasted right through my hair, and it roasted my scalp, and someone said, ‘To treat this, you’ve got to rub oil into it,’” — Conan O’Brien

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