Joe Keery Has Finally Scrapped His Bowl Cut and We Couldn't Be Happier

There are many reasons for the huge success of Netflix’s Stranger Things. But one which can’t be denied is the attention to detail of the characters’ costumes. The sense that we really are in a 1980s small-town lends the fantastical sci-fi an element of reality that’s essential to us suspending our disbelief when it comes to the upside-down. And one essential element of this? The characters’ hair.

But while taking a break between filming for the show’s fourth season, actor, Joe Keery, who plays beloved jock, Steve Harrington, took a deviation from his usual look. He switched out his signature ’80s mullet for a shorter look with some particularly controversial bangs – and the internet wasn’t too pleased.

Luckily for Steve stans, though, it seems the look was just a temporary change, as the latest images of the actor suggest his hair is heading back to normal. Phew.

Since its launch in 2016, Stranger Things has been a Netflix favorite.

The show begins with the disappearance of a young boy in a small Indiana town – but as his friends hunt for him, things quickly start to become more complicated than ever imagined.

While the show is, in many ways, kind of heartwarming and funny, it’s also filled with terrifying monsters and incredibly sad situations.

The setting of the show in 1980s small-town America gives it a really fun aesthetic feel – and for many viewers, is comfortingly nostalgic.

There has been one character who was an absolute fan-favorite. Loveable jock, Steve Harrington, began series one as something of a fool but has grown in popularity over the show’s three seasons.

His incredibly authentic, 1980s style mullet has long been a huge part of the Stranger Things landscape – and, for many, it’s an essential part of the viewing experience.

When interviewed by Esquire in 2017, Keery said, “Well, the cut’s good. And if the haircut is good, that’s half the job. It’s just a blow-dry with stuff in the back. Sarah Hindsgaul, who is the head of hair, is totally killer. She’s the best.”

“I think they’ve actually discontinued [Farrah Fawcett’s Fabergé Organics]. You can probably find it on eBay or something. Prices will probably jack up in the next week or two. Or maybe Netflix will reissue it.”

Because Steve Harrington’s hair has garnered a legion of its very own fans outside of those who care about Steve himself.

As the series has gone on, and Steve’s character has developed, his hair has grown larger and more powerful.

There’s absolutely no way that Steve (or Stranger Things generally) would be the same without his signature ’80s hairdo.

Actor, Joe Keery, has kept up his larger than life hairstyle in real life, too – here seen at the GQ Men of the Year Gala in 2018 with Maika Monroe.

It’s never too far from the slicked back, lightly quiffed, voluminous look that made his character famous.

Then it’s with another aspect of his appearance – like this slightly oddball mustache that he sported at the Salvatore Ferragamo Dinner Party on February 23, 2019.

It’s nothing compared to Keery’s latest makeover. Because it seemed the star has cut off Harrington’s infamous locks – and the internet was not pleased.

At the Chanel Dinner to celebrate the launch of their newest beauty line, Keery stepped out looking basically unrecognizable.

That’s the problem with haircuts, right? Once you make an error, it takes time to get things back on track.

It takes a pretty strong person (or kitten) to pull off a bowl cut, after all.

Keery could hardly be described as being in good company. This side by side is a little too close for comfort.

Fear. It’s hard not to imagine this creepy figure standing over you in a nightmare, right?

Some are feeling more angry than anything else. Seeing what eye-candy we’ve lost does raise our heckles slightly.

Keery debuted his new haircut on September 12th – meaning many of woke up on Friday the 13th with one very frightening image to confront us.

Like the iconic TikTok kombucha girl, used to perfect effect here.

Who created this monstrosity – and even more importantly: why??

It was a very hard time for everyone who was a fan of the mullet, and we hope they took adequate time to grieve.

As Joe Keery cut off his beautiful long hair, it’s almost like he removed himself further from Steve Harrington – and now Steve only exists on our Netflix screens.

And what’s worse, there didn’t seem to be a helpful outlet for their feelings. The only way to feel better? To vent on social media, of course!

It was so bad that it almost looks like a mistake. In fact, Keery’s sheepish facial expression seems to lend even more to this theory.

The change in hairdo didn’t just change the way Keery’s hair looks. It seemed to have altered his entire face.

Sure, this haircut made Joe Keery look less like Steve Harrington. But it did make him look way more like a different Stranger Things character.

If you weren’t sure if the reason we’d all collectively fallen for Steve was his hair… well, at least we know.

And many posted tributes to that famous mullet quiff we had loved and lost.

Because fans noticed Keery out and about – and his hair was (almost) back to normal.

And although it’s a little smaller and less mighty than it once was, it’s far, far better than that bowl cut we thought we were stuck with.

As one (excited) Twitter user put it, “JOE KEERY NATION WE NEVER LOOOOOSEEEEEE.”

But if you thought there was no one out there who could get away with a bowl cut, you’d be surprised. Keep scrolling to find out more.