That perfect, voluminous Steve Harrington Mullet from Stranger Things? Iconic. Fans obsessed over it. His hair had its own storyline in the show. It basically became a character.
And then he completely changed it.
Walking into Good Morning America recently, Keery showed up with this baby fringe spilling onto his forehead, the top spiked up for volume, blonde highlights, and squared-off sideburns.
His fans absolutely lost it…and then loved it. Eventually.
Here's what's actually interesting about this whole thing: it's not just about a haircut. It's about what happens when you're known for one thing and you decide to become something else. And how most guys completely botch that transformation.
Let's break down what Joe Keery's doing right — and what you can learn from it.
Being "The Guy With Great Hair" Gets Old Fast
For years, Joe Keery was "that guy with amazing hair from Stranger Things." This sounds like a good problem to have. And for a while, it was.
But eventually, that one defining trait turns into a ceiling. Keery could've played it safe. Kept the Steve Harrington hair. Just collected the checks and kept things exactly the same.
Instead, he leaned into change. He shifted his hair, his grooming, and his wardrobe at the same time his career expanded. Grittier acting roles. A serious music career as Djo. A move away from “teen heartthrob” into something more layered.
The important part is that the change wasn’t random. It matched where his life was going.
Where Most Guys Completely Mess This Up
Here's where most guys get reinvention totally wrong. They think it means erasing the past.
So they swing too far. The clean-cut guy goes full streetwear overnight. The short-hair guy grows it out with zero plan. The preppy wardrobe gets replaced with something loud, trendy, and disconnected from who they actually are.
And it looks... forced. Because it is.
Keery didn't do that. His transformation was intentional, gradual, and actually rooted in who he is. The fringe, the highlights, the scruff all make sense within his music and acting trajectory. His wardrobe still feels intentional, just rougher around the edges. Earth tones. Texture. Vintage silhouettes.
He didn't reject his past. He evolved from it.
Overcoming the Fear of Rejection
The hardest part of reinvention isn’t the haircut. It’s the fear of how people will react.
Joe Keery knew changing his hair would trigger opinions. His look was iconic, in the same way Justin Bieber’s early hair defined an entire era. When something becomes that recognizable, changing it feels risky because it invites judgment. Some people won’t like it. Some will miss the old version. Some will project their own discomfort onto you.
That fear stops most guys from evolving. They stay in a look, a routine, or a version of themselves that no longer fits because rejection feels worse than stagnation. It’s safer to be approved of for who you used to be than questioned for who you’re becoming.
The truth is, growth always creates a phase where people don’t get you yet. That doesn’t mean the change is wrong. It means you’re early. If you wait for universal approval, you waited too long.
You Need to Know Where You're Going
The biggest lesson in Keery's whole reinvention? He actually knows who he's becoming.
He's not just changing for the sake of change or because he got bored. He's evolving into a version of himself that matches his expanding career. The music. The grittier acting roles. The shift from teen heartthrob to adult actor with actual range.
And that's exactly what makes it work. When your external transformation actually matches your internal evolution, it feels authentic. When it doesn't? It just feels like you're wearing a costume.
So before you make some drastic change — new haircut, complete wardrobe overhaul, different aesthetic — ask yourself: who am I actually becoming?
If you can't answer that question, the transformation probably won't stick.
What You Can Actually Steal from This
Keery's reinvention isn't about copying his exact haircut or buying all the same jackets. It's about understanding the principles behind what he's doing.
Start with real intention. Don't change just because you're bored with your current look. Change because you're genuinely evolving into someone new and your appearance needs to catch up.
Commit to the small details. The haircut. The grooming routine. How your clothes actually fit. All of it matters. Consistency in the small daily things is what makes the big transformation actually believable.
Mix, don't completely replace. You don't need to throw out everything that worked before. Take the good elements of your old identity and layer in the new stuff. That's how real evolution happens. Not some dramatic overnight revolution.
Give it actual time. Keery didn't wake up one random morning with the noughties fringe and call it a day. His transformation happened gradually over years. Fans watched it unfold in real-time. That's why it feels natural instead of jarring.
The Real Lesson Here
Real transformation isn't about becoming someone else. It's about becoming more yourself. Know where you're headed, commit to the daily details, and don't rush the process. That's how actual change happens.
-Forte Team