Conan O’Brien has finally explained the unexpected hairstyle that recently got people talking. After debuting a slicked-back look at a podcast taping, the comedian revealed that the change was not a planned image makeover but the result of a painful sunscreen mishap.

According to the account, the issue happened at an Obama Presidential Center event. O’Brien said the incident led him to temporarily move away from the signature pompadour that fans have long associated with him, giving his hair a noticeably different appearance.

The updated style quickly drew attention because it was such a sharp contrast from his usual look. That reaction only grew once viewers saw him with the sleeker hairstyle during a public appearance tied to his podcast.

While the story behind the haircut is uncomfortable, it also fits O’Brien’s well-known comedic style: a small personal mishap turning into a funny explanation. In this case, a simple sunscreen problem ended up becoming the reason for one of his most talked-about recent style changes.