Donald Trump is an unpredictable man. Rewind 10 years, and who could ever have seen his presidency coming? But for all his surprises, there are three things that you can always rely on him for: the first is his unrelenting stream of controversial Tweets, the second is his year-round tangerine tinge, and the third is his infamous bleached bouffant.
On Sunday, however, Trump’s fierce devotion to his trademark hairstyle waivered. He appeared – shock horror – to have ditched the bouffant in favour of a slick back.
This new hairstyle sparked many, many questions online. Who was this imposter? Was this change permanent? Have his ears always looked like that?
The new 'do was debuted during a visit to an evangelical church in Virginia, for which Trump arrived fresh from the golf course. There were soon plenty of Tweets flooding the internet, questioning what on Earth was going on.
“Pray for his new hair style," said one Twitter user. "The comb-over was the source of his power. We are entering uncharted territory.”
While others wondered if the new style was done specially for his state visit to the UK the following day. "Please go back to your old haircut; the new look just isn't 'you'," said another Tweeter. "Don't change yourself for Queen Elizabeth, or anyone else!"
Take a look through the gallery below to see Trump's hair through history:
But as Air Force One touched down on the tarmac at London Stansted Airport on Monday morning, fans of the bouffant breathed a sigh of relief. It was back, blowing gloriously in the British wind.
So what was it that caused Trump’s temporary break-up from his lifelong love affair with his wispy, volumised look?
Perhaps it was simply hat hair. After all, achieving that kind of volume after a long day hitting 18 holes is nigh-on-impossible – even for the President of the United States.
Or was Trump trying out one of the oldest tricks in the book? For many decades, the slick back has been used as a way to disguise thinning locks. By sweeping the hair back, and locking it firmly down with product, it can be easy to hide any patches that may need a bit of extra cover.
Of course, this is purely speculation. For all we know, he could have just fancied a change that day. But Trump’s hair has been subject to much speculation in the past. Many windy walks have raised the question: toupee, or not toupee?
The best hairstyles for thinning hair
Just in case Trump, or anyone else, was wondering about the best hairstyles for men with thinning hair, here are just a few suggestions:
The comb over
The comb over can add thickness to the hair on the top of the head, hiding any patches that might have thinned. The hair on the sides can be styled in various ways depending on the remaining hairline, from fades to shaven.
Short and spiked
Short, spiky hair can help to draw attention away from thinning locks by adding extra volume and body to the top of the hair. This is a great option for men who are losing hair at the crown, but as it requires hair to be pushed back from the forehead, it might not be the best for receding hairlines at the front.
The crop
A short crop with textured sides can help disguise any thinning areas by covering any exposed scalp. This style requires good styling products to hold the texture in place.
The buzzcut
The buzzcut is one of the most low-maintenance styles any man can have, whether the hair is thinning or not. Of course, it also keeps hair extremely short, making it less obvious if there are any areas of thinning or loss.
Clean shaven
The ultimate plunge. While it might seem scary for many men, shaving off thinning hair all together can give you a whole new look. This style can open up your face while accentuating any other facial hair such as a beard or stubble.
