Say it ain’t so! That’s the general consensus from Outer Banks fans after the show’s lead Chase Stokes took to Instagram to debut a new hairstyle that has left his fans shocked and devastated.

In a new Instagram photo dump, Stokes celebrated 30 with a series of photos including one shot that showcased his new haircut which has left fans speechless. Gone are Stokes’ signature long and wavy locks, as the actor is now rocking a high and tight new do.

Stokes definitely has no problem pulling off the look and still looks amazing, the new style has caught fans by surprise as Stokes has long been known for his long hair which is a signature to John B’s look in Outer Banks. 

“You literally just shocked the whole world,” commented one fan summing up the effect Stokes’ new look has had on his fans. “We weren’t ready for that, Chase,” echoed another.

So what exactly inspired Chase Stokes to cut off his signature locks leading to his new look? While Stokes has not directly commented on the new look, it appears his haircut is connected to his upcoming role in the new film Valiant One.

In the film, Stokes is set to star as a member of a group of U.S. Army non-combat tech soldiers who must band together to protect a civilian tech specialist and find a way out of  North Korea after their helicopter crashes on the North Korean side of the Korean Demilitarized Zone. While little is known about Stokes’ character, the fact that he’s a member of the military seems to suggest that Stokes cut his hair for the role.

The new hairstyle Stokes is rocking in the above Instagram photo matches up with the signature high and tight style members of the military have been known to rock.