SEVENTEEN rapper Vernon just flipped his image for the V8 era, and CARATs are still processing it. The SEVENTEEN Vernon new look, unveiled during promotions for his new unit with The8, trades his recent buzz cut for long, floppy 2000s bangs that had fans doing double takes.
The hairstyle reveal lined up with the launch of V8, Vernon and The8’s two member subunit whose first mini album V8 dropped on June 29, 2026 at 18:00 KST. Coming right as the pair step into an even more hands on creative role, the visual switch feels like a statement that this is a new Vernon era, not just a new cut.
Vernon’s V8 Haircut: From Buzz Cut To Floppy Bangs
At a special V8 event ahead of debut, Vernon appeared with longer hair and soft, floppy bangs that sit across his forehead in a distinctly early 2000s style. Compared to the ultra short buzz cut he had been wearing in recent months, the V8 haircut instantly softened his features and changed his whole silhouette.
Korean netizens on Instiz, as translated in Korean media, admitted they did not recognize him at first and commented that he suddenly looked much younger. Some linked the look to his earlier “Melona era,” when fans associated him with a softer, boyish visual, while others simply focused on how handsome they found this version of Vernon.
International CARATs picked up on similar vibes, likening the SEVENTEEN Vernon new look to a 2000s cartoon protagonist or the singer in a small town garage band. That Y2K energy matches global fashion trends, which helps explain why a single fringe change could feel so extreme across timelines.
Why This Visual Era Feels So Different
Part of the shock comes from how quickly Vernon jumped from severe buzz cut styling to a throwback, almost nostalgic aesthetic. The longer bangs echo his “Melona era” softness, but the overall mood now leans more indie and slightly rebellious, which fits a project built around youth and acceleration.
Many comments framed the transformation as Vernon “aging backwards,” pointing out how the fuller hair and curtain like fringe highlight his eyes and give him a lighter, more playful stage presence. For newer US fans discovering him through V8, it is an introduction to just how dramatically his visual eras can shift.
The timing also matters. SEVENTEEN recently wrapped their New_ World Tour, which began in late 2025 and landed at No. 7 on Billboard’s Top Tours chart, the highest position for a K pop act. With the main group between touring cycles, V8 has space to build its own strong visual narrative, starting with Vernon’s haircut.
Inside V8, The Subunit Behind Vernon’s Reset
PLEDIS Entertainment announced on May 28 that Vernon and The8 would debut as V8, the sixth official SEVENTEEN subunit, on June 29. The name combines Vernon’s “V” and The8’s “8” and references a V8 engine, used as a metaphor for the duo’s power and momentum. Their mini album V8 features eight tracks, including title track Singasong, all written and composed by the members, with producers such as Pharrell Williams, Mechatok, KIRARA, and Dylan Brady involved.
The project leans into electronic and experimental pop while exploring themes of spent youth, confusion, recovery, and growth. That focus on “consumed” youth ties directly into the V8 “REV” concept images, which show golden hour light, wide open fields, and fireworks as Vernon and The8 keep moving forward despite uncertainty.
Vernon’s visual reset also mirrors his status as a serious creator. He became a Recording Academy voting member earlier this year and has long contributed to SEVENTEEN’s songwriting and production. The8 brings his own artistic lens through his Chinese EP Stardust and his “The 8 Contemporary Art” project, and the pair had already teamed up on “54321 (Lift Off).”
The V8 rollout now shifts to the stage with “2026 VERNON THE8 [V8] LIVE” concerts confirmed in Asia:
- July 11 to 12 at KINTEX Exhibition Center 1 Hall 1 in Goyang, Korea
- July 18 to 19 at AsiaWorld Expo Hall 10 in Hong Kong
Ticket details and any additional cities have not been announced yet, so US CARATs are watching closely while replaying the Singasong music video to catch every frame of Vernon’s V8 era hair in motion.