Just By Chance--For The Love O' God Make It Stop
2000

...and somehow ended up with THIS, fercryinoutloud...

The Perm -- Stylin' and Profilin'
2000-2001

Oh, the horror.

It is our belief that The Perm lasted for almost a full two years. The picture on the left was taken in 2000, and although it's blurry (with an almost Bigfoot-esque quality), we have been assured that it is Clayton in the photograph. The second picture, we believe, was sometime during the summer of 2001. The third was taken on or around his 23rd birthday (November 2001). And the one on the right was taken with the Bubel family during December of 2001.

You will observe that having the perm caused his hair to lighten quite a bit and change to a nearly straw-like consistency. Someone needs a hot-oil treatment.
And so does his hair.

Luckily, young Clayton came to his senses. He must have tired of the "NewsRadio" jokes so much that he went for a completely new look.

Head Counselor at Camp Kamanawanalaya
2002

Here we see the beginning of what I'll call the "Atlanta Transformation." This photograph, taken in April 2002, shows short, dark, wavy hair and long sideburns. It appears more brown than red, as in photos taken later that year.

Mr. Smoothie
2002

You can clearly see in the photograph on the left that his sideburns were freshly shorn. Perhaps he was attempting a more professional look as he approached his senior year of college and the inevitable student teaching assignment? He would maintain this look throughout the summer of 2002...during which we know he was being convinced to audition for American Idol.

'Burns Returns
Fall 2002

Here we see Clayton's hair becoming more of a deep auburn, and looky what he's got accentuating his purdy ears? (and no, I'm not talking about the bag on his head)

Perhaps the upcoming AI auditions caused him to become more aware of his "look", which resulted in the return of the sideburns? Perhaps he was taking the advice of female friends who had already witnessed the power of those coppery runways of love, and thus encouraged him to bring them back, knowing that Paula Abdul would fall under their spell?

Alas, Paula was not present when this gorgeous creature came in to audition...

...and these two idiots convinced poor Clayton that there was something wrong with his appearance.

Like they know anything.