So, let's talk about that one time Peter Griffin decided to look like he just walked out of a 1970s prog-rock festival. You know the one. For a show that basically resets its reality every 22 minutes, Family Guy has a weird obsession with Peter’s grooming habits. We’ve seen him with a mustache that hid a bird's nest and even a white "silver fox" look after a ghost-hunting trip gone wrong. But the Peter Griffin long hair phase? That was a different beast entirely.
It wasn't just a quick cutaway joke. Well, it was, but then it wasn't. It actually anchored a chunk of Season 19, specifically the episode "Who’s Brian Now?" where the family dynamic gets flipped on its head because of a dead barber. Yeah, you heard that right.
Why did Peter Griffin grow long hair anyway?
Most people think Peter just got lazy. Classic Peter, right? Wrong. The whole thing kicks off because his long-time barber, Jerry, finally kicks the bucket. Peter, being the man-child he is, refuses to let anyone else touch his head. He throws a tantrum that would make Stewie look mature. Lois tries to help, but Peter is stubborn. He basically decides that if Jerry isn't around to snip his locks, the hair stays.
And man, it really stays.
The hair doesn't just grow down to his shoulders; it becomes this sentient-looking, "wet and dry at the same time" mess. Lois actually says he looks like "Shelley Duvall ate Shelley Duvall." Brutal. But the best part? The hair becomes a storage unit. When he finally shakes it out, out comes an apple core, a hot dog, a rat, and—for some reason—an iron. It's disgusting. It's peak Family Guy.
The "Aqualung" Vibes and Hippie Living
The show really leaned into the aesthetic. Whenever Peter walks into a room with those long, luscious (and probably greasy) locks, the iconic guitar lick from Jethro Tull’s "Aqualung" plays. It’s perfect. He starts acting like this backwoods moonshiner, even setting up a still in the backyard.
Honestly, the Peter Griffin long hair look changed his whole personality for a minute. He stops caring about work—the hair "doesn't know yet" he's late for the brewery—and starts worrying about the "QVA" (Quahog Valley Authority) coming after his illegal alcohol operation.
- The Look: Long, unkempt, brown hair tucked under a trucker hat.
- The Soundtrack: Constant Jethro Tull references.
- The Outcome: Brian gets so fed up with the chaos that he literally leaves the family to live with a different one.
That's the real kicker. While we’re laughing at Peter’s mane, Brian is having a full-blown identity crisis. He ends up at the pound, gets adopted by the Hendersons, and tries to live a "normal" dog life. All because Peter wouldn't go to a different Great Clips.
It’s not the first time Peter changed his hair
If you’re a die-hard fan, you might be thinking of Season 17. In the episode "Hefty Shades of Gray," Peter gets scared white-haired. Literally. He and the guys go ghost hunting, he sees something terrifying, and his hair turns silver overnight.
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That version of Peter became a local news anchor because he looked "distinguished." It's funny how a change in hair color makes Quahog think he's a genius, while the Peter Griffin long hair made everyone think he was a fugitive from the law.
There’s also that brief moment where he had the "Mark Davis" haircut—that weird bowl cut the owner of the Las Vegas Raiders has. Chris and Peter were supposed to get them together as a bonding thing. It was horrifying.
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Why this matters for the show's legacy
Critics often say Family Guy has lost its edge, but these visual gags prove they still know how to commit to a bit. Taking a character as physically static as Peter and giving him a massive, dirty mane of hair creates a visual comedy that works without a single line of dialogue.
It also highlights the "Peter-Lois" dynamic. Lois is constantly trying to keep him tethered to reality, while Peter is busy letting bats live in his hair. It's a miracle they're still married, honestly.
If you’re looking to revisit this specific era of Quahog history, you’re going to want to queue up Season 19, Episode 16. It’s titled "Who’s Brian Now?" and it’s the definitive long-hair episode. Just don't expect a lot of hygiene.
What to do if you’re a fan
- Watch Season 19, Episode 16 to see the Jethro Tull parody in all its glory.
- Check out "Hefty Shades of Gray" (Season 17) if you prefer the "Silver Fox" Peter over the "Hippie" Peter.
- Avoid the Mark Davis bowl cut at all costs in real life. It doesn't look good on anyone.