RM recently shared an update on how he has been doing through a set of photos capturing small moments from his everyday life, accompanied by the caption “On courage.” Though only a short line, it seems to indirectly allude to the things he has been contemplating lately. He also posted an English quote by Felix Gonzalez-Torres: "Above all else, it is about leaving a mark that I existed: I was here", conveying reflections on existence, leaving traces behind, and the “courage” required to face such thoughts.
While paying attention to the message RM was trying to deliver, fans were also moved by his appearance that day—simple yet undeniably captivating, with an aura that feels increasingly mature. In a black-and-wнιтe photo, he looks straight into the camera while covering half of his face inside a car, giving off a sharp gaze and a one-of-a-kind presence. Another photo, taken from behind as RM visits an exhibition, also reveals the serious side of an artist immersing himself in art.
In particular, fans were delighted to find among the set a photo that showcased his bold sense of style—a mirror selfie taken inside an elevator. Wearing a leather jacket paired with horn-rimmed glαѕѕes, RM showed off a carefree look with his tousled blond hair, while playfully making a “V” sign with his fingers. Fans’ attention quickly shifted to his bleached hair, where his dark roots were clearly visible.
Since last September, three months after being discharged, RM surprised fans by appearing with this hair color. At the time, many began speculating that the change in hairstyle was connected to the production of a new album. Now, with less than two months left until the album’s release, fans have become even more eager to learn the truth behind this bleached hair.
Meanwhile, a video in which BTS’s hairstylist shared his experience of “bleaching hair” with RM also went viral again alongside the photos because he mentioned RM’s hair was so strong that it once had to be bleached eight times in a single day. Master hairstylist Park Nae Joo—who has been with BTS throughout their entire career since the very beginning—spoke directly about the experience, claiming it was “so unique that they (Park Nae Joo and RM) could never forget it.”
Specificially, in a vlog on his personal YouTube channel, Park Nae Joo was dyeing a client’s hair and shared that every time he does hair coloring, he is reminded of working with BTS in their early days—starting from the group’s second album.
He recalled clearly that for the previous album, RM had dyed his hair black to match the concept, but for the second album, his hair needed to be changed to a lighter shade. Bleaching hair that has already been dyed black is extremely difficult, and as a result, Park ended up bleaching RM’s hair as many as eight times in order to achieve the desired color. Fortunately, RM had a strong scalp and was able to endure the process, but both clients and fans were left almost “mouth agape” at the number. Many people know that bleaching can be a painful, stinging, and uncomfortable experience—yet RM endured it eight times.
But that still did not seem to be the hardest part. Park continued by explaining that the process took place in January, during кσяєα’s “cold wave alert”. It is worth noting that Park Nae Joo did not yet own his own salon, Bit&Boot, at the time, so he and RM could only wash his hair in a public-bathroom-like place, using a hose with cold water. After washing with freezing cold water eight to nine times, Park said it was like “eating an ice cream on a cold day”— even "head-freezing on the coldest days ever".
Even after those difficult days had pαѕѕed, Park Nae Joo and the members still could not forget that period and often brought up those memories. In another interview with Yonhap News, Park once again recounted the story, showing just how deeply it stayed with them.
In that interview, he also added details about the other members. He said he had to bring “hair dye and scissors” to the group’s practice room to style their hair, and at times, he and his colleagues even had to boil cold water to wash the members’ hair. He concluded: “We still talk about that day a lot. Especially with RM because he bleached his hair five or six times and had to wash his hair with freezing cold water. He still says, ‘How did I endure that?’”
From a basement practice room without hot water to the glamorous GRAMMY Awards, Park Nae Joo has witnessed BTS’s growth from rookies into global stars. His own career also flourished alongside the group—rising from a freelance hairstylist to the owner of the renowned Bit&Boot salon. Reflecting on that shared journey, Park emotionally concluded: “Those were the days we suffered together, so I’d like it if those friends (BTS) do well. I’m glad they are.”
