Tom Brady’s Met Gala haircut: How bad is his dome dilemma?

Tom Brady typically garners the most attention when he’s wearing his football helmet. At Monday’s Met Gala, however, it was his exposed dome that had tongues wagging.

Gisele Bundchen’s husband rocked a rather tall, angular new haircut that received what we’ll generously call mixed reviews.

Shorn on the sides and slicked into what some outlets are labeling a faux-hawk (we retired the expression after Maddox Jolie-Pitt perfected it), the ‘do is generating backlash from sports blogs and mockery from celeb outlets.

“Gisele MUST Be Behind Ridiculous Pompa-Hawk,” TMZ’s headline read on a post that saw 92% of readers polled labeling Brady’s new look “stupid” as opposed to “fashion forward.” Yahoo Sports went as far as suggesting that Bundchen insists on style switch-ups to elevate her man from his less-famous franchise.

“She’s not going to let Brady sport the same haircut for multiple seasons. That’s what commoners like Bill Belichick do,” they wrote, referring to the New England Patriots coach.

That’s a harsh indictment for a man as good looking as Brady at an event often referred to as “fashion’s Oscars.” We turned to GQ senior editor Will Welch for some guidance:

Matt Donnelly: What are the rules for an experimental haircut like Tom’s?

Will Welch: The first rule of experimental haircuts is simple: Go to somebody really expensive. Don’t try to get your $12 corner barber to give you an abstract skull sculpture, it ain’t gonna work.... The second rule is also simple: Once it’s done, you’ve got to own it. You’re going to get comments, and snide remarks, and it’s only going to get worse if you let it show that you’re self-conscious about it.

Remember: Your bros are like dogs; they can smell fear. If somebody makes fun of your haircut, make fun of their shoes and keep the conversation moving.

MD: Should one listen to one’s wife when it comes to hairstyling, even if one’s wife is Gisele?

WW: One should always listen to one’s wife. About everything. It’s the best way to avoid arguments, unwanted celibacy and/or divorce. But when it comes to your hair, her advice should not necessarily be followed. It’s your hair, after all. Your wife doesn’t have to wear the experimental haircut to work, and she doesn’t have to catch hell from her buddies at the bar.

MD: Is it appropriate to debut an experimental cut at an event like the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute Gala?

WW: If you’re going to cut your hair in the lead-up to a big event, do it at least four or five days ahead of time. Whether it’s the Met Ball or a work event or your buddy’s wedding — any place that’s likely to be lousy with cameras, basically — the last thing you want to feel is self-conscious. Girls love to have their hair done on the big day; guys need some time with a new haircut to feel like ourselves again.

MD: Please comfort Tom by naming someone with a worse hair situation.

WW: Jared Leto.

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Follow Matt Donnelly on Twitter @mattdonnelly