"He look like Jesus ahahaha I love u Payno," said one follower, while another simply asked: "Is he Liam Payne or Jesus Christ?"
Another fan said the star was "giving low key Jesus vibes".
Whether he looks like Jesus or not, fans were happy with the makeover.
"Liam you are making 2021 a good year already," one person wrote on Instagram, while others simply stated they loved his new look.
"Sir your hair is so gorgeous," gushed another, while one said he looked "amazing".
Payne, 27, has previously opened up about the pandemic and being in lockdown, and how it has meant he hasn't been able to see his son Bear.
Payne is co-parenting his 3-year-old son Bear with former girlfriend Cheryl.
While chatting to Tingsmagazine late last year, he said, "It's the longest I haven't seen him in his life.
"But we discussed from the start and for different reasons, me and Cheryl decided I should be away for a little bit, it's not unusual for me to be in and out of his life."
Payne and Cheryl, 37, started dating in 2016. The pair welcomed their son Bear in 2017, the first child for both of them.
They split in 2018.
The relationship was controversial as Cheryl was a judge on the show X-Factor where Liam found fame as a young man.