My Boss Is My Dad's Best Friend And He Has No Idea I Hate His Grooming Advice

So here’s a thing that happened to me at work. You know those moments when you just want to scream but you can’t because it would make things awkward? Yeah, that’s kind of what happened with my boss, Mr. Johnson. My dad and his friend for ages, so I’ve known Mr. Johnson since I was a kid. Now I’m in retail and work at this fancy boutique, and he’s the manager there. It started off okay, Mr. Johnson is friendly enough. He even helped me get the job because my dad suggested him. But then things got weird. He started giving me advice that seemed really personal and inappropriate for a boss to give his employee. Like last week, we were closing up and he asked about how I styled my hair. I told him it’s pretty much natural. Then out of nowhere, he says, “You know what? You should definitely try straightening your hair. It would really suit you.” I didn’t want to sound ungrateful but at the same time, I was super uncomfortable with this personal advice in a professional setting. The thing is, Mr. Johnson seems so clueless about it, he just keeps giving me these random tips and treats me like we’re still on that level of friendship. I tried bringing up other topics, but whenever I did, the conversation would always drift back to my appearance or grooming habits. It’s not like anyone else notices this stuff at work. No one ever mentions how I look, just what products I use for them. And it’s honestly made me feel pretty self-conscious about myself. I mean, sure, everyone wants a little reassurance here and there, but when your boss is literally giving you advice on every little thing from hairstyles to makeup, that’s where the line gets crossed. And now my dad has no idea how awkward this situation is because Mr. Johnson talks so highly of me in front of him. Every time I go into work, I worry about what he might say next and if people are going to think less of me for not liking his advice as much as he seems to expect. So here’s my confession: I hate being the person who has to pretend like it’s all okay when in reality, it feels like such a violation of boundaries. Maybe one day I’ll find the courage to tell him how this makes me feel.