That is a fantastic story! I do believe that if we approach things positively, we get the best result. It may be a bad result, but that means we weren't going to affect the outcome anyway. I think you have the right personality to positively impact these situations.
It is interesting the differences we get in male/female responses. In the bigger picture, I feel I interact more with the women and a little less with the men since coming out to them. It is the interests sometimes that do that as I still talk about life in general with them. I wasn't an outdoor person or mechanically inclined, so being a regular bowler was my "guy" connection. I lost that with arthritis in my wrist. So it changed my interactions.
Your male friend was seeing his wife put product in your hair and then you told your story. That is a bonding moment geared towards her and not him. He was disconnected from the moment as he may not be a hair guy and not into shoes. So I would make an effort to do something the two of you do and maybe do it sometime soon. Give him the opportunity to bond at a level appropriate for him. He might have questions or he might just relax by realizing that you will still have things in common.
