A singer who believes he was booted off The X Factor for “being too bald” is making a comeback – after having a hair replacement.
Mark Hawkins says being follicly challenged halted his dream of becoming a national superstar on the ITV talent show.
Despite Simon Cowell agreeing he had a “good voice” during his 2007 audition, he didn’t make it through to the next round.
And Mark – whose hairline dramatically thinned between the ages of 19 and 25 - claims it’s because producers didn’t think he looked like a star.
He ditched his full-time career as a singer aged 27 in order to get a ‘proper job’ and support his family.
After wearing a hat for almost a decade to cover his balding barnet, the now 39-year-old has undergone a hair transformation and is ready to step back into the spotlight.
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In a viral video, which has been viewed over one million times, Mark is seen having treatment at UK hair replacement firm Novo Cabelo.
Salon owner Rob Wood attaches a £350-500 ‘hair system’ made with real hairs to Mark’s scalp while he is blindfolded.
When the blindfold is finally taken off, Mark breaks down in tears and is left speechless at the transformation – before giving Rob a thank you hug.
An emotional Mark said: “When the glasses came off it was a big shock. It was like looking at a version of myself from 20 years ago.
“I’ve had years of people making comments, calling me ‘baldy’, so there was a lot of emotion.
“People say, ‘just shave it off, you look cool bald.’ But I didn’t want to be bald. Girls get eyelashes and hair extensions and blokes are expected to go bald, but they don’t have to.
“I’m not conscious of it anymore and don’t have to think about matching a jumper with a cap.”
He joked: “I’m late every day at the moment because now I’ve got to do my hair.”
Mark, from North Tyneside, will have to go back to Novo Cabelo every three weeks to have his hair system cleaned and refitted.
But the dad-of-three says it’s all worth it to live without the embarrassment of being bald.
Now he has hair again, he has got his confidence back and recently joined a new band called Stereo Typical.
“My singing career stopped progressing because of my hair. Image had a massive impact,” he explained.
“It’s not vain or big headed, but at the end of the day I’m a good singer.
“They can fix your singing in a recording studio or change your key, but they can’t fix the way you look. It impacted my confidence massively.
“If I’d have had the hair that I do now, I think I would have made it as a singer. I came across confident, had the banter and I could sing. At least now I can enjoy my passion as a hobby.”
ITV, on behalf of The X Factor, declined to comment on the story.
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