A singer who claims he was 'too bald' for X Factor is planning a comeback after undergoing a hair transformation that left him emotional. Footage shows him hugging his barber after an 'amazing' change that has restored his self-esteem.
He's now joined a new band and is ready to get back behind the microphone with his new look. Mark Hawkins says his hair, or lack thereof, prevented him from making the step from club singer to national superstar by ruining his 'image' in the eyes of TV talent spotters leaving his confidence shattered.
Mark, now 39, had a hairline that was dramatically thinning and receded when he was between the ages of 19 and 25. It caused him to become anxious of people looking at him rather than enjoying his time on stage, reports Wales Online.
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Simon Cowell apparently said he had a 'good voice' in a 2007 X Factor audition, however he never made it to the next round - and Mark believes it's because producers didn't think he looked like a star. He gave up singing full time at 27, and got a different job to support his children, wearing a cap every day for the last decade to hide his balding head.
Last month, he finally decided to change his life and visited hair replacement firm Novo Cabelo to restore his confidence. In a viral video Novo Cabelo owner Rob Wood, 40, can be seen attaching a £350-£500 'hair system', made with real hairs, while Mark is blindfolded.
When his eyes are uncovered Mark breaks down in tears and is left speechless - before giving him an emotional thank-you hug. The footage has since racked up more than one million views, with users hailing Rob's work and even admitting they were brought to tears by Mark's reaction. He's now joined the band Stereo Typical and is looking forward to performing without anxiety to reignite his passion.
Mark, from Forest Hall, North Tyneside, said: "My singing career stopped progressing because of my hair. Image had a massive impact. 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.
"I got a few knock-backs over the years. I got to the interview rounds with the record producers on The X Factor but didn't get through and I think that was because of my hair. There were people who got through that couldn't sing but it was just their image. I don't think it matters too much anymore, but in that Simon Cowell era you had to be a good-looking kid with a full head of hair.
"There was one time I went to an event where they were shaving designs into people's heads as a promotion and they knocked me off the bill because my hair was receding. You can only get knocked so many times. You start thinking they're right. They're not but it kind of breaks you down slowly over the years. It was my low confidence that made me stop in the end.
"It impacted my confidence massively. I was always on stage so people looking at me was a good thing, but then I started to get anxious about it. To take the attention away from my hair I would seem more confident. I'd chat more on stage to the crowd, but I was anxious all the time about how I looked.
"If I'd have had the hair that I do now, I think I would have made it as a singer. I came across as confident, I had the banter and I could sing. At least I can enjoy my passion as a hobby now."
Mark started singing aged 17 and says he even won beach holidays and around £10,000 travelling with his mates to win local open-mic competitions. By 21 he began working full-time at holiday camps and hotel chains but his Pop Idol and The X Factor journey ended when producers rejected him after the first TV stage.
He believes his baldness stopped him from fitting the boy band image talent spotters were looking for to go alongside talent, and that it ultimately stopped him fulfilling his dream - so when he saw his hair transformation it made him 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 got really emotional about it. I've had years of people making comments, calling me 'baldy', so there was a lot of emotion. You think of everything over the years and it's built up.
"I've worn a cap every day for at least 10 years. You feel like you've got a target on your head and people are looking at it. It causes you anxiety and it was like having a physical scar. People said, '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.
"The hug was a big thanks to Rob. People tell you they can help you all the time and people always disappoint you, but he did exactly as he said he was going to do.
"I couldn't comment. Looking back he must have been in panic. I was thinking I needed to speak, but I just couldn't stop looking and couldn't think of what to say.
"You don't think you're going to be affected by it, but I literally couldn't breathe. Now I get up in the morning and I'm washing it and frying it and it's going to take some getting used to. The kids were shocked and my youngest cried because I looked so different, but they'll get used to it.
"I'm not conscious of it anymore and don't have to think about matching my jumper with a cap. I'm late every day at the moment because I've got to do my hair."
The café owner lives with girlfriend Lesley Murphy and their kids Kristian, 14, Eva, 12, and Charlie, eight, and he's now joined four-piece band Stereo Typical. He says he's now looking forward to fully enjoying his passion without anxiety and is getting used to finding the time to style his new barnet.
Rob, who will clean and refit Mark's system every three weeks, explains he got emotional at his customer's reaction and he's glad he can finally live without the embarrassment.
Rob said: "When you know how much it means to someone you're connected with it. I started panicking because he didn't speak, but luckily he was just speechless.
"I didn't expect the hug. It was emotional and it was nice to feel appreciated too." Novo Cabelo's post has racked up almost 100,000 likes and has attracted more than 3,000 comments, with users delighted for Mark and full of praise for Rob.
One user commented: "You can see all the years he's been upset just pour out of him. Wow, amazing transformation!" Another said: "I think Mark and I both needed that cry! He looks hot!"
A third added: "What an amazing result x it's amazing how our confidence changes with our hair styling." ITV, on behalf of X Factor, declined to comment. SYCO were contacted for comment.
