London: If you are bald and in Britain, beware. Chances are you might be refused a passport. It happened to Ian Down, a bald father of three who also happens to be the photo editor of the Daily Mirror.
He got the pictures taken at a photo kiosk and submitted them along with the application form at the passport office. The clerk looked at the flash reflecting off Ian's bald head and asked: "What's this mark?" Ian tried to explain in vain that he could not be made accountable for losing his fight with his hair.
"I was shocked. I told them what it was but they said some countries might not let me in if they saw it." Ultimately he had to go back to the kiosk and return with fresh photographs. The shine off his pate was less glaring than last time. The clerk reluctantly accepted the form. New rules have been introduced for the electronic reading of passports, but shining pates are not a no-no.
Ian's tale might come as a shock to over seven million men in Britain, who surveys say are losing hair. About 40 per cent of men suffer hair loss by the age of 35.
