Zayn Malik took a step in a new direction tonight, as he debuted a new shaved head hair do at the Annual Asian Awards in London.

The former One Direction star – who was making his first public appearance since quitting the boy band – brought his mum as his date for the evening, leaving fiancee Perrie Edwards at home.

Malik, 22, refused to answer questions on the red carpet, but spent time signing autographs for fans who were overcome with emotion at meeting him. After he had entered the Grosvenor House Hotel on Park Lane, a tussle broke out among the crowd of fans as they argued about his new hair style. Things were also a bit heated on Twitter.

One person had a theory about what had actually happened to Zayn’s hair.

While we’re on the subject of Naughty Boy – real name Shahid Khan – he was there too. He and Malik are expected to be making an announcement about Malik’s first solo music venture.

Shortly after Malik quit One Direction, Naughty Boy posted a demo of song I Won’t Mind, featuring Malik’s vocals, online, only to delete it 12 hours later.

Naughty Boy said: “I wouldn’t call it working (with Malik). We’re good friends, and I think in this business it’s hard to make good friends, so that’s what I’m here for. That’s why I’m there for him right now.”

As you can probably tell though, One Direction fans still aren’t too pleased with the DJ – but Zayn’s hair is the thing keeping them occupied tonight.

Just him generally, actually.

https://twitter.com/kaireortiz/status/589147626504847360

And while One Direction fans all over the world are still probably quite upset that Zayn left the group, they’re no doubt happy to see him happy.