Sinead O'Connor has returned to her famous hairless image by shaving her head.

The Irish singer shot to international fame when she appeared in the promo for her 1990 hit Nothing Compares 2 U sporting a skinhead look.

And she shocked onlookers at an AIDS benefit gala in Los Angeles on Thursday by arriving with a newly-shorn scalp and wearing a low-cut dress which revealed a tattoo of Jesus Christ on her chest.

O'Connor sparked fears for her health last month after posting a series of messages on Twitter.com, including one reading, "Now I wish I was dead, no hope."

She later penned an open letter on her blog discouraging suicide.