DO blondes have more fun?

My hair has been through the wringer. From black to blonde, blonde to brunette, brunette to black, black BACK to blonde, I’ve seen first hand how hair colors are associated from stereotypes and influences how society treats you. Throughout my range of different hair colors, I can attest how differently I get treated with every look. Psychological studies have revealed that hair colors influence perceived traits. For example, blondes are considered more fun-loving and attractive while brunettes are often considered more reliable and sophisticated. Media and cultural norms play a key roll in shaping society’s perceptions and preferences. For decades, when the term “blonde bombshell” comes around, Marilyn Monroe’s glamorized lifestyle commonly is brought up.

“If I’ve only one life, let me live it as a blonde”

Shirley Polykoff

Monroe’s doomed glamour was followed by a long number of white women following her footsteps in Hollywood. It continued to increase after the release of Miss Clairol Hair Color Bath blonde at home where it became possible to become blonde at home. Monroe’s blonde was so iconic to women then and now because of the symbolization of desire and control. However, as we know, the media’s portrayal of hair color is gusty. It reflects and shapes societal attitudes over periods of time. After the long lasting reign of Marilyn’s “bombshell blonde”, the rise of brunette leading ladies in recent years such as Megan Fox, Anne Hathaway, and Jennifer Lawrence has greatly shifted society’s perceptions about attractiveness and hair color. Recent studies have reflected how men prefer brunettes because they’re more likely to be strong and intelligent, and more likely to settle down with them. Men quoted from this study that blondes were approached more casually over a brunette because of a blonde’s tendency to appear more sexually available and needy. There’s even been long standing debates of men debating over social media how an average brunette is more appealing than a pretty blonde or vice versa. As bizarre as this all seems, I’m here to sadly inform you that these studies and stereotypes are 100% true.

I got my first round of blonde highlights around high-school. At first, I enjoyed the attention I got. New hair, new me. Friends complimented me and told me I look great- and I felt great! Unfortunately, the attention began to spread to others. The male attention was immediate, wether it was unwanted or wanted. I had to constantly explain to my Dad I wasn’t becoming ditzy from my hair becoming lighter. “No Dad, the hair dye is not leaking into brain, Chemistry is just difficult.” Becoming blonde is a big transition in itself, but becoming blonde as an Asian-American seemed almost like the world was coming to a screeching halt. I was constantly accused of trying to become physically westernized, from others at school and even at home. A family member jokingly had asked me, “What’s next? colored contacts?”. I quickly decided to opt for a less dramatic hair color, brown, and again saw a shift in the way I was perceived by others. By family? Taken more seriously again. I was seen more intelligently and “natural” by friends and classmates, and had a different demographic of males pursuing the brunette version of me. Honestly, at this point I think I was subconsciously running an experiment when I dyed my hair black. I was now “edgy” and “emo” even though my style and personality had stayed consistent throughout my different hair colors. I was treated professionally in academic and work environments and seemed to have a new established sense of credibility. Overall, there is a fascinating psychology behind hair color and it’s influence of perception. Hair color is more than just a physical trait- it is a powerful communicator that influences stereotypes, attraction, and social treatments. These influences are far from absolute and can vary widely among individuals and cultures.