Staff Writer
Is it true blondes have more fun?
This is a question that has haunted scholars and non-blondes for decades. But, where did this query come from?
It was actually created by advertising genius Shirley Polykoff in the 1950's for Clairol. She was also behind Clairol's campaign: "Does she or doesn't she? Only her hairdresser knows for sure."
This became the eighth top advertising slogan of the 20th century and, sources say, the number of women who suddenly became blondes shot up 413 percent due to these marketing campaigns.
It's just a clever advertising slogan to persuade women to buy more hair dye. So it's not true, right? Well, it depends on who you ask.
According to experimental psychologist Dr. Tony Fallone, hair color really can indicate personality. "Blondes are likely to be more outgoing and lively and are perceived as more feminine than their brunette counterparts," he explains.
If you look to the stars for answers, all signs may point to yes. From Marilyn Monroe to Pamela Anderson, blondes have been having "more fun" in Hollywood for decades. They seem to be the muses for many silver screen scenarios. Gentlemen Prefer Blondes introduced America to the idea that classy men prefer a fair haired lady, and the Legally Blonde movies showed that blondes can be intelligent and professional. Even Barbie, the most popular doll in the history of the world, is a blonde.
Movies and television often portray blondes as "dumb" or "ditzy," and this could lead to them having more fun because they are "up for anything" and often shown laughing and giggling. Even popular music gets in on the action with album titles like Bob Dylan's classic Blonde on Blonde and the stereotype affirming Blondes Have More Fun, by blonde icon Rod Stewart. Legally Red, Brown on Brown, Gentlemen Prefer Brunettes just doesn't sound right.
Statistics say only about 19 percent of women are natural blondes, but if you look around, much more than one in five women are blonde. The folks at Clairol, who now manufacture around 225 different blonding shades, may be the ones perpetuating this movement, and statistics show as many as 75 percent of women color their hair. With all the women dying their hair, blondes must have more fun, right?
Well, maybe. While most surveys say blondes are often perceived as "ditzy" but "glamorous," brunettes are seen as "competent" and "trustworthy." Blondes are seen as carefree and fun, and for women, blonde hair conjures feelings of sensuality and youth.
Whether or not blondes have more fun is hard to say. It's a perception perpetuated by movies, music, television and advertising. Scientifically, it cannot be proven, but science does have some interesting facts to add to the debate.
While blondes may not have more fun, they do have more hair. The average number of hairs on a redhead is 90,000, black is 110,000 and blonde is 140, 000. As it turns out, the majority of people around the globe have black hair.
Also, those with naturally red or blonde hair have higher rates of skin cancer and are more prone to sun burn, according to Professor Jonathon Rees, a dermatologist at the University of Edinburgh, Scotland, who is researching the genetics of hair color. That doesn't sound more fun, but it also doesn't apply to those who get their golden locks from a bleach bottle.
So have fun no matter what your hair color, and if you are a natural blonde remember: You are a rarity, you have something people spend a lot of money to obtain and you should always wear sunscreen.
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Labels: beauty, blonde, body-image, celebrity, color, hair, hair-color
Comment: August 25, 2009 7:28 AM - 
said...
YES,YES,YES........I have been a blonde all my life and I'm in my 5th decade now and even with a terminal illness my life has ALWAYS been fun, laughs and good times!!! Life is what you make it no matter what the color of your hair is but being blonde adds to it.....:-)
Comment: August 25, 2009 9:27 AM - 
mysticpris said...
Hello
I went blonde a little over two weeks ago and my first week out on the town I got a date which I hadn't gotten in a year. I've had five dates with him in to weeks.
Interesting he saw a picture of me with brown hair and new me for a year with brown hair, but didn't ask me out until it was blonde. He claims he likes me better with brown hair.
Mysticpris
Comment: August 25, 2009 1:38 PM - said...
Yes i totally agree that blondes do have more fun! I have been a blond all my life&have definatly had loads of fun. I think any people who have a dif. type of hair color perseive blondes as "dumb" all of us here "blonde jokes". I mean come on not all of are stupid we just like to have fun. That may be the reason why people that don't have blonde hair think they don't have as much fun as blondes because they might be mistaken as stupid?
Comment: August 31, 2009 6:59 AM - said...
The idea that "blondes have more fun" actually stems from the idea of racial superiority of Caucasians over other ethnicities. It is unfortunate that it continues to be perpetuated in a society that is so highly diverse.
Comment: August 31, 2009 8:57 AM - said...
19% natural blonde but more than 1 in 5 (known to non-blondes as 20%) women have blond hair?
A dye job and suddenly she feels like Marlyn Monroe. This is an ad campaign so successful, it changes behavior.Like valentine's day. And of course guys play along because if more fun means more fun, then why not? I prefer the obviously dyed: it betrays an insecurity that leads to more fun.
Comment: September 1, 2009 5:48 AM - said...
Depends on who you ask. Maybe in the US guys like blondes better, but in many other countries we brunettes are considered more attractive. :)
Nothing against blondes, of course, especially as I've been blonde (and a redhead), but I'm happiest with my naturally very-dark-brown hair these days.
Comment: October 30, 2009 7:23 AM - said...
Okay, so that's for blondes, and brunettes, and the red-heads. What's there for us, poor gals who were born with run of the mill brown hair that is neither blonde, nor black, nor red?
Comment: October 30, 2009 9:02 AM - Mary L. said...
Blondes DO have more fun, but it's simply because we ARE more fun!
Maerzie
P.S. I'm a REAL blonde! I doubt this applies for the fakes.
Comment: October 31, 2009 5:50 AM - said...
I"ve noticed when out shopping I was treated differently when I had my long blonde hair,and now have it cut short and my natural brunette color mainly showing.Is
this my imagination? I don"t know,but I was treated with more courtesy when blonde,and men definately checked me out more.
Comment: November 7, 2009 8:34 AM - said...
blondes may have more fun but....
Brunetts do it better!!!!!!!!!!
Comment: November 7, 2009 8:59 AM - said...
I have always been blonde. As I have gotten older it has gotten lighter!!Fabulous, no more chemical enhancements for me.
I do believe we are treated differently. as I was the only blonde out of a group of brunettes, I was always given more attention.
I KNOW I had more fun...still do!!!
Comment: November 7, 2009 5:27 PM - said...
I have been blonde and auburn and I definately get a lot more attention as a blonde. When I look like a sexy blonde (makeup & hair done, sexy skirt and heels or tight jeans) people (male and female) are much more eager to help (even when I don't need it) or to chat and make friends.
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