Determining your exact eye color can be tricky, especially if your eyes appear to shift between shades or contain multiple colors. Hazel eyes are one of the most complex and variable eye colors. If you suspect your eyes may be hazel, here are some tips for identifying the signs and understanding what makes hazel eyes special.
What are hazel eyes?
Hazel eyes feature a mix of brown and green, with some gold or orange hues blended in. This results in an eye color that can range from light brown to deep green and shift in appearance depending on lighting conditions and colors worn. While hazel mostly refers to a fusion of brown and green, some definitions also include various shades of amber and gold.
The characteristic multi-color appearance of hazel eyes is caused by a phenomenon called Rayleigh scattering. This is the same process that makes the sky appear blue. It results from the way light scatters and reflects off different pigments in the iris. Brown melanin and green lipochromes are the main iris pigments that blend together to produce hazel eye colorations.
Signs you may have hazel eyes
Here are some of the key features that indicate hazel eye color:
- Your eyes appear brown or amber in some lighting conditions and green or gold in others.
- People often disagree on what color your eyes are or ask “Are your eyes green or brown?”
- Your eyes have a sunburst pattern around the pupil, with shades of brown, green, amber and gold blended together.
- You have visible flecks or spikes of different colors in the iris.
- Your eye color is distinctly different from the solid brown of your parents or siblings.
- Your eyes are lightly colored overall and can look pale brown, light green or golden depending on the lighting.
- Your iris contains a prominent central ring around the pupil that is a different shade than the outer iris.
How hazel eyes form
Hazel eyes arise from genetic variations that alter the production, composition and distribution of melanin in the iris. Here is an overview of the key genetic factors involved:
- Low to moderate melanin – Hazel eyes have less brown melanin than pure brown eyes, allowing other pigments to show through.
- Patchy melanin distribution – The melanin in hazel eyes is often concentrated around the pupil and increasingly sparse towards the outer iris, giving the eye color greater variation.
- Lipochrome variation – Hazel eyes contain lipochrome pigments that lean more towards green hues. Increased density of green lipochromes also enhances green tones.
- Rayleigh scattering – The unique blending of melanin and lipochromes enables more Rayleigh scattering of light, producing hazel eyes’ various shades and iridescent quality.
Essentially, hazel eyes arise when brown melanin and green lipochromes are present in the right combinations to allow each pigment to show through in different areas and lighting conditions.
Distinguishing hazel from similar eye colors
Because hazel eyes overlap with shades of brown, green and amber, it can sometimes be challenging to determine if your eyes are truly hazel or a similar color. Here are some tips for distinguishing hazel eyes from lookalike eye colors:
Hazel vs. Brown
- Hazel eyes have visible green, amber or gold flecks, while brown eyes appear more uniformly brown.
- Hazel eyes look lighter overall and can shift from light brown to pale green. Brown eyes are medium to dark in shade.
- Hazel eyes commonly have a central ring or sunburst pattern that is lacking in solid brown eyes.
- Brown eyes are more common, while hazel is rarer. If your eye color stands out from your family, it may be hazel rather than brown.
Hazel vs. Green
- Hazel eyes appear multicolored with traces of brown, while green eyes lack brown hues.
- Hazel eyes look darker around the pupil and lighter at the edge. Green eyes have a more uniform pigmentation.
- Hazel eyes shift between green and light brown. Green eyes are stable in bright and dim lighting.
- Pure green eyes are very rare globally, while hazel eyes are more common.
Hazel vs. Amber
- Amber eyes only contain various gold and copper tones. Hazel eyes also incorporate green and brown hues.
- Hazel eyes display greater variety in shade and patterning. Amber eyes have a relatively uniform golden color.
- Amber eyes are extremely rare. Hazel is more common and can mimic shades of amber.
- Amber eyes appear bright gold or orange. Hazel eyes look more brown and green.
Unique qualities of hazel eyes
In addition to their distinctive multi-color appearance, hazel eyes have some other interesting and attractive qualities:
- Rarity – Only about 5-10% of people worldwide have hazel eyes. Green eyes are even more rare.
- Depth – The many colors blended in hazel eyes can create captivating depth anddimension.
- Shift in color – Hazel eyes can look dramatically different in various lighting and against different colors.
- Speckled pattern – The specks and spikes of contrasting color in hazel eyes formalluring, complex patterns.
- Brightness – The light brown and green hues in hazel keep them from appearing dark and muted.
- Vibrance – Golden spots and rings in hazel eyes give them dimension and vibrance.
How rare are hazel eyes?
Only about 5-10% of people worldwide have hazel eyes. In contrast, brown eyes are by far the most common eye color, with over 75% of the global population having brown eyes. Here is a breakdown of approximate eye color distribution:
| Eye Color | Global Population |
|---|---|
| Brown | 79% |
| Blue | 8% |
| Green | 2% |
| Hazel | 5-10% |
| Amber/Gold | Less than 1% |
| Gray | Less than 1% |
In areas like the United States and Europe, hazel eyes are somewhat more common, occurring in about 10-15% of Caucasian populations. But they are still far less prevalent than blue eyes in these regions. Globally, hazel eyes stand out as a relatively rare and unique eye color.
Ethnicities associated with hazel eyes
While possible in any ethnicity, hazel eyes are more commonly found among the following groups:
- Caucasians – Hazel eyes are most common in those of European descent, occurring in an estimated 10-15% of Caucasian populations.
- Hispanics – Hazel or amber eyes occur in about 10% of Hispanic people.
- Middle Easterners – Hazel eyes are somewhat common in groups like Arabs due to European ancestry mixing with dark eyes.
- North Africans – Berber and Egyptian people often have hazel eyes, likely due to European and Arabian influences.
- Mixed race – People of mixed European and non-European descent commonly exhibit hazel eyes.
In contrast, hazel eyes are extremely rare in East Asians and virtually absent in Sub-Saharan African and Australian Aborigine populations. But hazel eyes can potentially occur in people of any race or ethnicity if European ancestry is also present.
Ideal eye colors for hazel eyes
Certain colors can really make hazel eyes pop or look more green, while other shades muddle or dull their appearance. Here are some of the best and worst colors if you want to emphasize the beauty of hazel eyes:
Best colors for hazel eyes
- Royal blue
- Emerald green
- Gold
- Red
- Purple
- Pink
- Orange
- Salmon
- Teal
- Olive green
These warm, jewel tone colors help hazel eyes stand out and look more green and golden. They provide complementary contrast that accentuates the dimension in hazel irises.
Worst colors for hazel eyes
- Black
- White
- Gray
- Beige
- Pastel tones
- Muted earth tones
These drab, neutral and muted colors just blend into hazel eyes rather than contrasting. They fail to bring out the depth and color variations that make hazel eyes special.
Celebrities with hazel eyes
Many popular actors and musicians have lovely examples of hazel eyes. Some celebrities known for their hazel eyes include:
- Ariana Grande
- Cara Delevingne
- Harry Styles
- Leonardo DiCaprio
- Mariah Carey
- Zooey Deschanel
- Angelina Jolie
- Rob Lowe
- Adele
- Avril Lavigne
Conclusion
Identifying hazel eyes requires recognizing the combination of green, brown, and sometimes gold specks that blend together to create a shifting, dynamic eye color. While hazel eyes are relatively uncommon, they stand out for their light, bright, multi-dimensional appearance when contrasted with the right colors. If your eye color seems to change from green to light brown while showing special patterning and flecks, chances are you’ve been blessed with rare and beautiful hazel eyes.
