Eyes come in a variety of colors, from light blues and greens to deep browns and shades in between. One of the most interesting and unique eye colors is hazel. Hazel eyes have a mix of shades, flecks, and specs that make them appear to shift between shades of brown, green, gray, and gold. If you think your eye color may be hazel, here are some signs to look for.
What Does Hazel Eye Color Look Like?
Hazel eyes typically contain a blend of brown, green, and gold. The definition of hazel eyes is an eye color that appears light brown or amber with green flecks or specs. Here are some characteristics of hazel eyes:
- Appear brown, amber, or light brown
- Contain green, gold, or brown flecks or specs
- May have a dark brown or green ring around the iris
- Often appear to shift in color or contain different shades
- May resemble a light brown, amber, or golden color
Unlike blue or brown eyes that are solid in color, hazel eyes have a multicolored, speckled appearance thanks to the combination of shades. The amount of green, brown, amber, gold, and gray in hazel eyes can vary. Some hazel eyes appear more brown while others appear more green. But overall, hazel eyes have a blended, shifting color.
How Light Enters Hazel Eyes
The reason hazel eyes can look like they change color is because of the way light scatters and reflects off the different pigments and structures in the iris. Here is a quick overview of how light causes hazel eyes to appear multi-colored:
- Melanin is the primary pigment that gives eyes their color. Hazel eyes contain a small-to-moderate amount of melanin.
- The melanin concentration is higher around the outer edge of the iris, causing the dark ring.
- Less melanin in the center and front of the iris allows more light to reflect and scatter, producing lighter brown, amber, and gold tones.
- The combination of melanin, low melanin areas, and light scattering produces the wide range of colors and speckles that make hazel eyes unique.
The ratios of melanin and lack of melanin in hazel eyes is what creates the signature shifting, multicolored appearance. The effect is similar to sunlight streaming between leaves and trees in a forest, creating patches of light and shadows. For hazel eyes, the shadows are the areas higher in melanin while the light patches have less melanin.
Hazel Eyes Compared to Other Eye Colors
To better understand what constitutes hazel eyes, it helps to compare them to other eye colors:
| Eye Color | Characteristics |
|---|---|
| Brown | Solid brown color, contains a lot of melanin |
| Green | Solid green hue, moderate melanin |
| Blue | Solid medium to light blue, very little melanin |
| Hazel | Multicolored blend of brown, green, gold, low to moderate melanin |
As you can see, hazel eyes stand out for their shifting, blended color versus a single solid shade. The mixture of melanin levels is what produces the signature hazel eye look.
Genetics Behind Hazel Eyes
Hazel eyes are somewhat uncommon, occurring in about 5-10% of the population. Genetically, here is how hazel eye color develops:
- Hazel eyes are inherited as a recessive trait.
- A mutation in the OCA2 gene reduces the amount of melanin produced.
- The change in melanin production causes lighter brown colors along with green and gold flecks.
- To have hazel eyes, you need one parent with hazel eyes or mutations on OCA2 from both parents.
Interestingly, hazel eyes are fairly unpredictable genetically speaking. Two parents with blue eyes can have a child with hazel eyes. Or two parents with hazel eyes may have kids with brown or green eyes. The variations in the OCA2 gene from each parent combine in unique ways. Overall though, hazel is considered a form of light brown eye color.
Rarity of Hazel Eyes
Hazel eyes are one of the two rarest eye colors, with green being the other uncommon eye shade. Here are some quick facts on the rarity of hazel eyes:
- Occur in less than 10% of the global population
- More common in Europe, North Africa, and West Asia
- Rarest globally in East Asia – less than 1% have hazel eyes
- Slightly more common in females than males
- Eye color rarity: brown > blue > hazel/green
While hazel eyes are admired for their beauty, multicolored nature, and rarity, they are challenging to classify. Some definitions say hazel eyes are a combination of brown and green. Others say they are very light brown with a yellowish or gold tint. Regardless of the exact classification, hazel eyes are a unique eye color.
Distinguishing Hazel from Amber and Gold Eyes
Because hazel eyes shift between different shades, they are sometimes confused with similar looking eye colors like amber and gold. Here are some tips for telling the difference:
| Eye Color | Characteristics |
|---|---|
| Hazel | Multicolored blend, shifts between brown, green, gold |
| Amber | Very light brown, almost golden or yellowish |
| Gold | Solid bright gold hue, very rare |
The key distinguisher is that hazel eyes appear multicolored with flecks while amber and gold eyes are more solid in shade. Hazel eyes may resemble amber or gold in certain lighting but typically look like a blend of colors.
Eye Patterns and Shapes
In addition to color, hazel eyes come in many different patterns and shapes too. Here are some of the most common iris patterns seen in hazel eyes:
- Central heterochromia – an inner ring of color around the pupil that is different than the outer eye color, creating a multi-ring effect
- Speckled – scattered bits of pigment that look like flecks through the iris
- Crazy lace – a lacy, spiderweb-like pattern across the iris
- Flower – streaks that resemble flower petals fanning out from the pupil
These patterns occur alongside the mix of shades in hazel eyes. Some of the most common hazel eye shapes are round, almond, oval, and hooded eye shapes. The patterns and shapes add even more visual interest to hazel eyes.
How Lighting Affects Hazel Eyes
Hazel eyes are known for looking different depending on factors like lighting and clothing color. Here is how different types of light can alter the appearance of hazel eyes:
- Natural sunlight – Brings out the green and gold tones in hazel eyes
- Overcast light – Makes hazel eyes look more gray or blue
- Artificial indoor light – Hazel eyes appear lighter, more amber/light brown
- Nighttime/darkness – Can make hazel eyes look very dark, almost black
The shifts in shade from different lighting effects demonstrate how hazel eyes straddle the line between brown and green. They pick up on the dominant light color. Hazel eyes will also coordinate with clothing colors. Wearing a green top will make hazel eyes look greener, for example.
Makeup for Hazel Eyes
When doing eye makeup for hazel eyes, aim to enhance the shifts between brown, green, gold, and gray. Here are some makeup tips for hazel eyes:
- Purples, plums, and mauves to accentuate brown hues
- Pale shimmery shadows to brighten the surface
- Greens and golds to enhance those eye colors
- Black or brown mascara and liner to define
- Avoid blue-toned shadows, which can make hazel eyes look dull
Use a range of complementary shades to intensify the kaleidoscope effect of hazel eyes. Coordinate eye makeup colors with your outfits for different moods.
Do Hazel Eyes Change Color?
While hazel eyes appear to change shades in different lighting, the eye color itself does not actually change permanently over time. However, here are some factors that can alter your perception of hazel eye color:
- As a baby – babies are usually born with darker gray/blue eyes that lighten over the first year of life
- During childhood – hazel eyes may look more brown, green, or lighter as melanin levels adjust
- With age – hazel eyes tend to darken very gradually as the collagen in the iris weakens
- Mood – the iris can dilate and constrict, temporarily affecting color
- Outfits – clothing hues placed near hazel eyes impact how the color is perceived
- Lighting – different types of light make hazel eyes shift dramatically, as previously discussed
While these factors may cause hazel eyes to appear to change, the eye color itself does not completely transform. The unique hazel eye signature remains but can take on different hues in various scenarios.
Conclusion
Hazel eyes are a rare and unique eye color blending shades of brown, green, gold, gray, and amber. The multicolored appearance comes from a combination of melanin content, genetics, and light scattering effects. To figure out if you have hazel eyes, look for a mix of colors and flecks rather than a solid eye color. Hazel eyes are sensitive to lighting conditions and may appear to shift between different shades of green, brown, and gold. But no matter the exact hue, hazel eyes have an unmistakable beauty and visual interest that sets them apart. Their rarity and distinctive look makes hazel eyes truly special.
