When it comes to physical attraction between men and women, research has shown that hair color can play a role. While preferences for hair color are quite subjective, there are some general trends that emerge when looking at what hair colors men tend to find most and least desirable in a potential partner.
Blonde Hair
Blonde hair has long been associated with femininity, beauty and youth. Marilyn Monroe’s iconic platinum blonde locks cemented the blonde bombshell image in pop culture. So it’s not surprising that studies have found that men often rate blonde women as more attractive than women with other hair colors.
In a study published in the Scandinavian Journal of Psychology, male participants viewed images of the same woman with different hair colors. The blonde images were consistently ranked as more attractive. Another small study asked men to look at photos of brunette, red, and blonde women. Again, blonde hair was seen as the most desirable trait.
Why do men seem to favor blonde locks? Researchers suggest a few reasons:
- Blonde hair is rare, making it more exotic and eye-catching.
- Lighter hair is associated with youth, as hair tends to darken with age.
- The bright color around the face may make facial features more visible and striking.
Of course, many men are attracted to brunettes, redheads and women with darker hair. But overall, scientific studies back up the notion that gentlemen prefer blondes, at least to some degree.
Gray and White Hair
At the other end of the spectrum from blonde, gray and white hair ranks as the color that men find least desirable. A study from Finland looked at male perceptions of attractiveness and aging. The results showed that men saw women with gray hair as less attractive and older than women with colored hair.
This aversion to gray tresses seems to stem largely from the association between gray hair and advanced age. Youth and fertility tend to be highly valued in mate selection from an evolutionary standpoint. So men’s brains may be wired to subconsciously perceive gray and white hair as a clue that a woman is past her reproductive years.
There also appears to be a cultural bias against allowing women to gracefully age with gray locks. A double standard exists where distinguished silver foxes like George Clooney are seen as sexy with salt-and-pepper hair, while women are expected to dutifully cover their grays.
So while men may genetically prefer women with youthful, colorful hair, societal pressures also likely contribute to stigmatizing gray as an unattractive hair color for females.
Red Hair
Fiery red hair commands attention, but the data on men’s preferences for redheaded women is mixed. Some studies have found that men rate red hair as attractive and desirable. However, other research suggests that men have an overall slight preference for women with dark hair over redheads.
Red hair only occurs naturally in 1-2% of the population, so redheaded women are quite rare. Some men may find this uniqueness very compelling. But the extreme red hair color may also be perceived as flashy or artificial, and therefore less attractive to some male sensibilities.
Much may depend on how true, rich red versus muted auburn a woman’s locks are. The more nuanced shades of strawberry blonde and deep auburn may appeal more to many men’s preferences.
While opinions vary greatly on this colorful tress trend, the rarity of natural red hair at least makes it stand out. Redheads might have to search a bit harder to find men who appreciate the unique allure of their crimson manes.
Brunette Hair
Can plain ol’ brown hair compete with the flashy blondes and redheads? Although it lacks the visual punch of lighter colors, many men find brunette hair attractive.
In a study conducted at Edinburgh University, researchers asked men and women to look at photos of brunettes, blondes and redheads. Both groups rated brunettes as more approachable and natural than blondes or redheads. This girl-next-door vibe suggests brunettes may be perceived as attractive relationship material.
Another study from Valencia University examined male preferences for female hair colors over both short and long term relationships. While blonde and red were seen as more alluring for short flings, dark hair was rated as more desirable for serious commitment.
The commonness of brunette hair may work in its favor when men are seeking a real partner rather than just a pretty face. Brunettes don’t turn heads the way rare and vivid hair hues do, but they generate a subtle attractiveness all their own.
Unnatural Colors
Vibrant hair colors like purple, blue and green are an exciting trend in hair styling. But how do these unnatural shades affect male perceptions of attractiveness?
One study asked men to rate photos of women with various natural and dyed hair colors. Results showed that men found women with unnatural colors like green, pink and blue to be less attractive overall.
This may be due to the novelty and extreme nature of vivid dyed colors. Men have less evolutionary experience with assessing the mate value of women with purple or blue locks. Unnaturally bright tresses could also signal personality traits, like risk-taking or eccentricity, that don’t align with men’s preferences.
While some men are into the fun, edgy look of dyed hair, on a broad societal level, unnatural colors aren’t considered conventionally attractive for women seeking male partners.
Conclusion
Do these studies mean you should make a drastic change to your hair color to attract men? Not necessarily. While men as a group tend to show some leanings toward blonde, brunette and red shades over graying and dyed colors, individual preferences are wildly diverse. The best practice is to rock your natural hair color with confidence, or choose a fun dye job that makes you feel happy and fulfilled.
Aim to present an authentic version of yourself, and you’ll attract partners who appreciate you for who you are rather than trying to mold yourself to arbitrary standards of beauty. The right person will be dazzled by your inner sparkle, no matter the hue of the lovely locks framing your face.
References
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