Hair color trends in Europe vary by country and change over time. However, some hair colors tend to be more popular across the continent. To understand the most common hair colors in Europe, we need to look at both natural hair colors and dyed hair colors.
Natural Hair Colors in Europe
The most common natural hair colors in Europe are brown, black, and blonde. This is due to the genetic makeup of most Europeans.
Brown hair is the most prevalent, with over 50% of Europeans having some shade of brown as their natural hair color. Within the brown hair color spectrum, there is a lot of variation from dark brown to light brown. Darker brown hair tends to be more common among Southern Europeans while lighter brown shades are more common in Northern Europe.
Black hair is the second most common natural hair color in Europe at around 15-20% of the population. Black hair is especially common in Southern European countries like Spain, Italy, and Greece which had historical migrations from the Middle East and North Africa.
Blonde hair is also quite common across Europe at around 10-20% of the population. Natural blonde hair is most prevalent in Northern European countries like Scandinavia, the Baltic states, Germany, and the Netherlands. The frequency of natural blonde hair decreases as you move south into central and southern Europe.
Other natural hair colors like red hair occur in 1-2% of Europeans, mainly in Britain and Ireland. White and gray hair is also present in Europeans, occurring more frequently with age.
Dyed Hair Colors in Europe
In addition to natural hair colors, dyed hair has become very popular in Europe. An estimated 75% of women and 18% of men in Europe color their hair. The most common dyed hair colors chosen are:
- Blonde – Ranging from platinum blonde to golden blonde. Especially popular for lightening brown hair.
- Brown – Usually used to enhance natural brown shades or darken blonde hair.
- Black – Used to achieve very dark black tones, often for regrowth.
- Red – Vibrant reds and copper colors are a popular choice.
Hair dye allows people to experiment with different looks outside of their natural hair color. As a result, the most prevalent dyed colors may differ from the most common natural colors. For example, blonde dye is extremely popular even in countries where natural blonde hair is rare. The cultural perception of blonde as glamorous and fun has driven the trend.
Hair Color Trends by Country
While general patterns exist, hair color preferences vary somewhat by European country based on natural hair colors of the population and current beauty ideals.
| Country | Most Popular Hair Colors |
|---|---|
| Spain | Brown, Black, Blonde |
| Italy | Brown, Black, Blonde |
| France | Brown, Blonde, Black |
| Germany | Brown, Blonde, Red |
| United Kingdom | Brown, Blonde, Red |
| Sweden | Blonde, Brown, Red |
| Russia | Brown, Blonde, Red |
In Southern European countries like Spain and Italy, brown and black hair dominate in terms of natural color. However, blonde dyes are still very popular in these countries.
In Central Europe, brown is still the most common natural hair color. But there is more of a mixture of blonde, black, and red hair. Red hair dyes are especially popular in Germany and France.
In Northern Europe, blonde hair has the highest frequency as a natural hair color. But plenty of women still dye their hair darker brown and blonde tones. Red hair dyes are also widespread in the UK and Scandinavia.
Hair Color Trends Over Time
Hair color preferences in Europe have shifted over the decades. Some key trends include:
- 1950s – Blues and greens were popular unnatural hair colors
- 1960s – Platinum blonde was in style inspired by actresses like Marilyn Monroe
- 1970s – Natural “beachy” blonde and bleach blonde was popular
- 1980s – Bold reds and oranges were the look, heavily styled
- 1990s – Streaky highlighted blonde hair was a big trend
- 2000s – Caramel and honey blonde tones grew popular
- 2010s – Ombre and balayage offered a modern take on highlights
In the last decade, hair color trends have focused on creating soft, natural-looking highlights and lowlights. The color melt and root shadow techniques grew in popularity. Modern hair color is focused on enhancing natural color instead of drastically altering it. Platinum and ultra-bleached tones are not as widely seen today.
Hair Color and Age
Hair color preferences and trends also vary by age group across Europe:
- Teens and 20s – More experimental with vibrant unnatural colors like blue, pink, purple, and green
- 30s and 40s – Focus on classic and natural hair colors like blonde, brown, black
- 50s and 60s – Increased use of hair dye to cover gray, darker blonde and brown
- 70s+ – Transition to fully gray/white hair or continuing to dye hair
Younger Europeans are more daring with their hair color choices and embrace unnatural colors as a form of self-expression. By contrast, those 30-50 focus on enhancing natural colors in a subtle way. Older age groups prioritize covering grays in a natural-looking way.
Conclusion
In summary, brown, blonde, and black are the most common natural hair colors throughout Europe. However, the use of hair dye, especially to achieve blonde and brown tones, is extremely widespread. Hair color preferences vary by region, with blonde being most desired in the north, and black and brown in the south. Over time, hair color trends have shifted with each generation and decade. Regardless of age or country, achieving healthy, natural-looking hair is the overarching goal across Europe today.
