Mood rings have been popular since the 1970s as a fun way to get an indication of a person’s mood or emotional state. The way they work is by using thermochromic liquid crystals inside the ring that change color based on the temperature of your skin.
How Mood Rings Work
The thermochromic liquid crystals contained in the ring are temperature sensitive. When you wear the ring, it reacts to the heat of your skin. The crystals change orientation in response to small changes in temperature, which results in the crystal reflecting different wavelengths of light, and producing different colors.
Each color is associated with a particular mood or emotional state:
| Mood Ring Color | Associated Mood/Emotion |
|---|---|
| Black | Stressed |
| Blue | Calm, relaxed |
| Green | Normal, balanced |
| Yellow | Excited, happy |
| Brown | Nervous, anxious |
| Grey | Sad, depressed |
So when you wear a mood ring, the color it displays is meant to indicate your general emotional state based on the temperature readings of your skin.
Why Would a Mood Ring Turn Black?
When a mood ring turns black, this typically signals that the wearer is feeling high levels of stress. Some key reasons your mood ring might turn black include:
- You are experiencing a lot of stress from work, relationships, finances, etc.
- You are angry, upset, or emotionally charged about something
- You are going through a stressful life event like moving, changing jobs, a breakup, etc.
- You feel anxious, worried, or overwhelmed about responsibilities
- You are frustrated, impatient, or easily aggravated
- You are suffering from burnout and exhaustion from chronic stress
During times of high stress, anxiety, or strong emotions, your body reacts physically. Your heart rate, blood pressure, and metabolism may increase, you may sweat more, and the capillaries under your skin may constrict.
These physical reactions cause subtle changes to your skin temperature. When your mood ring detects a drop in temperature, it will turn black to indicate stressed mood.
Other Causes of a Black Mood Ring
In some cases, there may be other reasons besides high stress that could cause your mood ring to appear black:
- The ring is too loose – If the ring is very loose on your finger, it may not be able to get an accurate temperature reading of your skin. This can result in a default black color.
- Cold environments – If you are in a very cold environment, your hands will be colder and this could cause the ring to turn black.
- Raynaud’s phenomenon – Some people have circulation conditions like Raynaud’s that can make their hands colder. This could trigger a black color change.
- Defective mood ring – In rare cases, if the thermochromic crystals are damaged or the ring is defective, it may always display black.
Tips for Accurate Mood Ring Readings
To help ensure your mood ring provides accurate readings, keep these tips in mind:
- Wear the ring on your dominant hand. This is usually marginally warmer and will provide more consistent readings.
- Make sure the ring fits well and does not slide around on your finger. You want good contact with your skin.
- Give the ring 10-15 minutes to acclimate to your body temperature when you first put it on.
- Clean the ring regularly with a soft cloth to keep the thermochromic crystals free of contaminants.
- Take the ring off before washing hands, showering, or being in very hot/cold conditions to avoid skewing the readings.
What to Do if Your Mood Ring is Always Black
If your mood ring seems stuck on black no matter what you try, here are some steps to troubleshoot:
- Make sure the ring is not too loose and fits snugly on your finger.
- Clean the ring thoroughly in case something is blocking the thermochromic crystals.
- Test the ring on someone else’s hand to check if it is functioning properly.
- Move to a warmer room temperature and give the ring 10-15 minutes to adjust.
- If the ring remains black, it likely needs to be replaced as the thermochromic material may be damaged.
You may need to get a replacement mood ring if none of these steps resolve the issue. Defective mood rings that show black all the time are not uncommon.
The Bottom Line
A black mood ring is meant to signify high stress or intensity of emotions. But inaccurate temperature readings, a loose fit, or a defective ring could also cause it to appear black. If your mood ring is constantly black, try troubleshooting the fit, cleaning it, or moving to a warmer spot. If it still does not change from black, you probably need to replace the damaged ring.
When working properly, mood rings can be a fun way to get a general sense of your emotional state throughout the day. But they should not be taken as an exact science. Get to know your own mood ring and how its colors correspond to what you are feeling. With a little trial and error, you can learn to interpret the colors and use your mood ring as a personal biofeedback device.
