Introduction
Do blondes really have more fun? As you'll see, the answer is complicated. And there's a whole lot of other facts about blondes that surprised us.
It's Extremely Rare
Only 2% of the entire world's population is naturally blonde.
Blondes Make More Money
Studies show that blonde waitresses get higher tips than non-blonde waitresses.
Men Go Dumb Around Blondes
When a study showed French men images of blonde women and then quizzed them, they scored less points on the test than after they looked at images of dark-haired women. Scientists believe the "dumb blonde" stereotype was working sympathetically on them.
The Melanesians Are Dark-Skinned And Blonde
The dark-skinned Melanesian people, who live in New Guinea, have a high incidence of blonde hair—indeed, they are the only dark-skinned people to regularly have blonde hair.
There Are Different Blonde Genes
The genes that cause blonde hair are different in most white people than in the Melanesian people.
Krakenimages.com, Shutterstock
Blonde Can Be Painful
One of the first "blonde bombshells," Jean Harlow, dyed her hair blonde so much it fell out and she was forced to wear a wig.
Donaldson Collection, Getty Images
The Ancient Greeks Were Suspicious of Blondes
In Ancient Greece, many people associated blonde hair with seductive women.
Blondes Were Desirable Captives
In Ancient Rome, soldiers would often take blonde women captive and cut their hair to make into wigs.
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There Are Blonde Mummies
Researchers in China have found mummies with blonde hair dating back to 1800 BC.
Xinhua News Agency, Getty Images
There Was Once An All-Blonde Village
Friedrich Nietzsche's sister, Elizabeth, shipped blue-eyed blondes to the village of Nueva Germania in an attempt to foster a "superior" race. The village still exists.
Pigeon Dung Used To Be Hair Dye
In Ancient Rome, women would dye their hair blonde using pigeon poop.
Peroxide Is A Relatively New Invention
Hydrogen Peroxide, which was discovered in 1818, only became a popular hair bleach in 1867.
Featureflash Photo Agency , Shutterstock
Hitchcock Was Obsessed With Blondes
Alfred Hitchcock almost exclusively cast blondes, like Tippi Hedren, in his movies.
Blondes Have More Hair
Blondes tend to have more strands of hair on their heads—about 140,000 compared to 108,000 for darker-haired people.
Krakenimages.com, Shutterstock
It Can Grow Faster
Blond beards actually grow faster than beards that aren't blond.
Krakenimages.com, Shutterstock
The First Dumb Blonde
French courtesan Rosalie Duthe was known as the world's first "dumb blonde".
Blondes Go Blind More Easily
Women who are blonde are more at risk for getting macular degeneration as they age, which can cause blindness.
Blondes Are Susceptible To Cancer
Blonde people often produce less melanin, putting them at a higher risk for skin cancer.
Blondes Synthesize Vitamin D Better
We don't know for sure why the "blonde" mutation came about. Some scientists believe it was so the body could better synthesize vitamin D.
It's A Mutation
Blonde hair comes from a genetic mutation.
It's An Old Mutation
The mutation that produced blonde hair came in the last Ice Age, about 11,000 years ago.
Horse Pee Used To Be Used As Bleach
In Renaissance Italy, people dyed their hair blonde with horse pee.
Dennis W Donohue, Shutterstock
It's Recessive
Blonde hair is a recessive gene.
Pregnancy Can Darken Hair
When blonde women are pregnant, they often experience a darkening of their hair.
One Of Its Names Comes From A Seed
"Flaxen" blonde hair comes from its resemblance to the color of flax seeds.
Lorraine Kourafas, Shutterstock
There Is A Particularly Rare Shade Of Blonde
"Strawberry blonde," which is blonde hair with a red tinge, is the rarest type of blonde hair.
People Don't Stay The Same Blonde
Blonde hair darkens with age.
Kiselev Andrey Valerevich, Shutterstock
Most People Fake It
1 in 3 white women dye their hair blonde.
Everett Collection, Shutterstock
Northern European Countries Have The Most Blondes
Northern European countries, such as Sweden and Norway, have the most blondes.
It May Come From The Latin
The word "blonde" may come from the Latin blundus, meaning "yellow".
Blondes Aren't Marriage Material
Although blondes may have more fun, men tend to go for darker-haired women as their long-term partners.
But Blondes Marry Better
Nonetheless, on average, blonde women marry wealthier men.
Conclusion
Know any other interesting facts about blondes? Are you blonde yourself? Let us know in the comments!
