Blondes Vs. Brunettes

Taylor Greely
Kappa Kappa Gamma

It’s an age-old battle: the blonde versus the brunette. Some have been players on both teams at one point in their life or another, while others have remained loyal to their natural hue since birth.

But what are some of the reasons people transition to the other side? Is it solely because they think they look better with a particular hair color? Or boredom? Do they think they will be more attractive to the opposite sex? Do they, for some reason, feel they will be treated differently? Having naturally dark hair but currently verging the darker side of blonde, some of these reasons speak to me.

This applies more to my years in high school than now but for a while, any time I felt bored in a rut, or impulsive, my hair was the first thing to change. Highlights, bangs, short haircuts, drastic colors… I tried it all. And this is not uncommon. I still have many friends that change up their do monthly out of shear boredom.

Others, however, have a more intentional motif. Lets run through the stereotypes of both hair colors:

Blondes: stupid, air-head, bimbo, relies on looks, no goals, fake, dumb

Brunettes: intelligent, driven, dry, career-oriented, boring, dependable

First, I would like to say that I don’t agree with any of these stereotypes. There are both brunettes and blondes that fit into both categories. However, these are stereotypes and like it or not, some people do believe them. Do other members of society really treat you differently for having a specific hair color and will having a specific hair color assist you depending on your goals?

Yes. When polled, people consistently believed that brunettes are capable of a more professional look. A large percentage of fair-haired women also believe that their hair color has held them back in their career in the past. Out of those who have actually made the transition from blonde to brunette, around 40% believe it has resulted in them being taken more seriously in the workplace. It seems that being a brunette on a career-oriented path has its advantages.

Blondes excel in other areas. Men consistently say that they would rather date a blonde but marry a brunette. Though it seems contradicting, there is actually a skewed logic behind it. Statistically, men see blondes as more fun, sexy and outgoing; factors that make them very datable as well as great girlfriends. But when marriage is an object, men would prefer to tie the knot with a brunette because they view them as more dependable, classy and down-to-earth. Men who were polled believed these qualities made them better mothers and homemakers.

So, the results are in. Having a specific hair color does affect your perception by others, but don’t let it dictate what you do with your hair. If you feel better as a blonde, go for it. Like a darker do? Then be happy as a brunette. Are you on the verge? Then experiment with both while keeping these stereotypes in mind. If you have the interview of a lifetime coming up and don’t have a specific preference on hair color, you might benefit from a deeper hue. Likewise, if you’re trying for a date to your next formal, a few highlights never hurt anyone.

And a few words of caution. Just because some people can change from brunette to blonde quicker than they can change their outfits, it doesn’t mean you can. People’s hair is varying degrees of thickness and fragility and some can sustain heavy bleaching more than others. If you’re doing something drastic with your color, it is always safer to go to a salon.

Lastly, I would like to congratulate a few Kappa Kameleons on making the switch from one extreme to the other look effortless. I applaud you for having the courage and spontaneity to play for both sides of the fence.

Taylor is a junior studying strategic communication and design.  You may contact her at greely.4@osu.edu.