Brushing Off Hair Color Stereotypes
Start writing a post
Lifestyle

Brushing Off Hair Color Stereotypes

The reality of how your hair color affects your personality

304
Brushing Off Hair Color Stereotypes

"The eyes are the window to the soul."

Or at least that's what we say. The eyes are one of the first things we notice about a person, but there is another human feature that we see more prominently than others.

Hair.

We all know the stereotypes. Blondes are dumb and have more fun, brunettes are confident and clever, and redheads (or "gingers") are feisty and take people's souls. But why do we automatically assign these random personalities to hair color? Was it just created by our culture for entertainment purposes or is it genetically accurate?

According to Stanford University, the switching of letters (adenine to guanine) in a single genetic code is the reason behind blonde hair. They say that because the switch only affects cell types in the hair follicles, brain cells are not affected. Therefore, it is not genetically accurate, so it must have been created by our culture. But why?

Blondes have less pigment in their hair, which obviously means it's lighter in color. I think people associate light, perky hair with a light, perky personality. So they see blondes as pretty girls who only care about being pretty and having fun. More and more TV shows and other pop culture programs portray blondes to be the dumb character that always gets taken advantage of, so it becomes easier to believe.

I think the same goes for brunettes as well. People see the darker pigment and associate that with a darker personality. Not dark as in depressed (although unfortunately that may be true for some), but dark as in more mature and confident in who they are.

As for redheads, this one may be a little more obvious. Fire is a red-orange color, right? What do we think of when we think of fire? Bright, destructive, sparky and so on. I think people associate redheads with fire, and that's why they are known as the more fierce and outgoing type of people. There's also a popular rumor going around that they have no souls. This relates to the "fiery" stereotype they already have. Since people associate them with fire, people believe they are also rude and obnoxious people, therefore they "don't have a soul."

These stereotypes are obviously not true, especially the one about redheads not having souls. Everyone has a soul. Maybe it's true that there are some blondes out there that aren't the brightest crayons in the box, but there are also brunettes who share that with them -- as well as redheads. And it's true that there are brunettes who are more confident than others, but there are redheads and blondes who are confident too. There are blondes, brunettes, and redheads who share a mixture of these traits. God created everyone differently, and I don't think it's right to label people who share a specific trait as "dumb," "rude," or even "more confident than others." If we do that, we become unhappy with what God has created us to look like, and we become insecure and want to change ourselves. That's what stereotyping can lead to, even if it's something as small as hair color.

So the reality of how hair affects personality? It doesn't. It's merely skin deep. Let's just love each other for the reality that we are made in God's image, not for what our hair color says about us.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Student Life

Waitlisted for a College Class? Here's What to Do!

Dealing with the inevitable realities of college life.

47383
college students waiting in a long line in the hallway
StableDiffusion

Course registration at college can be a big hassle and is almost never talked about. Classes you want to take fill up before you get a chance to register. You might change your mind about a class you want to take and must struggle to find another class to fit in the same time period. You also have to make sure no classes clash by time. Like I said, it's a big hassle.

This semester, I was waitlisted for two classes. Most people in this situation, especially first years, freak out because they don't know what to do. Here is what you should do when this happens.

Keep Reading...Show less
a man and a woman sitting on the beach in front of the sunset

Whether you met your new love interest online, through mutual friends, or another way entirely, you'll definitely want to know what you're getting into. I mean, really, what's the point in entering a relationship with someone if you don't know whether or not you're compatible on a very basic level?

Consider these 21 questions to ask in the talking stage when getting to know that new guy or girl you just started talking to:

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

Challah vs. Easter Bread: A Delicious Dilemma

Is there really such a difference in Challah bread or Easter Bread?

30024
loaves of challah and easter bread stacked up aside each other, an abundance of food in baskets
StableDiffusion

Ever since I could remember, it was a treat to receive Easter Bread made by my grandmother. We would only have it once a year and the wait was excruciating. Now that my grandmother has gotten older, she has stopped baking a lot of her recipes that require a lot of hand usage--her traditional Italian baking means no machines. So for the past few years, I have missed enjoying my Easter Bread.

Keep Reading...Show less
Adulting

Unlocking Lake People's Secrets: 15 Must-Knows!

There's no other place you'd rather be in the summer.

954133
Group of joyful friends sitting in a boat
Haley Harvey

The people that spend their summers at the lake are a unique group of people.

Whether you grew up going to the lake, have only recently started going, or have only been once or twice, you know it takes a certain kind of person to be a lake person. To the long-time lake people, the lake holds a special place in your heart, no matter how dirty the water may look.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

Top 10 Reasons My School Rocks!

Why I Chose a Small School Over a Big University.

169991
man in black long sleeve shirt and black pants walking on white concrete pathway

I was asked so many times why I wanted to go to a small school when a big university is so much better. Don't get me wrong, I'm sure a big university is great but I absolutely love going to a small school. I know that I miss out on big sporting events and having people actually know where it is. I can't even count how many times I've been asked where it is and I know they won't know so I just say "somewhere in the middle of Wisconsin." But, I get to know most people at my school and I know my professors very well. Not to mention, being able to walk to the other side of campus in 5 minutes at a casual walking pace. I am so happy I made the decision to go to school where I did. I love my school and these are just a few reasons why.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments