The Perks And Downsides Of Having Brunette Hair

Despite their differences and individual stereotypes, folks with brunette, blond, and red hair all have one thing in common: They each have their own sets of benefits and drawbacks. For instance, women with brown hair have long been perceived as the reliable girl next door or the brainy brunette, and, for better or worse, these stereotypes continue to affect how people perceive them.

But who says brown hair is blah, anyway? The term "brunette" encompasses a range of shades, including dark chocolate brown, toasty chestnut, and mushroom brown. So, even though people with brown hair make up approximately 25% of the global population (via market-data firm Gitnux), brunette hair comes in many hues. What's more, consider the endless list of stunning celebs who rock brown hair, such as Anne Hathaway, Nina Dobrev, Zendaya, and Leighton Meester, to name a few. Oh, and let's not forget that legendary blond bombshell Marilyn Monroe was, in fact, a natural brunette. No one can deny the natural beauty of these brown-haired babes, so it goes without saying that whoever associated brown with boring was sorely mistaken. As such, individuals across the brown-hair spectrum share many notable perks and drawbacks, which influence relationships, careers, and health.

Hairstylists praise clients with thick hair for a reason. While it may take double the amount of time to style, it's often difficult not to envy those with naturally thick hair, as a thick mane of hair appears healthier and more youthful than thin hair. In fact, those with brunette hair tend to have thicker strands than their blond and red-haired counterparts. On the flip side, those with blond hair typically have greater hair density, so both blond and brunette strands have their own superpowers. Who knew?

Moreover, darker hair typically looks silkier than lighter hair colors, especially in the sun. "Lighter strands tend to be more hollow, absorbing light instead of reflecting it," colorist Bekie Raynard told Women's Health. In other words, brown hair looks radiant while soaking in the sunshine, and you don't have to worry about your brunette tresses appearing lifeless or dull.

It's a common fact that hair color affects attractiveness, and attraction influences the way people perceive and treat you. For instance, a 2017 study published in the Journal of Social Psychology found that men mentally link blond hair with "youth, health, and attractiveness." In other words, men are more likely to approach someone at the bar if they have light hair versus dark hair.

However, a 2011 study published in the Scandinavian Journal of Psychology indicates that although men were more likely to approach women with blond hair, this may have more to do with the fact that men perceive them as "needy," which likely reduces the chance of rejection. In the same study, researchers found that men rated brunettes higher for physical attraction, intelligence, approachability, and competence. On the other hand, study participants also associated brunettes with being more haughty than those with blond or red hair.

The implications of these studies contribute to the theory that men take brunettes more seriously. And by this, we mean that men are more likely to choose a woman with brunette hair over blond or red when seeking to enter a serious relationship. In fact, according to a study conducted by United Kingdom retailer Superdrug, many men believe that women with brunette locks are better life partners, as they're seen as "more sensible" (via The Telegraph). Of the 1,000 men who participated in the poll, 54% elected brunettes as wifey material.

Many people perceive those with brunette hair as more intelligent, but this isn't true at all, according to a 2016 study conducted by The Ohio State University. "Blondes are more likely classified as geniuses and less likely to have extremely low IQ than women with other hair colors, suggesting the dumb blonde stereotype is a myth," researcher Jay L. Zagorsky explained in the study. Moreover, the study found that white women with blond hair had an average IQ of 103.2, slightly higher than brown-haired women with an average of 102.7.

That said, people continue to describe brunette-haired individuals as more intelligent and independent, and although these perceptions are rooted in stereotypes, they hold power within social settings and interactions, including in personal relationships and the office. For instance, research conducted by Superdrug revealed that 62% of people believe brunettes are better workers compared to blond-haired folks. "The study shows brunettes do seem to be taken more seriously in the workplace which is causing a rise in fair-headed women darkening their locks," Superdrug representative Dan Hadley told the Daily Mail. Therefore, being perceived as intelligent can pay off in the right circumstances.

Folks with brunette hair often complain about growing bored of their hair. Sometimes, they turn to blond highlights, balayages, or even root-to-tip transformations to mix things up. However, frequent color appointments expose the hair to harsh chemicals, especially when bleach is involved. Dyeing your hair blond, for instance, can seriously damage your hair's cuticles and cause brittleness and breakage.

On the flip side, those with brown hair produce eumelanin, a form of melanin responsible for hair's dark pigment that also helps shield hair from damage. "Indeed, melanin plays a protective role: Larger quantities of eumelanin protect hair against high levels of exposure to the sun and its unwanted consequences such as drying out and brittleness," certified hairstylist Nikki Goddard told Healthline. 

In this case, there's a huge incentive to avoid frequent coloring with bleach to retain your hair's natural protective properties. That said, "[b]ecause the hairs are thicker naturally, dark hair is better at camouflaging damage than light hair; it weighs down flyaways and split ends," New York City-based hair colorist Adrian Wallace told Women's Health.

As if being associated with intelligence, mystery, and self-sufficiency as someone with brunette hair wasn't enough, it also comes with fascinating health facts. A 2009 study published in the journal Annals of Neurology researched the connection between hair color and Parkinson's disease, a degenerative brain condition. The study determined that those with dark hair were less genetically predisposed to developing Parkinson's disease compared to people with lighter hair colors. In other words, the darker your hair, the lesser your risk of developing Parkison's.

On the other hand, folks with brunette hair may hold onto nicotine more compared to light-haired folks, per a 2006 study published in Nicotine & Tobacco Research.  Although further research is required to validate these findings, the study found those with darker-colored hair release more nicotine into the body, as it tends to accumulate in tissues that contain more melanin, which darker hair has. Important to note is that this doesn't indicate that an addiction is more likely, only that darker hair can hold onto nicotine more.

If you or anyone you know is struggling with addiction issues, help is available. Visit the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration website or contact SAMHSA's National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).

Individuals with brown hair tend to have thick and lustrous strands that enhance their overall appearance by looking healthy and youthful. However, compared to their blond-haired counterparts, brown-haired beauties sometimes need to put more effort into concealing their grays. Gray and white hairs stand out more on a darker canvas, which makes them challenging to hide. The contrast between a dark curtain of hair and a paler skin tone helps accentuate your facial features by drawing in the eye, but streaks of gray or white among the brown form a less desirable contrast.

To conceal your gray hair as a natural brunette, your best bet is to blend the strands with highlights or balayages. Additionally, you can regularly dye your grays, as you would with outgrown roots. Or, you take a page out of many celebrities' handbooks and embrace your gray hair as a natural part of aging. Ultimately, all shades of brunette are beautiful, and there are equally as many perks as there are drawbacks to having brunette hair.