Color has been shown to lead to certain emotional reactions in others and matters a good deal in how you come across to others. In this article I will give a brief review of the 4 main hair colors and the different messages and feelings hair color tends to elicit in others. The point of such as article is to 1) help you if you are considering coloring and changing your hair color, 2) help you understand how your hair color—whatever it is—sends a message and gives impressions to others about you. In a previous article, I reviewed the general psychology of color to assist in fashion and wardrobe choices (see: https://www.ldsdimension.com/articles/the-psychology-of-color-in-fashion-choice-253/). After this article you may choose to review that article as well.
Hair Color Impressions:
Red Hair—Fiery:
As a redhead, you are seen as confident, successful and temperamental. This isn’t simply just a case of “seeing red” though. Redheads have been found to hold more power: in a study conducted on 500 CEOs, it was found that 4% were redheads. Considering the percentage of the general population that are redheads, this is actually quite an impressive and significant figure.
Personality Impressions: Mysterious, romantic, passionate, alluring, and fiery, people with red hair color tend to have different personalities. Explosive, bad-tempered, opinionated, seductive, or sexually promiscuous are other traits seen in people with this hair color. Such individuals have increased levels of excitement on account of lower anti-stress hormone levels.
Blondes—Fun:
Blondes are seen as approachable and fun, and while research shows that they are seen as more open, approachable and bubbly, they often also earn more than their dark-haired counterparts.
Personality Impressions: Blonde hair color is perceived as feminine, youthful, naive, and obedient, so gentlemen tend to prefer blondes. However, females with this hair color are also considered high maintenance. Some surveys have shown that this category’s divorce rate is higher than the average, but that could be coincidental.
Black Or Brown (Brunette)—Smart:
Seen as intelligent, attractive and professional, according to the studies, brunettes have been rated higher for attractiveness and more likely to be hired than other hair colors.
Personality Impressions: The majority of Nobel Prize winners are brunettes. They are intelligent and very hard-working but are also likely to give up sometimes. Brunettes are more serious and tend to form long-term relationships. The likelihood of going bald is higher with this hair color, and so is the possibility of being addicted to substances such as nicotine.
Gray Hair—Wisdom:
For those who allow their hair to go gray, they are seen as older, wiser, and experienced in life. The 3 naturally looking colors hair reviewed previously look or create the appearance of looking youthful and younger. Conversely, those who have allowed their color to go to gray look older, naturally. However, this is not necessarily a bad thing and is something you may wish to choose and embrace.
Personality Impressions: People with gray hair come across as sincere, knowledgeable, and possessing of more life experience. A person who can be trusted, counted on, and reliable. Also, people who allow their hair to go gray come across as secure, self-confident, and self-sufficient.
Implications of Hair Color:
Studies have shown that complexion and hair color can influence age, health, and attractiveness perceptions. So, if you color your hair with a shade other than your natural hair color, you will likely affect your own behavior and others around you. After a while, you may even adopt the stereotypes associated with that hair color.
Reference Sources:
https://suki.com.au/the-psychology-behind-first-impressions-based-on-your-permanent-hair-colour/
https://www.color-meanings.com/hair-color-what-does-it-say-about-you/
Final Thoughts:
Whatever you natural color or the color you change your hair to, this brief review of the 4 major hair colors will hopefully help you to know the way you come across to others. Your hair color also, to some degree, may lead you to adopt certain stereotypical traits reviewed above, either naturally or as the result of the new impressions and treatment you will receive more of, more often than with your previous color.
I am not an advocate of changing your hair color or of keeping your original color. I am also not an advocate of coloring your hair to keep it the same or for allowing it to go gray. I am, however, an advocate of informed decisions and knowledge. Knowing that these different hair colors naturally lead to certain impressions in others will hopeful empower you to make whatever hair color decision you feel best about personally. And for the way others around you will react and respond to you. In short, you do you, just be informed. And remember that “…neither is the man without the woman, neither the woman without the man, in the Lord.”—1 Corinthians 11:1.
Dr. G
P.S. If you have any questions, comments, or a future article request for me, feel free to contact me at drgilchrist@yahoo.com.
| 2023-02-05 | Randy Gilchrist | Dating |
About the author
Hello, my name is Dr. Randy Gilchrist (aka "Dr. G"). I am a licensed clinical psychologist, a licensed marriage & family therapist, and a certified hypnotherapist in private practice in Roseville, CA (www.dr-rg.com), practicing since 1997. Also, I am happily married in the temple (Manti) since 1996 and have 4 sons. I am a volunteer writer and contributor to LDS Dimension. I use my training, education, and experience to share insights with LDS Dimension on all things of interest to the LDS dating community. Please read my articles and columns on this site to assist you in your online dating journey. Also, to be considered for an answer in a future Q and A column, please email me your dating/relationship oriented questions to drgilchrist@yahoo.com. Finally, I also offer a powerful, effective worldwide custom hypnosis recording service just for LDS Dimension members for weight loss, pornography, and many other issues of concern to those in the LDS dating community (please learn more now at www.dr-rg.com/lds; email me questions to drgilchrist@yahoo.com).