“What does a blonde owl say? What? What?” “What do you call a good looking man with a brunette? A hostage.” “How do you know when a redhead has forgiven you? She stops washing your clothes in the toilet.”...
“What does a blonde owl say? What? What?” “What do you call a good looking man with a brunette? A hostage.” “How do you know when a redhead has forgiven you? She stops washing your clothes in the toilet.”
Have you ever felt attacked by one of these jokes? Are you the type of person that can’t wait to forward a hair-color joke through email to all of your friends for a good laugh? I’m sure you don’t waste a precious minute of your day trying to think of the best way to comically describe someone with a certain hair color. Do you blame your own unique characteristics on the color of your hair at times?
Hair color has long been associated with certain stereotypes and behaviors; are they warranted? Blondes have, by far, the most jokes told about them for presumably being “dumb.” Brunettes are considered the smart ones and the “gypsies,” as I heard recently. Redheads, apparently, have a hot temper. If these statements are all true, and blondes are the “dumb” ones, why is it that so many people say, “Blondes have more fun!”? Is it safe, then, to assume that being dumb is fun? Maybe it is!
Do these “hair-eotypes” form good or bad first impressions with those you meet? Think about it… When you see a blonde, do you think he or she is dumb? When you see a brunette, do you assume that person was valedictorian at their graduation or sits at night with a crystal ball in their lap? Did that redhead you just cut off on the interstate show you a well manicured fingernail when you looked back in your rear-view mirror? The answer to all of these questions is probably, no.
Some of the smartest and most successful people you know grew up blonde. However, when one of those highly intelligent citizens makes a mistake, someone is sure to tell them they “had a blonde moment.” Take a look at Madonna. Now, you may not agree with her views, but she is one smart, lucrative blonde! Madonna worked her way up to the top by knowing just how far to cross the line and she did it successfully. Another profitable blonde is Reese Witherspoon. She’s educated and beautiful. It IS possible to be both.
You and I may or may not support one particular blonde running for the Democratic ticket in the 2008 Presidential election, but the fact remains; there is a BLONDE that could potentially be the next President of the United States. You can call her a “dumb blonde” if you want to, but Hillary Clinton had to do something right to get where she is today.
As for brunettes, they are thought of as being the smarter person in society. (However, a lot of brunettes I know have dyed their hair blonde; this leaves me to wonder how smart they are if blondes are supposed to be dumb…) I know a lot of smart brunettes, but I’ve come across my fair share of “airheads” with brunette hair too. (I’m a blonde and I’m too smart to start naming them here…) I’ve never met a “gypsy” brunette, so I can’t comment on that.
Redheads are the hot-heads, according to everything I hear and read. Some of the sweetest, most gentle people I have ever known have had red hair. Everyone gets angry every now and then. Poor redheads get their temper blamed on the color of their hair every time! This “hair-eotype” just isn’t true. Although, they may want that kept a secret so they have some “thing” to blame after telling off their co-worker for not covering up that explosive bowl of tomato soup in the microwave at lunch!
I’m sure you can think of many people in your life that don’t fit the typical hair color stereotype that society has pinned on them. I’m equally sure you can find many people that DO fit within that stereotype to a “T”!
It’s humorous to me how we, as a society, have accepted this “hair color philosophy” without any scientific evidence to back it up. I have searched, near and far, to find something that could back it up. I’ve been unsuccessful in my efforts so far.
I can’t write about hair color without talking about coloring your hair… I, for one, am a big supporter of coloring your hair. It’s a personal decision, of course, but for me, I LOVE it! I hi-light my hair with blonde shades through out and it makes me feel 10 years younger! Coloring my hair with blonde hi-lights fits my personality and improves my skin tone.
There was a time, about three years ago, that I took my hair color to a darker shade. My Mother told me my new color just didn’t work with who she knew me to be. I went back to blonde the next time I saw my favorite hair stylist, of 20 plus years, at Eileen’s House of Beauty. My Mom was right.
I’ve experimented with wigs, in other colors, too. It’s AMAZING how different I feel in a different color! It’s also amazing how different people treat you with a different color on top of your head. It’s so much fun and I HIGHLY recommend it!
When in Hollywood, California one year, my husband was working and I was left alone. I decided to take a stroll down Hollywood Boulevard, by myself. I noticed there were a lot of wig boutiques in Hollywood – understandably so. (The wig boutiques in Hollywood carry some AMAZING wigs!) After passing a couple of wig shops, I decided to go in one and try out a new look. It was SO much fun! I left with a short red bob and a long, layered brunette wig. My husband was surprised when he returned to the hotel room after a day of work. He thought he had entered the wrong room when he saw a redhead in the room he had just entered! It was so much fun trying out a new look! I fooled my colleagues at work the next week with my wigs too.
When I wore the red wig, I instantly felt sassier! I felt sexy. I wanted red lipstick and high heels. I felt in control of things and very sophisticated. I held my head up high and walked with confidence. Men took notice… but seemed a little reserved in their behavior. I think there’s another stereotype there that I’m not going to go into here!
When I wore the brunette wig, I felt vulnerable. I felt smart. I was ready to go to work and do a good job. I felt comfortable. I didn’t “stand out” from everyone in the room. It was nice. I didn’t feel like anyone was thinking anything about me other than, well, how smart I was and how comfortable they felt around me. My brunette wig was equivalent to the “comfort food” of hair color. Suddenly I was everyone’s best friend. I must say, I never felt like pulling out a crystal ball, however, to be a “gypsy woman” I know some people think of when referring to brunettes.
After a couple of days of wearing different wigs, I went back to my normal hair color as a blonde. I may not have noticed it before, but I certainly did after, the way I was treated as a blonde! Men were more assertive towards me. They were not intrigued, intimidated or nonchalant. Men opened more doors for me. (Because, I guess, blondes can’t do this for themselves, I don’t know…) Men smiled and talked to me more often, as if they had always known me. It was very strange to witness the difference a day made!
So how did these jokes get started anyway? I have no idea. I think Marilyn Monroe may have started a lot of the blonde, stereotypical jokes; as for the brunette and redhead, I haven’t been able to find evidence to support any solid history there. I’ll let you know when I find something to report…
I, for one, know not to be offended when I receive a “blonde joke.” I enjoy them and sometimes send them on to my other blonde friends. I hope you can pull yourself out of your own “hair-eotype” when needed as well. After all, if you want to feel differently, you can always pull on a nice wig. If all else fails, have a few jokes up your sleeve that you can share when the moment presents itself. I bet there’s one in your email waiting on you right now!
