Blonde Ambition
It's a well known saying that Blondes Have More Fun. Marilyn Monroe reckoned that Gentlemen Prefer Blondes and Pamela Anderson is quoted as saying that "it's easier to impress people when you're blonde because they have such low expectations". Recent studies have confirmed that blondes, on average, have higher wages than brunettes.
Blonde Ambition, Legally Blonde and Blonde Moments.
I am - arguably, of course - lucky that I have naturally blonde hair. Especially when you consider the fact that my genetic alternative is an odd shade of gingery brown. But there's no way to deny that being blonde is going out of fashion. You just have to look at shampoo commercials to see it - every single advert for super shiny hair has a gloriously glossy brunette, with the notable exception of Timotei. I thought (gosh, probably ten years ago now) that John Frieda had started a revolution with his Sheer Blonde range which catered to three different shade ranges of blonde (platinum to champagne, light ash to medium honey and dark champagne to dark honey). I remember spending about three weeks worth of pocket money on the whole set. But within a year the range had shrunk to just "light blonde" or "dark blonde", and was matched by the Brilliant Brunette and Radiant Red lines. For the first time ever last year, FHMs "100 sexiest women" was peopled more by brunettes and red heads than by blondes.
Just think - even ignoring the slightly sleezy and sexist FHMism, name some famous brunettes: Keira Knightley, Beyonce, Eva Longoria, Halle Berry, Penelope Cruz, Angelina Jolie, Eva Mendez, Cheryl Cole, Natalie Portman, Katie Perry, Jessica Alba. Most of the female cast of this years biggest hit, Glee are brunettes.
And famous blondes? Britney Spears and Lady Gaga. As I say, we're going out of fashion.
I know it's sad, but I am a bit miffed about this. I mean, in a world of highlights and dyes - peroxide free, ammonia free, super conditioning, enriched with vitamin E and fruit oils, etc - it's not hard to choose your hair colour. But I suppose a small part of me was sort of hoping I was in some kind of exclusive club - the Naturally This Colour Society. Turns out I'm not. I will have to settle for being (fairly) quietly superior. The same way I feel about being one of the last members of my generation to understand syntax.
I think the problem - and the reason we're falling out of favour - is the "dumb blonde" myth... Well, maybe it's not a myth. Feminists like to shout at men for this, but honestly it's womens' own fault. Who do you think would win a round of mastermind - Marilyn Monroe and Pamela Anderson vs. Jane Russell and Halle Berry? Maybe it's to do with the upkeep of blonde locks - women who are boring enough to go to the hair dresser for "touch ups" or "to have my roots done" every twenty minutes don't tend to be the most scintillating company.
But, and here is the nub and crux, who cares? Is my hair in fashion? Probably not. But considering that fashion magazines are shouting about this being the year of the playsuit, I think I can cope with not caring what they say.
Blonde Ambition, Legally Blonde and Blonde Moments.
I am - arguably, of course - lucky that I have naturally blonde hair. Especially when you consider the fact that my genetic alternative is an odd shade of gingery brown. But there's no way to deny that being blonde is going out of fashion. You just have to look at shampoo commercials to see it - every single advert for super shiny hair has a gloriously glossy brunette, with the notable exception of Timotei. I thought (gosh, probably ten years ago now) that John Frieda had started a revolution with his Sheer Blonde range which catered to three different shade ranges of blonde (platinum to champagne, light ash to medium honey and dark champagne to dark honey). I remember spending about three weeks worth of pocket money on the whole set. But within a year the range had shrunk to just "light blonde" or "dark blonde", and was matched by the Brilliant Brunette and Radiant Red lines. For the first time ever last year, FHMs "100 sexiest women" was peopled more by brunettes and red heads than by blondes.
Just think - even ignoring the slightly sleezy and sexist FHMism, name some famous brunettes: Keira Knightley, Beyonce, Eva Longoria, Halle Berry, Penelope Cruz, Angelina Jolie, Eva Mendez, Cheryl Cole, Natalie Portman, Katie Perry, Jessica Alba. Most of the female cast of this years biggest hit, Glee are brunettes.
And famous blondes? Britney Spears and Lady Gaga. As I say, we're going out of fashion.
I know it's sad, but I am a bit miffed about this. I mean, in a world of highlights and dyes - peroxide free, ammonia free, super conditioning, enriched with vitamin E and fruit oils, etc - it's not hard to choose your hair colour. But I suppose a small part of me was sort of hoping I was in some kind of exclusive club - the Naturally This Colour Society. Turns out I'm not. I will have to settle for being (fairly) quietly superior. The same way I feel about being one of the last members of my generation to understand syntax.
I think the problem - and the reason we're falling out of favour - is the "dumb blonde" myth... Well, maybe it's not a myth. Feminists like to shout at men for this, but honestly it's womens' own fault. Who do you think would win a round of mastermind - Marilyn Monroe and Pamela Anderson vs. Jane Russell and Halle Berry? Maybe it's to do with the upkeep of blonde locks - women who are boring enough to go to the hair dresser for "touch ups" or "to have my roots done" every twenty minutes don't tend to be the most scintillating company.
But, and here is the nub and crux, who cares? Is my hair in fashion? Probably not. But considering that fashion magazines are shouting about this being the year of the playsuit, I think I can cope with not caring what they say.