Hayden Panettiere in Heroes
Blond hair, blue eyes – this has been the cultural and stereotypical look of the innocent “All American Girl” or the ever sexy “Blond Bombshell“. There are endless cliches for women with blond hair, and most of them add to the stereotype that blond women “have more fun,” are the “girls next door,” etc. Brunette’s on the other hand are stereotyed as serious, buttoned-up, classy, etc.
One of the current trends I am noticing is the rise of the brunette. Not only are brunette actresses/models/singers becoming more prominent, but former blondes are also becoming brunettes. Women in the public eye who have given up their blond locks, their all American identity if you will, include (if only temporarily) Jessica Simpson, Britney Spears, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Carmon Diaz, Kate Bosworth, Ashlee Simpson, and I’m sure I could go on…
So why the dramatic change? Perceptions of beauty often cater to and are shaped by Hollywood, which got me thinking about the different ways hair color is characterized in the media.
