Ravings of the Loquacious Madman

By Fiona Macrae

It has long been reckoned that blondes have more fun  -  but now they are thought to be more confident and amorous too.

Scientists claim their research shows that bleaching hair does wonders for a woman’s self-image.

They feel more attractive, more likely to ask someone out on a date and become more adventurous in the bedroom.

Fun-loving blondes: Actress Scarlett Johansson and Girls Aloud’s Sarah Harding have lighter hair which is said to boost confidence

This increased confidence does not just affect a woman’s love life. They find it easier to summon the courage to approach their boss and ask for a pay rise after colouring their hair blonde.

Bottle blondes are also more likely to complain at unfair treatment and more inclined to put their foot down with friends and relatives, according to the study into the effects of hair dyeing on mood.

The research could help explain the success and allure of stars from Marilyn Monroe and Lana Turner to Jessica Simpson and Kim Cattrall.

While lighter locks lifted mood the most, other changes of hair colour also gave women a boost.

Mark Sergeant, who carried out the research at Nottingham Trent University, asked more than 200 women how they felt before and after dyeing their hair.

The original platinum blonde: Actress Marilyn Monroe began life as brunette. The research found those who dye their hair are more likely to sing and dance in front of an audience

Dr Sergeant, who admits to dyeing his brown hair a range of colours including, in his youth, blue, said: ‘Colouring your hair may seem like an art to most people, but there is actually a lot of science behind it. The changes we noted in the study in participants’ behaviour and psychology were significant.

‘Not only were their confidence and mood levels elevated but also their inhibitions seemed to be mitigated with many reporting feeling more attractive and sexually exciting.

‘Across the board participants viewed colouring their hair as something that raised their confidence.

‘They were prepared to ask for things they wouldn’t normally be confident enough to ask for, such as pay rises or time off.’

The younger women taking part in the study, which was funded by shampoo and hair dye company Clairol, tended to colour their hair to get noticed or to reinvent themselves ahead of a big event.

Older women said the covering up of grey hair and signs of ageing boosted their confidence.

Almost 80 per cent of those polled said they would choose to go blonde over any other colour. Black was the least popular colour.

Dr Sergeant now plans to compare the attitudes of natural blondes with bottle blondes and to investigate whether men are similarly affected by a change of hair colour.

But, while blondes may have more fun, they are less successful than brunettes in work, according to other research.

A survey of 3,000 women revealed that, on average, brunettes earn £4,250 a year more than blondes.

Brunettes are also more likely to marry a millionaire, with research showing that around two thirds of the world’s richest men have a brown-haired partner.

The good news for redheads is that they apparently have the best sex lives.

A study of hundreds of German women found those with red hair had more partners and had sex more often.

The Daily Mail