Claim: Blondes Really Do Have More Fun

Question

Mark Sergeant is a researcher at Nottingham Trent University and he conducted a study what analyzed more then 200 women before and after they died their hair an made the conclusion that when blonde women are more happy and confident.

Comments

The claim that blondes have more fun is a little exaggerated and misleading, as this study concluded that they are more happy and confident. That does not necessarily mean that they have more fun.

Answer 1

The claim that "blondes really do have more fun" while being a popular saying, isn't necessarily true in most cases. 

A study conducted by Nottingham Trent University found that women who dyed their hair blonde reported feeling more confident and adventurous. As comes with most, when people decide to dye their hair or change anything about their appearance. This suggests that the change in hair color might boost self-esteem and social behavior, potentially leading to more "fun" experiences. However, this is more about perception and self-confidence rather than an inherent trait linked to hair color.

On the other hand, societal perceptions play a significant role. Research indicates that blondes are often perceived as more outgoing and approachable, this perception can influence how others interact with them, possibly leading to more social opportunities and, consequently, more fun. However, it's essential to understand that these findings are based on subjective experiences and societal stereotypes. The idea that blondes have more fun is not a scientifically proven fact but rather a combination of self-perception and societal attitudes. While there is some evidence suggesting that blondes might feel more confident and be perceived as more sociable, the claim that they inherently have more fun is not definitively supported by scientific research. It's a mix of psychology and social dynamics rather than a universal truth.

Blondes really do have more fun, study shows (zmescience.com) Do Blondes Really Have More Fun? Investigating The Psychology of Ha... (ishonest.com)

Answer 2

Although I am unable to access the full study mentioned in the article you linked due to a paywall, I did some research on google scholar and found a study that found that blondes do not have more fun. This study I am referencing had a different approach to this statement, as they observed a slide at a water park and the people that went down it, recording their hair color and their perceived level of enjoyment. I believe that the error in the "dyed hair" study is that there are several factors that could alter the person's enjoyment, such as whether or not they wanted to dye their hair, whether or not they have dyed their hair before, if they actually wanted to be blonde or rather a different color, and other psychological mechanisms. Blondes do not have more fun: A blinded crossover field study

Answer 3

To an extent yes, according to the BBC (https://www.sciencefocus.com/the-human-body/blondes-might-have-more-fun-and-maybe-a-higher-iq). In an Ohio State study blondes are shown to typically have a higher IQ. Blonde women are usually more confident and found in positions of power in their career as well.

https://www.accessecon.com/Pubs/EB/2016/Volume36/EB-16-V36-I1-P42.pdf

Comments

Good sources and like you said to an extent yes, it was a small-sized test group, but it was true.

Answer 4

This concept is interesting to think about, but there is a lot wrong with this claim. Although the claim matches what the article is claiming, the article has a lot of things that could be improved, including some misinformation. They claim that there is "proof" blondes have more fun, but the article does not link the study or reference specific data that they are referring to when making this claim. The article says they surveyed 200 dyed blondes, but they should have considered natural blondes and explained how they have more fun than nonbleach blondes. The article includes a claim from Mark Sergeant, a researcher at Nottingham Trent University who allegedly conducted the study. He says that people's confidence elevates when coloring their hair and that they have specific mood or attitude changes. He makes this claim by referring to people who have dyed their hair, not blondes specifically, which is what the article claims. The end of the article states that "they plan on doing another study to find out the differences between natural blondes and bottle blondes," meaning they hadn't done any research involving natural blondes in an article about blondes having more fun. Overall, the article claims they have proof of how blondes have more fun, but they never cite any data or accurate information to support their claim with facts. The claim that blondes have more fun is subjective, and even with physical data leaning in favor of that claim, there is no concrete proof that blondes scientifically have more fun or a better quality of life than people with different hair colors.

Comments

How would you rate the claim? What are your sources? Always include URLs within your fact-checks. Thanks!

Answer 5

The claim Blondes really do have more fun is misleading but somewhat true. The article linked from ZME Science highlights a study done by Mark Sergeant, a researcher at Nottingham Trent University, in which the subjects were interviewed before and after going blonde. They were asked questions about their confidence and mood levels, and it was shown that the majority said being blonde positively impacted both of those things. However, the study never measured how it affected if they had more fun or not. So it can be concluded that the title of the article was just a catchy and fun title to bring in more readers. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has an article on the same topic and conducted their own study which measured if blondes or brunettes had more fun on a waterslide. The conclusion showed that there was no difference in fun between blondes and brunettes. Overall, the claim is misleading and the actual truth would be worded differently to reach a different conclusion.

Zetner D;Ryg J;Andresen K;Schack A;Alder R;Rosenberg J; (n.d.). Blondes do not have more fun: A non-blinded crossover field study. The Medical journal of Australia. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31813170/#:~:text=Conclusions%3A%20Our%20findings%20are%20not,mood%20changes%20than%20non%2Dblondes.  

Answer 6

The claim that blondes have more fun is quite a bit misleading and not entirely true. However, there are some factors of blonde hair that could potentially lead to a sense of happiness or positive attitude.

In the article, Mihai Andrei explains that "a researcher at Nottingham Trent University who conducted the study, analyzed more than 200 women before and after they dyed their hair, and concluded that lighter locks actually lift the mood for most." Although that doesn't really mean blondes have more fun, it could convince some of that. Then again, "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." To reiterate, many people who try something different with their appearance tend to gain some confidence. As a rebuttal, fresh new looks with any hair color are bound to be a boost, not just blondes. Given that, it doesn’t prove that just by being blonde, you are automatically more fun. It more so discusses the confidence and mood boost resulting after dying your hair or being perceived as conventionally attractive to society. 

In a separate article, Catrina Prager poses the same idea that "it seems blondes have the lead when it comes to attractiveness. But does that mean they have more fun?" She then responds with "Arguable. Being considered attractive is going to be a mood-booster, and may make you happier and more confident." In a sense, being found attractive or powerful could make one have more fun. But to be clear, that isn't guaranteed if you choose to dye your hair in search of that mindset. 

Society likes to spin the truth of many different ideas, and blonde hair is often a topic of discussion. Since the opinions of others are heavily impactful on the way people think, it is no wonder why the original claim surfaces so frequently. 

Despite popular opinion and the claim that "blondes have more fun," it isn't true. Anyone can feel confident, powerful, and fun! Not only that, but also be seen as attractive, no matter the color of their hair. 

https://www.zmescience.com/research/studies/blondes-really-do-have-more-fun-study-shows/

https://catrinaprager.medium.com/do-blondes-have-more-fun-heres-what-science-has-to-say-b2325bd879b2