Blonde and red are among the most commonly dyed hair colors. After all, we always want what we don't have and many people tend to have dark hair. A trend that could continue if theories are to be believed that these two hair colors could one day be considered extinct. Why might red and blonde hair become extinct - and will it really happen?
OF DOMINANT AND RECESSIVE GENES
Humans originated in Africa, where they are still exposed to merciless sunlight today. So it's no wonder that darker types had a good chance of survival here. Their dark skin and hair protected them better from the sun. However, as soon as humans made it to less sunny areas of the world, dark hair and skin were not necessarily an advantage. The light type with blonde or red hair developed, whose skin could absorb UV radiation even in less sunny conditions and convert it into vital vitamin D. Even today, many people in Nordic countries are as light blonde as we can only get here thanks to hydrogen peroxide. Blonde and red hair are strictly speaking a genetic mutation and are inherited recessively. Simply put, this means that a blonde or red-haired and a dark-haired parent are more likely to have a dark-haired child. Dark hair colors are inherited dominantly.
REDHEADS ARE RARE
Red hair is the improvement on blonde hair. The skin of these people is so sensitive to light that they can absorb UV radiation even in cloudy regions if the sun doesn't shine for a long time. It is estimated that only 2% of the world's population have red hair, as this type has no survival advantage in most cases - on the contrary. As this gene is also inherited recessively, there is a real chance that redheads' beautiful hair color could one day disappear. If two redheads have a child, there is a high probability that this child will also have red hair. Recessive genes can also survive after several generations - but the probability is low. This means that red-haired children are much less likely than blonde ones. It's a good thing that red hair can be dyed relatively easily. Mahogany red, which is not a natural hair color, even holds on to a dark base and then looks particularly deep. For a natural, light red, depending on the natural hair color, you may need to bleach your hair first.
ARE BLONDES IN DANGER OF EXTINCTION?
Blonde people are far more common in northern countries than in the south. Here too, hair color is inherited recessively, but a far larger proportion of the population has blonde hair. Assumptions that blonde people could become extinct are therefore unlikely - but they have existed. But blonde is not always blonde, as any hairdresser will confirm. The popular light blonde is usually found in young girls and darkens over the course of their lives. This is related to a woman's estrogen level, because the higher it is, the blonder she is. Incidentally, this is also the reason why blondes are so popular with men; the preference for this beautiful hair color is completely unconscious. However, blonde also comes in medium or dark blonde, which can look hazelnut brown to the observer. Due to this range of blonde tones alone, the most popular hair color in the world is unlikely to die out.