The Most Popular Hair Color, Ranked
Voting rules: Choose the hair color you think is the most popular!
Updated on Apr 25, 2024 06:39
In the diverse world of fashion and beauty, hair color trends can shift as quickly as the seasons change. Understanding the most popular hair colors can be crucial for salons, stylists, and even individuals who look to stay current or stand out. By ranking these shades based on public opinion, it gives a clear idea of what's trending at any given moment.
This live ranking allows users to cast their vote, adding their preference to the mix and influencing the real-time results. Engaging with the rankings not only reflects personal tastes but also shapes the broader trends. Whether you're planning your next salon visit or just curious about what others are choosing, your participation here makes a difference in painting the portrait of today's hair color popularity.
What Is the Most Popular Hair Color?
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157votes
Alex Neman · CC BY-SA 4.0Brown hair is the most common hair color in the world, making up approximately 75% of the global population. It is a versatile color that can range from light brown to dark brown, and it is often associated with intelligence, reliability, and warmth.Brown hair is a hair color characterized by shades ranging from light to dark brown. It is one of the most common natural hair colors worldwide and is predominantly characterized by the pigment eumelanin. Brown hair is versatile and can be found in various shades and undertones, including chestnut, chocolate, mahogany, and ash brown.- Shades: Light to dark brown
- Undertones: Chestnut, chocolate, mahogany, ash brown
- Pigment: Eumelanin
- Texture: Straight, wavy, curly
- Common: Yes
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237votes
Alex Neman · CC BY-SA 4.0Black hair is the second most common hair color in the world, making up approximately 25% of the global population. It is often associated with strength, power, and elegance, and it is a popular choice among fashion models and celebrities.Black hair is a hair color that appears dark or black in color. It is a common natural hair color found in different ethnicities and is also achieved through various hair dyeing methods. Black hair is characterized by its deep, rich tone that ranges from jet black to dark brown. It is known for its versatility and ability to complement a wide range of skin tones.- Hair Color: Black
- Color Depth: Deep
- Tone: Jet black to dark brown
- Ethnicity: Found in various ethnicities
- Achieved Through: Natural pigmentation or hair dyeing
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311votes
Toglenn · CC BY-SA 4.0Blonde hair is a popular hair color, especially in Western countries. It is often associated with youthfulness, sexiness, and fun, and it is a popular choice for actresses and singers. However, natural blonde hair is relatively rare, making up only 2% of the global population.Blonde hair is a light hair color that is commonly associated with shades ranging from pale to golden. It is characterized by its sun-kissed appearance and is often considered one of the most popular hair colors worldwide.- Shade Range: Blonde hair encompasses a wide range of shades, including platinum, ash blonde, golden blonde, honey blonde, and strawberry blonde.
- Hair Texture: Blonde hair can be found in various hair textures, such as straight, wavy, or curly.
- Melanin Levels: Blonde hair is typically associated with lower levels of eumelanin pigment and higher levels of pheomelanin pigment.
- Hair Health: Blonde hair may require extra care and maintenance due to its tendency to be more fragile and prone to damage.
- Popular Icons: Blonde hair has been popularized by iconic figures like Marilyn Monroe, Brigitte Bardot, and Madonna.
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419votes
Red hair
Natural occurrenceRed hair is a rare hair color, making up only 1-2% of the global population. It is often associated with fiery personalities, creativity, and passion, and it is a popular choice among artists and musicians.Red hair is a vibrant, eye-catching hair color characterized by shades of red, ranging from fiery reds to deep auburns. It is often associated with warmth, confidence, and a bold personality. Red hair can vary in intensity, from natural-looking ginger tones to intense, vibrant shades. It is known for its unique ability to grab attention and make a statement.- Shades: Ranges from fiery reds to deep auburns
- Typical associations: Warmth, confidence, boldness
- Intensity: Varies from natural ginger tones to vibrant shades
- Attractiveness: Often grabs attention and makes a statement
- Popularity: Considered one of the most unique and sought-after hair colors
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511votesAuburn hair is a combination of red and brown hair, and it is often associated with warmth, depth, and richness. It is a popular choice among actresses and models, and it is a versatile color that can complement a wide range of skin tones.Auburn hair is a reddish-brown hair color that falls between red and brown on the color spectrum. It is characterized by its warm and rich hues, resembling the color of auburn leaves. The term 'auburn' originates from the Old French word 'auborne', meaning 'blonde', which was later associated with the reddish-brown shade. Auburn hair is known for its versatility and ability to suit a wide range of skin tones.
- Color Range: Reddish-brown with warm undertones
- Hair Shades: Light auburn, medium auburn, dark auburn
- Warmth Level: Moderate to high warmth
- Undertones: Red, copper, or gold undertones
- Reflective Qualities: Natural shine and warmth
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610votes
Walkerandcampos · CC BY-SA 4.0Grey hair is a natural part of aging, and it is often associated with wisdom, experience, and maturity. However, many people choose to dye their hair grey as a fashion statement, and it has become a popular trend in recent years.Grey hair is a hair color that appears as varying shades of grey or silver. It is associated with the natural process of aging, where the pigment cells in the hair follicles gradually decrease, resulting in a loss of melanin. Grey hair can also occur prematurely due to genetics, stress, or medical conditions.- Appearance: Varying shades of grey or silver
- Age association: Commonly associated with aging
- Pigment reduction: Caused by a decrease in pigment cells and melanin
- Premature greying: Can occur due to genetics, stress, or medical conditions
- Social perception: Considered a sign of wisdom or experience in some cultures
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79votesSilver hair is another popular hair color trend, especially among younger generations. It is often associated with futuristic, edgy, and unconventional styles, and it is a popular choice among fashion-forward individuals.Silver hair refers to a trendy hair color characterized by a metallic silver or gray hue. It is often chosen as a fashion statement or to embrace the natural graying process. The silver hair trend has gained prominence in recent years, and it continues to be popular among individuals of various ages.
- Versatility: Silver hair can be customized to suit different undertones, including ash, blue, violet, or even lavender shades.
- Hair Length: Silver hair looks stunning on different hair lengths, whether short or long.
- Hair Texture: It suits various hair textures, including straight, wavy, or curly hair.
- Maintenance: Maintaining silver hair may require regular toning treatments and the use of color-safe products to prevent fading and brassiness.
- Pre-lightening: Achieving silver hair often involves pre-lightening the hair to a pale blonde shade before applying the silver color.
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813votesPlatinum blonde hair is a very light shade of blonde, and it is often associated with glamour, luxury, and sophistication. It is a popular choice among actresses and fashion models, and it requires a lot of maintenance to keep the color looking bright and vibrant.Platinum blonde hair refers to an extremely light shade of blonde hair that has a white or silver-like appearance. It is characterized by its icy, cool tones and high level of lightness.
- Hair color level: Platinum blonde hair is typically categorized as a level 10 hair color, which is the lightest shade possible.
- Undertones: Common undertones in platinum blonde hair include silver, ash, or pearl.
- Bleaching process: Achieving platinum blonde hair often requires several rounds of bleaching to lift the natural pigment from the hair strands.
- Toning: After bleaching, toners are used to neutralize any remaining yellow or brassy tones and create the desired cool, icy look.
- Maintenance: Maintaining platinum blonde hair requires regular touch-ups to the roots and toning to prevent brassiness.
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98votesOmbre hair is a gradient color effect that starts with a dark color at the roots and gradually fades into a lighter color at the ends. It is a popular choice among women of all ages, and it can be customized to suit a wide range of color combinations and styles.Ombre hair is a hair coloring technique where a gradual transition from dark to light hair color is created. The term 'ombre' comes from the French word meaning 'shadow' or 'shade'. This style creates a stunning visual effect by blending two different hair colors seamlessly. It emphasizes contrast and depth, typically starting with a darker shade at the roots and gradually fading into a lighter shade towards the ends.
- Transition: Gradual
- Colors Used: Dark and light shades
- Roots: Darker shade
- Ends: Lighter shade
- Blending: Seamless
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1010votesBalayage hair is a freehand technique that involves painting highlights onto the hair in a natural-looking way. It is a popular choice among women who want a low-maintenance, sun-kissed look, and it can be customized to suit a wide range of hair types and textures.Balayage hair is a popular hair coloring technique that involves hand-painting or sweeping hair color onto the hair to create a natural, sun-kissed effect. The result is a softer, more blended look compared to traditional highlights.
- Technique: Hand-painted/swept hair color
- Effect: Natural, sun-kissed look
- Blending: Softer and more blended compared to traditional highlights
- Placement: Color is strategically placed to mimic natural highlights
- Maintenance: Low maintenance as regrowth is less noticeable
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Ranking factors for popular hair color
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Global prevalenceThe percentage of the global population that has a specific hair color.
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Cultural preferencesThe perceived attractiveness and desirability of certain hair colors within different cultures and societies.
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Celebrity and media influenceThe hair colors of celebrities, public figures, and media portrayals can significantly impact the popularity of certain hair colors.
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Fashion trendsAs with clothing and accessories, hair color trends may change over time, making certain colors more popular during specific time periods.
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Age demographicsThe age distribution of a population can affect the popularity of certain hair colors. For example, the prevalence of gray hair will be higher in older populations.
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GeneticsSome hair colors, like red, are more genetically rare and therefore might not be as popular overall.
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Regional distributionThe popularity of hair colors may vary in different regions or countries, depending on factors such as genetics, cultural preferences, and local trends.
About this ranking
This is a community-based ranking of the most popular hair color. We do our best to provide fair voting, but it is not intended to be exhaustive. So if you notice something or haircolor is missing, feel free to help improve the ranking!
Statistics
- 1870 views
- 183 votes
- 10 ranked items
Voting Rules
A participant may cast an up or down vote for each haircolor once every 24 hours. The rank of each haircolor is then calculated from the weighted sum of all up and down votes.
More information on most popular hair color
Hair color is one of the most defining features of a person's appearance. Whether it's bold and bright or subtle and understated, hair color can say a lot about a person's personality and style. Over the years, hair color trends have come and gone, but some shades have stood the test of time and continue to be popular to this day. So, what is the most popular hair color? Let's take a look at some of the most common shades and see which one comes out on top.
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