# Where did Blond hair come from? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 23, 2009, 6:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-did-blond-hair-come-from/503975 "2009-07-23T06:21:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![hobscrk777](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a6a055/32.png) [@hobscrk777](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hobscrk777)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2009, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-did-blond-hair-come-from/503975/21 "2009-07-24T02:00:04Z")
On a related note, why does blond hair get darker and browner with age, when I was very young, say up until about 10 or so, my hair was naturally a very distinctive platinum blond. When I see most other kids this age with blond hair, it is typically the same color. However, my hair has been steadily “browning” with age. I’m in my early 20s now and my hair is dirty blond / light brown now. Most people I see my age and older that are “blond” (naturally, not dyed) really have this dark, sandy blond hair color. Why is this? ---
**Author:** ![dracoi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/90db22/32.png) [@dracoi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dracoi)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2009, 5:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-did-blond-hair-come-from/503975/22 "2009-07-24T05:42:19Z")
For many people with blond hair (myself included), the amount of time they spend in the sun affects the color - the more time outside, the lighter the color. Adults tend to spend all day working whereas kids have recess, PE and summers and afternoons off. I don’t know if there’s more to it than that. ---
**Author:** ![Fair\_Rarity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fair_rarity/32/153_2.png) [@Fair\_Rarity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fair_Rarity)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2009, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-did-blond-hair-come-from/503975/23 "2009-07-24T16:09:03Z")
> [@hobscrk777](#): > > On a related note, why does blond hair get darker and browner with age That’s why I think there is a sexual attraction element to blond hair. Blond signifies youth, youth = healthier and fertile which makes lots more hunters and gatherers. ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2009, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-did-blond-hair-come-from/503975/24 "2009-07-24T16:19:45Z")
I got mine from my mom’s side of the family. ---
**Author:** ![Electric\_Monk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/2acd7d/32.png) [@Electric\_Monk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Electric_Monk)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2009, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-did-blond-hair-come-from/503975/25 "2009-07-24T22:27:43Z")
> [@Daratora](#): > > 😕So where did it come from. I have never hear or read about blond cavemen and women. If you’re talking about GEICO-type cavemen, i.e. Neanderthals, at least some of them were redheads. > **[Ancient DNA Reveals That Some Neanderthals Were Redheads](http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/10/071025143311.htm)** > > Ancient DNA retrieved from the bones of two Neanderthals suggests that at least some of them had red hair and pale skin, scientists report in Science. Neanderthals' pigmentation may even have been as varied as that of modern humans, and researchers... Also, despite their extremely dark skin, many Australian Aborigines have blond hair, which is thought to be a result of sexual selection, perhaps combined with a “founder effect”. > **[Gene Expression: Blonde Australian Aboriginals](https://www.gnxp.com/blog/2005/08/blonde-australian-aboriginals.php)** ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2009, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-did-blond-hair-come-from/503975/26 "2009-07-24T23:13:19Z")
> [@hobscrk777](#): > > On a related note, why does blond hair get darker and browner with age, when I was very young, say up until about 10 or so, my hair was naturally a very distinctive platinum blond. When I see most other kids this age with blond hair, it is typically the same color. However, my hair has been steadily “browning” with age. I’m in my early 20s now and my hair is dirty blond / light brown now. Most people I see my age and older that are “blond” (naturally, not dyed) really have this dark, sandy blond hair color. Why is this? That is a legitimate question. I was blonde as a toddler and my hair got darker and darker to the point where I have to argue with people now whether I have black hair or really, dark brown hair. My youngest daughter is trending the same way. People can be flip all they want but I think the OP has a really good question and I am pretty sure that no one in the world has the answer yet. The same thing applies to skin color although lots of people think they know the answer based on simplistic information. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-did-blond-hair-come-from/503975.md?page=1)