Women really are the fairer sex

WHEN it comes to hair colour, women really are the fairer sex: they are 40 per cent more likely to be blonde than men.

In a study of almost 300,000 people, scientists found 124 genes determining hair colour, showing men are up to five times more likely to have black hair.

They concluded that women may have blonde hair because men perceive blondes as younger and more fertile.

In evolutionary terms, it makes sense for females to be blonde to attract a mate. Men are more attractive to the opposite sex if they are tall, dark and handsome.

Seen only in Europeans, blonde hair is a genetic mutation caused by a lack of pigment which also makes skin pale to help absorb vitamin D from the sun.

Tim Spector, senior author of the study and a professor at King’s College London, said: ‘Many babies are born with blonde hair, but baby boys’ hair tends to get darker while girls’ stays light. This may be related to sexual selection as cultural surveys show women with lighter hair are perceived as looking younger and more fertile. This may explain why many women cheat and dye their hair blonde.’

Until recently, scientists knew of only a few hair colour genes, which made it hard to explain why a child’s hair could be entirely different to that of their parents.

The research found that women were more likely to have red hair than men.

The bad news for women is that blondes are generally at a higher risk of skin cancer. The genes discovered in the study provide more evidence that the fair-haired have more moles and freckles, putting them at greater danger of melanoma.