Hair Color and Skin Color Together Influence Perceptions of Age, Health, and Attractiveness in Lightly-Pigmented, Young Women

International Journal of Cosmetic Science
Bernhard FinkJohn Lankhof

Abstract

Research documents that even subtle changes in visible skin condition affect perceptions of age, health, and attractiveness. There is evidence that hair quality also affects the assessment of physical appearance, as variations in hair diameter, hair density, and hair style have systematic effects on perception. Here, we consider combined effects of hair color and skin color on the perception of female physical appearance. In two experiments, we digitally manipulated facial skin color of lightly-pigmented, young women, both between-subjects (Experiment 1) and within-subjects (Experiment 2), and investigated possible interactions with hair color in regard to age, health, and attractiveness perception. In both experiments, we detected hair color and skin color interaction effects on men's and women's assessments. For between-subjects comparisons, participants with lighter hair color were judged to be younger than those with darker shades; this effect was more pronounced in women with light skin color. No such effect was observed for within-subjects variation in skin color. Both experiments showed that smaller perceived contrast between hair color and skin color resulted in more positive responses. We conclude that hair color and f...Continue Reading

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Citations

Oct 8, 2020·Archives of Sexual Behavior·Adam C Davis, Steven Arnocky
Feb 24, 2021·Scientific Reports·Yuichi SakanoHiroshi Ando
Jun 25, 2021·Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology·Kate GoldieYana Yutskovskaya

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