If you’ve read this far, and are now feeling a little dismayed about being a brunette, know that your gorgeous brown mane brings with it many health benefits, too. For one, melanin-rich hair may be better protected against the elements, helping to preserve its vitality. “Indeed, melanin plays a protective role: Larger quantities of eumelanin protect hair against high levels of exposure to the sun and its unwanted consequences such as drying out and brittleness,” certified hair stylist Nikki Goddard told Healthline. Not only that, but Self reports that people with blonde hair actually shed the most in comparison to those with alternate hair colors — although brunettes can’t deny that their shedding may be harder to hide.
Additionally, being brunette may lower your risk for Parkinson’s disease (PD). Impacting the body’s nervous system, Mayo Clinic experts explain that people with Parkinson’s disease may experience tremor, muscle rigidity, slowed movements, balance difficulty, and more. Researchers from a 2010 study published in the scientific journal Annals of Neurology found that people with dark hair had the least amount of risk for Parkinson’s disease compared to people with lighter hair. Out of four groups, people with black hair were the least susceptible, followed by individuals with brown hair. Individuals with blonde hair were found to be the second-most prone group to PD, with red-haired people at greatest risk.
