Koreans can definitely have brown hair, though it is less common than black hair. Like most East Asians, Koreans tend to have naturally straight, black hair due to genetics. However, brown hair does sometimes occur among Koreans due to natural hair color variation or dyeing their hair. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at the genetics behind Koreans’ typical hair colors and discuss how common brown hair really is among native Koreans.
What causes black hair color?
The most common hair color worldwide is black hair. Approximately 90% of people worldwide have some shade of black or dark brown hair. East Asian populations like Koreans have the highest rates of naturally black hair. This is due to genetics.
Hair color is determined by the amount of a pigment called eumelanin present in hair. Eumelanin is a dark brown/black pigment. The more eumelanin present, the darker the hair color. Everyone has some eumelanin in their hair, but the amount varies between individuals.
There is also a lighter red/yellow pigment called pheomelanin. The ratio of eumelanin to pheomelanin controls hair color. Higher eumelanin means darker hair, while higher pheomelanin means lighter hair.
East Asians like Koreans tend to produce higher levels of eumelanin. This is due to having more copies of certain genes associated with eumelanin production, such as the OCA2 and MC1R genes. Having more copies of these genes leads to hair that is overwhelmingly eumelanin-based and thus black.
Is brown hair common among Koreans?
While black hair is definitely the most common, brown hair does sometimes occur naturally among Koreans.
One study found that when examining the hair color of over 600 Koreans without any hair dye, 3.9% had dark brown hair and 0.5% had light brown hair. So while still uncommon, a small percentage of Koreans are born with shades of brown hair rather than pure black.
This brown hair likely results from having slightly less eumelanin production than typical or having a bit more pheomelanin mixed in. Even Koreans carry some genetic diversity, so a small number will wind up with browner locks.
The exact percentage of Koreans with natural brown hair can vary between studies due to sampling methods and definitions of brown shades. But most surveys have found brown hair in 1-4% of native Koreans with no hair dye.
Differences between North and South Korea
When looking at all of Korea, there are some differences in hair color distribution between North and South Korea.
South Korea has had more external migration and integration with other ethnicities over the past century. This means there is likely more hair color diversity in South Korea.
One study of a South Korean population found 5.1% had dark brown hair and 1.1% had light brown hair. Meanwhile, a survey of North Korean defectors found only 2.2% had any shade of brown hair.
This suggests brown hair is rarer among North Koreans. South Korea’s higher brown hair rates could be due to some recent mixing with non-Koreans. The North has been more isolated, leading to less hair color diversity.
Hair dyeing in Korea
While some Koreans are naturally born with brown hair, it has also become fashionable to dye hair lighter shades in South Korea.
Hair dyeing has become extremely popular, especially among young Korean women. In one survey, over 65% of South Korean women in their 20s reported having dyed hair.
The most popular choices tend to be brown shades, ash browns, and lighter brunette colors. Fashionable Korean women frequently wear short cropped cuts dyed in these soft brown tones.
So on the streets of South Korea today, brown hair is becoming a very common sight. But this reflects youth fashion trends rather than natural genetics, since most Koreans are still born with pure black hair.
Reasons for dyeing trends
There are several reasons lighter brown hair has caught on as a popular dye choice:
- It provides a soft, fresh look compared to jet black hair.
- It gives a sense of modern fashionableness associated with Western culture.
- It is easier to maintain than very light colors that require frequent bleaching and dyeing.
- It flatters a range of skin tones.
For these reasons, warm brown has become the “it girl” hair shade of the moment in South Korea. Black hair is classic, but brownish hues are seen as chic and stylish.
Differences across age groups
The prevalence of dyed brown hair varies greatly by age group in Korea. While extremely popular among women under 30, it remains less common among middle-aged and older Koreans.
One study found that less than 5% of Korean women over 50 had dyed hair. But around 75% of women under 30 had dyed locks. Most often a lighter brown shade.
The older generation tends to prefer maintaining their natural black hair. But brown dyeing is now seen as fashionable among female university students and young workers.
So in many Korean families, the daughter may have short, cropped brown hair while the mother has long, sleek black tresses. The generation gap in hair trends is quite noticeable.
Differences between men and women
Hair dyeing also remains much more popular among women than men in South Korea. The same study found less than 3% of Korean men over age 40 had dyed hair.
However, shaggy brown hair is becoming trendy among some younger Korean men as K-pop star styles catch on. An “oppa” style with dyed brown locks is seen by some as chic and stylish.
So while still uncommon, brown dyeing is certainly rising in popularity among men. But it remains overwhelmingly a women’s fashion trend for now.
Conclusion
In summary, brown hair does naturally occur in a small percentage of Koreans due to genetic diversity. But the high numbers of women with brown hair today are largely due to the popularity of hair dyeing, especially among younger generations seeking fresh, stylish looks. For now, brown remains the “it” girl hair color in South Korea.
| Category | Brown Hair % |
|---|---|
| Natural hair color | 1-4% |
| South Korea | 5-6% |
| North Korea | 2.2% |
| Women under 30 | 75% |
| Women over 50 | Less than 5% |
| Men over 40 | Less than 3% |
References
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