Olivia Wilde On Hair Color: 'The Perception Of Brunettes Being More Intellectual Persists'

Olivia Wilde: 'The Perception Of Brunettes Being More Intellectual Persists'

There are scientific studies proving the merits (and downsides) of every hair color under the sun -- blondes get paid more, brunettes make "better wives," redheads are seen as less attractive, etc.

No one study can objectively prove that one hair color is better than the next. But women who have tried out multiple hues can tell us what their experiences were like. Are you really treated differently when you switch between blonde, brunette and red?

Celebrities are. Olivia Wilde opened up to Into The Gloss about her experiences with hair color, confirming that blonde and brunettes are indeed treated differently in showbiz:

"I spent the first couple years of my career as a very blonde blonde. And then I went brunette for a role, and suddenly all my offers changed -- the types of roles people approached me with totally changed. When I was really blonde, it was always like, ‘The really pretty girl,’ or ‘The sexy hot chick.’ At that point in my career, it was all lame pilots -- those were the types of roles I was going for. And then, when I was on The O.C., it was like, ‘she’s punk-y!’ I had a purple streak in my hair, and I was the ‘punky girl.’ And then when I went brunette, the roles went to more, ‘She’s a waitress with a heart of gold, and a tough life,’ or ‘She’s a doctor.’ And I always wondered -- would I have been offered those roles had I still been blonde? I don’t think so.

I think the perception of brunettes being more intellectual persists. Even though it makes no sense! I mean, Hilary [sic] Clinton is very, very blonde! And when I went from being blonde for a long time to brunette, I felt like I was invisible, because you’d walk into a room, and nobody immediately looks at you. When you’re blonde, it’s like you have a giant highlighter on your head; people can’t help but stare. So, it definitely changes how people think of you."

"I feel like redheads," added Wilde, "are perceived immediately to be kind of sassy and sultry, or at least uniquely… I don’t know, just a little more sassy."

Wilde is not the first celeb to open up about her hair color change. Emma Stone has said that she was only offered certain roles as a blonde as opposed to a wide range of parts after she went brunette. Brittany Snow also said that when she was blonde, people acted differently around her. “There’s a misconception that blondes are a little bit slower," Snow admitted.

But that doesn't stop stars from changing their hair color faster than you can say "dye job." Just this year, we've seen Britney Spears, Sofia Vergara and Ashley Benson hit the dye bottle, not to mention all the stars who've changed their hair for a movie role.

But we haven't had every hair color in the book. Tell us what you think: In your experience, do the stereotypes about blondes, brunettes and redheads still exist? Did you get treated differently when you changed your hair color? Sound off in the comments and read more of Wilde's interview at IntoTheGloss.com.

See stars who've toggled between blonde, brown, red and more:

Anna Kendrick

Celebrities Who've Changed Hair Color

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