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Fink B, Liebner K, Müller AK, et al. Hair Color and Skin Color Together Influence Perceptions of Age, Health, and Attractiveness in Lightly-Pigmented, Young Women. Int J Cosmet Sci. 2018;doi: 10.1111/ics.12467.
Fink, B., Liebner, K., Müller, A. K., Hirn, T., McKelvey, G., & Lankhof, J. (2018). Hair Color and Skin Color Together Influence Perceptions of Age, Health, and Attractiveness in Lightly-Pigmented, Young Women. International journal of cosmetic science, . https://doi.org/10.1111/ics.12467
Fink, Bernhard, et al. "Hair Color and Skin Color Together Influence Perceptions of Age, Health, and Attractiveness in Lightly-Pigmented, Young Women." International journal of cosmetic science vol. (2018). doi: https://doi.org/10.1111/ics.12467
Fink B, Liebner K, Müller AK, Hirn T, McKelvey G, Lankhof J. Hair Color and Skin Color Together Influence Perceptions of Age, Health, and Attractiveness in Lightly-Pigmented, Young Women. Int J Cosmet Sci. 2018 May 17; doi: 10.1111/ics.12467. Epub 2018 May 17. PMID: 29772598.
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Int J Cosmet Sci. 2018 May 17; doi: 10.1111/ics.12467. Epub 2018 May 17.

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

International journal of cosmetic science

Bernhard Fink, Katharina Liebner, Ann-Kathrin Müller, Thomas Hirn, Graham McKelvey, John Lankhof

Affiliations

  1. Department of Behavioral Ecology, University of Goettingen, Goettingen, Germany.
  2. Hanse-Wissenschaftskolleg, Institute for Advanced Study, Delmenhorst, Germany.
  3. Faculty of Biology and Psychology, University of Goettingen, Goettingen, Germany.
  4. HFC Prestige Service Germany GmbH, Darmstadt, Germany.

PMID: 29772598 DOI: 10.1111/ics.12467

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: 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.

METHODS: 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.

RESULTS: 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.

CONCLUSION: We conclude that hair color and facial skin color together have an effect on perceptions of female age, health, and attractiveness in young women, and we discuss these findings with reference to the literature on the role of hair and skin in the assessment of female physical appearance. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Keywords: hair color; lightness; perception; skin color; skin tan

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