There is nothing that black people can’t pull off! Their beautiful melanin skin acts as a great canvas for a lot of styles, be it in the wardrobe department or hair. Even the blonde hair that is usually associated with Europeans is easily pulled off by celebrities like Beyonce or Niki Minaj. And don’t they look just fabulous?
But are you wondering, can black people have blonde hair? The short answer is yes.
The Melanesian people, a black population from the Soloman Islands, are known to fascinate a lot of experts with their stunning and natural blonde hair. But how widespread is it, and how did they get it naturally?
The true answer is that no one knows. However, there are different theories and explanations for the presence of blonde hair among Melanesians. Did you know that only 2% of the world’s population is naturally blonde? And Melanesians are the only people on the planet that are naturally black blondes! Isn’t that incredible?
Keep reading to find out more!
Melanesians – The Black People with Blonde Hair
Melanesians are the native people of the Melanesian region, which is a subregion of Oceania located in the Southwestern Pacific Ocean. The title “Melanesia” stems from the Greek word for “black islands,” referring to the area’s dark-skinned population.
The Solomon Islands are one of the several island groupings that make up the Melanesian region.
The Solomon Islands are an independent island nation located 1800 kilometers northeast of Australia, consisting of six large islands and approximately 900 smaller islands in Oceania to the east of Papua New Guinea.
The Solomon Islanders (approximately 10% of the population) are recognized for their beautiful blonde hair. Because blonde hair is generally associated with Europeans, many tourists visiting the Soloman Islands believe that the inhabitants have colored their hair!
But How Did Melanesians End up Having Blonde Hair?
There are many theories circulating around this question due to the fascination and spark it brings.
One popular theory holds that Melanesians acquired their distinctive blonde hair through gene flow from populations with blonde hair. This appears to be a reasonable answer, yet numerous scientists have refuted it.
This is because the variant gene responsible for blonde hair in Melanesians was discovered to be different from the gene responsible for blonde hair in other populations. This merely adds to the enigma surrounding the origins of Melanesians’ blonde hair.
Another popular theory given by the islanders themselves is that the blonde hair is due to high sun exposure and frequent fish intake. This explanation totally depends on the habitual and cultural behaviors of the islanders.
But there is no scientific study or discovery backing this theory about blonde Melanesians.
TYPR1: The Unique Gene in Melanesians
The Stanford University of Medicine researchers intended to investigate the scientific cause for Melanesians’ blonde hair. Carlos D. Bustamante, a genetic scientist at Stanford, and his team gathered DNA from multiple Solomon Island residents in 2012.
They used a light reflectance meter to examine skin color and hair, and they also gathered basic measurements such as blood pressure, height, and weight. The saliva sample was subsequently taken for DNA extraction, and within a month, Bustamante and his team had collected over 1,000 samples.
The researchers conducted an interesting examination by comparing data from 43 blonde Solomon Islanders against 42 dark-haired islanders. Finally, the researchers determined that the blonde volunteers had two copies of a mutant gene called TYPR1, which is found in 26% of the island population.
What’s more intriguing is that this unusual gene is unique to the Solomon Islands and is missing from European genomes.
About 10% of the people in the Soloman Islands have blonde hair, and it is especially common in children. Adults’ golden hair, like that of Europeans, sometimes goes away among the islanders as they age.
Do you know another interesting fact about Solomon Islanders is that the ratio of persons with naturally blonde hair to people with darker hair is about the same as the ratio between the same categories in Europeans?
Isn’t it merely the mystery of genomes that makes us wonder?
Direct Descendants of the First Homosapiens
Apart from being the only black people in the world with naturally blonde hair, Melanisians are related to the first group of homosapiens who moved from Africa 2000 years ago. This was discovered in a 2007 study done by researchers at Cambridge and Anglia Ruskin Universities.
The academics chose the population from New Guinea and Aboriginal Australians to conduct the research and analyzed their mitochondrial DNA and Y chromosome DNA to arrive at this conclusion.
A Culture That Values Women
Women wield enormous authority in Melanesian civilizations, and we can learn much from them. They are highly valued and cherished. Women hold dominating and inspiring roles in the majority of fields, such as agriculture, farming, domestic politics, healing and rituals, and maternity roles.
The Melanesian women are considered the driving force behind the survival of the islanders. Women are also prioritized for protection among the tribes. Women are associated with mother nature and treasured in such a way.
Freedom of Sexuality
The Melanesian culture is also very open-minded and has a forward approach to expressing one’s sexuality and choices. There exist single-sex groups within groups where homosexuality and even gender fluidity are openly practiced.
They are ritualistic and engage in a variety of acts involving the human body. This adds an enigma to their culture and displays their harmony with nature.
Melanesian people are incredibly fascinating, and they are people of various great cultures and unique traits. If you ever hear someone say black people cannot pull off blonde hair, now you know where to point them.
Did you enjoy reading about the world’s only black people with naturally blonde hair? We hope you did! If you are black and considering becoming blonde, we hope that after seeing stunning Melanesian people, you are completely inspired.
But are you lost on how to go blonde and are looking for an ultimate guide to style your hair golden? Fret not, and we’ve got you covered!
Styling Your Hair: Black to Blonde
Taking this bold decision to go from black to blonde can be a thrilling experience, and you can learn some serious styling processes along the road. We have listed the fun process of going from black to blonde through a few simple steps!
Let us get started!
STEP 1: Make Sure Your Hair is Healthy
This is the most important step and the first thing you should do. Going black to blonde requires bleaching, and that is why you need to make sure that your hair is healthy and well-nourished before you start the styling process to avoid unnecessary damage to your hair.
If your hair is brittle or weak, then bleaching can worsen this issue. You should deep condition your hair in the weeks leading up to the process.
STEP 2: Deep Condition Your Hair
If you value your hair, never skip this step. Simply follow our instructions to thoroughly condition your hair.
- Wash your hair beforehand. And, on damp hair, divide it into parts and hold them in place. This is done to ensure that each section receives adequate attention. Hair clips can be used to secure each piece of your hair.
- Take a good-quality deep conditioner and apply it to each section of your hair.
- Now, cover your hair with either plastic wrap or a hair steamer and wait for about 20 minutes.
- Finally, rinse your hair and apply style products.
STEP 3: Get All Your Products
Since you want to go from black to blonde, you will need to bleach your hair. The basic products you will need are hair bleach, a developer, toner (if necessary), gloves, an applicator brush, mixing bowls, clips, and a hair processing cap.
If you want an easy job, use a hair dye kit with detailed instructions.
Wear gloves and carefully read the instructions before mixing the dye kit’s products.
STEP 4: Do a Strand Test
You can skip this step if you are totally confident about the dye kit.
If this is your first time, we recommend performing a strand test by applying dye or bleach to a tiny portion of your hair and waiting for the results to determine whether the product is appropriate for you.
STEP 5: Start Applying the Dye
Now comes the exciting part that is going to make you feel like a hair specialist!
- First, use a towel or a nylon cape to prevent the bleach from damaging your clothes. Make sure that you are not wearing any jewelry on your neck or ears.
- Now, part your hair into sections: a minimum of four.
- Take the hairbrush provided in the kit and apply it to each section of your hair by carefully reading the instructions given in the kit box.
- Leave the dye on the hair for the recommended time.
STEP 6: Shampoo and Condition Your Hair
For this step, you will need a shampoo that is suitable for colored hair.
Use shampoo to cleanse your hair thoroughly. Use cold water to see if all of the color has been washed out of your hair. To restore moisture to your hair, apply a deep conditioner, let it remain for a few minutes, and then rinse well.
Well, that’s all there is to go from black to blonde!
If you are still unsure how to style your blonde hair properly, consult a hair specialist and get the best style for your look. Usually, colored hair requires regular maintenance and styling. And it will be a great experience to keep up with such a fabulous look.
Be Bold! That is, you!
You now have the definitive answer to the question, “Can black people have blonde hair?” Melanesians are the ultimate retort to those who believe black people can never pull off blonde hair.
Not only do lovely people from the Solomon Islands have naturally blonde hair, but their hair genome is entirely indigenous to their homeland and is a truly unique attribute.
When styling your hair blonde, you can get inspired by golden-haired people from the Solomon Islands, or you can also get inspired by many lovely and talented black celebrities. Make sure that you also style your dress accordingly!
Did you enjoy reading our article and discovering how diverse and fascinating our world is? Let us know in the comments what attribute you loved the most about the beautiful Melanesians.
Also, let us know how going blonde is working out for you.
