Has anyone ever noticed that almost every commercial contains a redhead?.. Well I did! Whether it's in the background or as a lead role there's always a redhead somewhere.
Let me show you 3 obvious examples;
Let me show you 3 obvious examples;
Crazy right? Cause in real life Redheads are pretty rare.
a recent analysis found that 11% of the actors who appeared in prime-time TV ads were redheads. The most common estimate is that only 1% to 2% of the entire population has red hair, which means:
"Redheads are more common to see on TV than on the street."
So why are these commercials all showing redheads? First reason I can think of is because we’re just strikingly gorgeous. But there is probably more to it.
The analysis found two possible explanations for redheads’ over representation.
1. Advertisers show redheads because the color red is associated with sexual attraction.
2. Redheads’ rarity and uniqueness activates a part of our brain, and draws attention of the viewers
The first explanation is not very convincing. While the power of the color red has been made clear -Men find women more attractive when they're dressed in red, women find images of men more attractive when they're on a red background and waitresses wearing red make more tips from men than those who wear white - there’s a lot of research that shows people find redheads less attractive. Kind off sucks.. I know, But the authors of these researches say that the aversion against redheads is perhaps a result of the negative stereotypes of red hair. So there’s hope! Since these negative stereotypes are dying out.
The second theory, that marketers know the novelty of seeing a redhead will draw the attention of the viewers, is a bit more truthful. When people see something they know to be rare or unique, it cues a desire to inspect it more closely, something advertisers are eager to profit from. So, even if people are not attracted to redheads, they might be moved to action by it.
Moral of the story:
“Blondes are noticed but Redheads are remembered”
Point made.
a recent analysis found that 11% of the actors who appeared in prime-time TV ads were redheads. The most common estimate is that only 1% to 2% of the entire population has red hair, which means:
"Redheads are more common to see on TV than on the street."
So why are these commercials all showing redheads? First reason I can think of is because we’re just strikingly gorgeous. But there is probably more to it.
The analysis found two possible explanations for redheads’ over representation.
1. Advertisers show redheads because the color red is associated with sexual attraction.
2. Redheads’ rarity and uniqueness activates a part of our brain, and draws attention of the viewers
The first explanation is not very convincing. While the power of the color red has been made clear -Men find women more attractive when they're dressed in red, women find images of men more attractive when they're on a red background and waitresses wearing red make more tips from men than those who wear white - there’s a lot of research that shows people find redheads less attractive. Kind off sucks.. I know, But the authors of these researches say that the aversion against redheads is perhaps a result of the negative stereotypes of red hair. So there’s hope! Since these negative stereotypes are dying out.
The second theory, that marketers know the novelty of seeing a redhead will draw the attention of the viewers, is a bit more truthful. When people see something they know to be rare or unique, it cues a desire to inspect it more closely, something advertisers are eager to profit from. So, even if people are not attracted to redheads, they might be moved to action by it.
Moral of the story:
“Blondes are noticed but Redheads are remembered”
Point made.