On Blondes

Rating:
Summary: Finally the blonde stereotypes are explained!
Review: As a blonde, I of course just had to buy and read this book. I was definitely not sorry.

It is easy reading and, more importantly, it is truly interesting. Ms. Pitman traces the history of the blonde, a subject that she points out has been taboo in the past due to Hitler's fascination with just this subject. It is interesting to discover where I would fit at different points in history. At some points, I would be considered a goddess, the symbol of purity; at others, I would be considered the most vile of temptresses. (Obviously, either choice seems appealing in its own way!)

I think blondes would probably find this book most interesting, however, brunettes and redheads may be able to appreciate it also. If you take an interest in popular culture and why we believe what we believe, this is definitely a work you should consider adding to your library.

Rating:
Summary: Fascinating investigation
Review: I think many of my fellow reviewers are missing the point - the author is not making a wild statement in saying that there is a mystique to blondes, she is exploring a historical phenomenon. No one is denying the beauty of red or any other color hair, it's just that blonde does have sociological baggage attached to it - and for those who have a problem with the idea that bleached blondes are included, they're proving this argument, for why do so many people bleach their hair if there isn't a certain mystique to blonde?
That said, the author does a wonderful job exploring this. The language is clear, the examples good, the subject truly fascinating. An excellent read for those sociologically minded, whatever haircolor they are.

Rating:
Summary: Left a Lasting Impression, Educational
Review: Joanna Pitman has given us everything we wanted to know about blonde hair and some stuff we didn't. On Blondes is about the people who love it, those who desire it, those who fake it, those who steal it, those who envy it, those who paint it, those who write about it, and those who kill in the name of it. She follows the allure of blonde hair through time from the days of Aphrodite to modern day Hollywood.

Each chapter directs the reader through the seductive seven lives of Blonde hair from the Dark Ages to present day. Pitman teaches the extremes that the Romans and Greeks and succeeding generations went to for blonde curls. This self-abuse for blonde went on for centuries to the detriment of health and scalp. Substances as natural as saffron and as toxic as ammonia, bleach and the aforementioned goat urine were used to achieve the desired shade of blonde.

The zest for blonde has not always been positive; in fact most of it seemed quite negative. "Blonde hair was highly divisive and provoked extreme reactions." Nowhere is this more apparent than during Hitler's reign. Pitman's journey into Teutonic and Aryan history is informative and answered many questions for me on the German philosophy of Blonde hair/blue eyed superiority and how Hitler managed to promote it despite his dark colouring; propaganda. After World War II the world knew of Germany's love of blonde hair.
This book reads like a weekly dose of the History channel with each chapter being a new episode in the series of events. In some areas she seems to ramble off topic, going on about relationships or other personal quirks of the personalities. The history of the white flour wigs drags on long after the main idiosyncrasies were driven home.

In the afterword Pitman states she approached "several American women academics," on the study potential of blondeness and they "refused to discuss it at all." Perhaps a sign that they are embarrassed they didn't discover the topic themselves. I'm sure Pitman's On Blondes will be a text in future feminine study.

On Blondes left a lasting impression on me. I've begun to question every form of blondeness that I see. From a blonde perspective this is an informative book but I wonder if there would be the same interest with the brunettes and redheads of the world. And for those who may be wondering, yes it is natural.

Review Originally Posted at http://www.linearreflections.com

Rating:
Summary: On Bleached Brunettes
Review: Joanna Pitman's book "On Blondes" continues the absurdity of using the name Blonde for Brunettes that are bleached.

Brunettes are not Blonde. Bleached hair is not Blonde hair. Bleached Brunette women are not Blonde women.

A book that was actually about Blondes would not include Bleached Brunettes.

[e-mail]

Rating:
Summary: On Bleached Brunettes
Review: Joanna Pitman's book "On Blondes" continues the absurdity of using the name Blonde for Brunettes that are bleached.

Brunettes are not Blonde. Bleached hair is not Blonde hair. Bleached Brunette women are not Blonde women.

A book that was actually about Blondes would not include Bleached Brunettes.

[e-mail]

Rating:
Summary: put the bleach down.....
Review: people need to stop harshing on blondes. i've had my hair every imaginable color, red for years, and resisted being a natural blonde because i hated the stereotypes. so now if people dont like my hair color the way it is, thats too bad. you could just as well write an intelligent book about the history of redheads, there is alot of stereotype and mystique surrounding red hair as well. i found that i attracted the most fascinating people when i was a redhead! i also personally think that dark haired women are the most beautiful women in the world, probably because im a blonde and i cant pull off a dark hair color, i've tried... i just wish people wouldnt take this book personally! if i were to write a book about hair it would involve all colors. certainly there is alot of cultural and historical info about it. mary magdalene is actually more often described as a redhead, queen elizabeth was red, not blonde! and red hair has always been associated with sorceresses...also how about snow white? i could go on, but ive made my point, i think. girls who are not blond may be hurt by this kind of book, but its also hurtful and depressing to be a blonde and have people stereotype you, cat call you, and hate you because of your hair.
ps blonde hair is not traditionally beautiful in all countries...

Rating:
Summary: Blonde and "Weird Looking Blondes"
Review: Very interesting book!

The author takes us on a trip into the whys, wheres, hows and whens. And her explanations satisfy our curiosity without being to scientific or overwhelming.

The reason I did not give this book 5 stars, is because she does not explain why so many women in the US dye their hair blond, when their facial features do not match the color? They just look plain "weird".

There is a degree of deception when you find out that the person you are talking to, is pretending to be something that nature never intended. As a rule of thumb, you should never color you hair more than two shades off your natural color. ( Jessica Simpson is a bad example of fake blond hair. The hair, eyes and facial features don't match).

Highlights can be OK, if done properly. ( J. Lo is a good example, she is a brunette with some hidden mulatto features, but those strawberry highlights work for her!)

If you travel in Denmark, Sweden and Finland, then you can certainly appreciate how natural blondes *SHOULD* look....