There are many sides to mental health, with our genes, biology, lifestyle factors, and social conditions all thought to play a role. In a 2023 literature review published in the Journal of Depression and Anxiety, researchers analyzed the relationship between hair color and symptoms of anxiety and depression. One study found that people with black or dark brown hair were more prone to depression and depressive symptoms of greater severity. Having lighter hair, on the other hand, was more closely correlated with anxiety.
The researchers proposed several theories for this outcome, citing melanin’s involvement in the release of serotonin — a neurotransmitter known to influence mood — as one potential mechanism. On the other hand, the relationship between light hair and anxiety may be explained by the fact that sun damage and a lack of vitamin D, two factors that may contribute to anxiety and depression, tend to more often affect those with blonde hair. These findings have not been consistent across the board, however, with other research having found no such connection between hair color and mental health disorders.