Columbia, Mo. (Oct. 2, 2006) — Some African-American stars have been ridiculed for trying to lighten their skin color, but many Caucasians go to tanning salons to darken their skin. A new study by Missouri School of Journalism researcherCynthia Frisbyfound that people perceive a light brown skin tone to be more physically attractive than a pale or dark skin tone.
“Does a person’s skin color alone impact whether others perceive her as physically attractive? Advertisers want their models to be perceived as attractive so that consumers will buy their product, and previous studies have found that black models used in advertisem*nts frequently are fair-skinned and have more European features. I wanted to test skin color separately to find out whether it’s important to perceptions of beauty. I found that without regard to physical features, people prefer light brown skin over dark brown skin or pale skin,” said Frisby, associate professor of strategic communication at the School.
For the study, photographs of four female models were adjusted using computer software. Each model was imaged in three different skin tones – light, medium and dark – but all other features remained the same. Frisby asked 79 female participants to evaluate a selection of the photographs, which they believed were for an upcoming advertising campaign. Frisby analyzed the responses and discovered that participants, of whom 45 were Caucasian and 34 were African American, found the light brown skin tone most attractive.
These findings might impact how advertisers use African-American models. Some advertisers have worried that using African-American models for mainstream products might alienate potential Caucasian buyers, Frisby said, but this study shows Caucasians and African Americans react in similar ways to light, medium and dark shades of skin tone.
“Since the mid-1960s, many advertisers have been in a dilemma regarding the use of blacks in advertisem*nts,” Frisby said. “Many considered using blacks in advertisem*nts to appeal to a growing black target audience but were concerned that use of blacks might alienate white consumers. Fortunately for advertisers and advertising agencies, research shows that white consumers react to black models in advertisem*nts in almost exactly the same way as black consumers react. It seems that both groups prefer the light brown skin tone, whether it’s a tan Caucasian or a light-skinned African American.”
The study, “‘Shades of Beauty’: Examining the Relationship of Skin Color to Perceptions of Physical Attractiveness,” was published in the August issue of the journal Facial Plastic Surgery.
Participants indicated that models with a medium level tan appeared most attractive and healthiest, with those who had no tan appearing least attractive and healthy. Males preferred darker tans more than women. A similar study found that males not only rated dark tans as more attractive (vs.
Frisby analyzed the responses and discovered that participants, of whom 45 were Caucasian and 34 were African American, found the light brown skin tone most attractive.
According to a study called “Shades of beauty,” light brown skin tones are often the most physically attractive skin color (Frisby et al., 2006). They used four models for that study. They did not change the skin tone, but they imaged each model to three different skin tones: light, medium, and dark.
Sure, lighter colors will naturally make you look more tanned but, if you're on the bronzer side of things, black will equally highlight your hard work. While the rest of your crew are wearing white, a solid black shirt or tee will make your tan stand out in a much more sophisticated manner.
The glow provided by a tan can make a face look more vibrant and therefore youthful. A tan can also help make muscles look more toned and more well defined. Today, having a tan is associated with people that have an active, outdoor lifestyle. A tan therefore makes people look healthier and fit.
The researchers found that the darker version was twice as likely to be rated as more attractive. Of course, tan enthusiasts would say that you don't need science to figure that one out. "When I look in the mirror I feel more attractive when I'm darker, like my face is prettier.
Black phenotypes (combinations of dark skin tone and Afrocentric facial features) were rated as more attractive than White phenotypes (combinations of light skin tone and Eurocentric facial features); ambiguous faces (combinations of Afrocentric and Eurocentric physiognomy) with medium levels of skin tone were rated as ...
RED VS BLACK: As per Kramer, “Red is traditionally seen as the colour of love, but more recently research has shown that both black and red are perceived as equally attractive and that the two colours may simply increase attractiveness in different ways.”
Psychologist Andrew J. Elliot tested to see if the color of a person's clothing could make them appear more sexually appealing. He found heterosexual men and women dressed in red were significantly more likely to attract romantic attention than women dressed in any other color.
Diet plays a large role in keeping skin beautiful and fresh. Japan, China and other countries located in Asia have a rich diet of vitamins (specifically A and C, which benefit skin elasticity) and minerals including antioxidants from fruits and green tea. The Asian diet is very low in saturated and total fat.
Dark skin doesn't equal unattractive. Being overweight, bad oral and body hygiene, not taking good care of your skin, and unflattering outfits are some qualities that can make a woman be perceived as unattractive. It is important to know what makes you uniquely beautiful and play up on that.
Estonians, hands down, are the whitest people on the planet earth. Per capita, there are more natural blonds and fair-skinned people in Estonia than anywhere else.
Black never fails to make you look slim and elegant. Darker shades of colors like blue, purple and brown can also help to hide flaws and create a slimming illusion. On the other hand, lighter colors, like white and khaki, can add pounds and give the illusion of a larger frame.
Here's a quick guide: Light Pastels: Soft pinks, baby blues, and mint greens are great. They create a gentle contrast that can brighten your complexion. Bright Whites: Nothing beats a crisp white for making tan skin stand out and seem lighter.
Choose warm blue-greens to make your tan glow. To make your tan appear darker, wear lighter shades of blue. Pick out citrus and fruity colors. Colors like orange, yellow, and lime green look great on people with golden skin tones.
Earlier, pale skin was often perceived as a mark of beauty, wealth, and refinement, whereas tanned skin was considered to be typical of manual laborers. In the early 20th century, European and American women took precautions to maintain a light skin tone.
As such, in some cultural settings, a tan is perceived as desirable as it is associated with a healthy glow and hence its aesthetics are appreciated. In other cultural contexts, a tan is avoided as it connotes lower social status.
The general rule of thumb is that skin with cool undertones look best with greys, browns, blues, greens and purples. Skin with warm undertones look best with either bright or light colors. And skin with neutral undertones looks great in bold, bright colors.
In this case, the colours you can opt for consist of high contrast tints to balance well the dark tone of the skin. For example, bright tints like coral, bright red, peach and bright turquoise are perfect to enhance the brightness of this skin tone.
Introduction: My name is Chrissy Homenick, I am a tender, funny, determined, tender, glorious, fancy, enthusiastic person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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