Posted: 8/23/2001
Just For Men(R) Haircolor Survey And Dr. Joy Browne Reveal Secrets To Great Dating
A healthy body . . . good grooming habits . . . an overall spiffy appearance - all of these traits have something in common. More often than not, they're the qualities that both men and women most desire in a partner. With September, Self-Improvement Month, right around the corner, there are some easy ways that men and women can polish their looks to improve their DATING success.
Head Over Heels
To determine what unmarried men and women look for in a mate, Just For Men Haircolor commissioned a nationwide "Great DATING" survey, conducted via the Internet by National Family Opinion (NFO) Research, Inc. Five hundred women ages 30-49 and 500 men ages 35-54 were surveyed.
The survey found that men without gray hair are perceived as more successful at DATING than their gray-haired contemporaries. When shown photos of the same man with and without gray hair, in at least four out of five instances, men and women selected the man without gray as a better "Romeo," stating that the darker-haired men looked more confident and healthier.
When it comes to DATING success, clinical psychologist, DATING expert and popular radio and television talk show host Dr. Joy Browne agrees that a person's hair can play an important role in the DATING game.
"Hair nowadays symbolizes a wide range of personal traits, including vitality, success, youth and sexuality - it's our crowning glory," says Browne, author of DATING For Dummies(R). "It can have a real emotional impact on the mating ritual we call DATING. It's simple - if your hair looks great, you feel great."
Color Me Beautiful
When it comes to increasing physical appeal, women are more inclined to actively work to improve their looks. While 55 percent of the men and women surveyed are working out to increase their DATING odds, many women also admit to changing their hairstyles (46 percent) and covering their gray hair (39 percent) to enhance their sex appeal.
Women feel that it is acceptable for men to cover their gray hair as well. More than 57 percent felt that it was okay for men to color their gray hair to bolster their self-confidence. According to one female respondent, "I think it makes a lot of men appear younger looking and shows they take time to improve their appearance."
Of the men surveyed, almost one-third said that they have made changes to their hair, including changing their hairstyle and coloring their hair, to enhance their overall appearance and self-confidence. An additional 15 percent are considering coloring their hair to improve their DATING odds.
"Coloring away gray hair is a very easy way for men to take years off their looks and give their image a boost," says Dominic DeMain, senior vice president of marketing, Combe Inc. "Just For Men Haircolor works in only five minutes to blend away gray and rejuvenate hair with natural-looking results."
Only Have Eyes for You
Everyone knows that when it comes to catching someone's eye, first impressions are important. Both men and women cited physique as one of the first characteristics they notice in others. Forty-four percent of men said that a person's body type is the first feature they notice. More women tend to first notice another person's sparkling eyes (32 percent) before his or her build (21 percent).
"First impressions count," Browne says. "Fortunately, you don't have to spend a lot of money or win a makeover to improve your look. You just have to be realistic about what you can and cannot change. For example, men and women can easily change their wardrobes, hairstyle or haircolor."
What Men and Women Want
Beyond first impressions, what men and women want most in a mate is someone who knows the importance of looking and feeling good. While men may first notice a person's physique, 76 percent of the men surveyed noted that the attribute most important to them in a mate is to be healthy looking. After admiring someone's baby blues, women stressed the importance of proper grooming - 87 percent stated that it is important that their mate pay close attention to grooming details, with 70 percent of the women surveyed stating that they would prefer to date men without gray hair.
"Good grooming is an essential element of attraction," says Browne. "We live in an externally oriented society - before we can get to know someone, we visually evaluate a potential mate. Everyone wants to date someone who cares about his or her appearance."
He Loves Me, She Loves Me Not
When asked to describe their DATING bravery, men and women hold their ability to "wow" others in similar regard. Forty percent of men and 38 percent of women rated their confidence as average. However, almost one-third of respondents (27 percent) described their confidence as low or very low.
"Confidence equals sex appeal," Browne said. "If you find simple, easy and inexpensive ways to make yourself happier with yourself physically, then do it. Regardless of your age, economic circumstances or bone structure, with simple changes you can develop a personal look that sets you apart and improves your self-esteem, which is what ultimately makes a person desirable."
About Just For Men Haircolor
Combe Incorporated is a manufacturer of health and beauty products, including Just For Men(R) and Grecian 5(TM) Haircolor and Color Gel, Grecian(R) Formula Haircolor, Lanacane(R) Anti-Itch Creme, Odor-Eaters(R) foot care products, Vagisil(R) feminine care products and Sea-Bond(R) Denture Adhesive. Recently, Combe increased its denture care offerings with the acquisition of Denturite(R) and Plasti-Liner(R) Denture Cushions, Quik-Fix(R) Emergency Denture Repair Kit, Ban-A-Stain(R) Denture Cleanser and others, formerly owned and marketed by Brimms Inc. Combe, a privately held company founded in 1949, has its international headquarters in White Plains, NY.
All percentages are based on the number of men or women who answered each question.