Who Says Blondes Have More Fun? 19th Century Ladies Chose Red!

  by Kimberly Grist 

Auburn hair has long been admired for its beauty, as displayed in the works of Titian (Tiziano Vecellio), noted as the greatest painter of the 16th century. His work produced paintings featuring beautiful women with auburn hair, later known as ‘Titian red.’ Other great artists during the Renaissance featured the same vibrant shade, influencing ladies to dye and bleach their hair for centuries.


Madonna and Child
Titian (Tiziano Vecellio)

Since statistically, less than 2% of the population was born with the shade of red, perhaps the uniqueness of the color inspired many of the world's most famous painters to feature women with the vibrant shade. Below are a few of the famous examples:

Lady Lilith, Dante Gabriel Rossetti (1866-1868)

La Ghirlandata, Dante Gabriel Rossetti (1873)

Who Says Blondes Have More Fun

By the Victorian era, the passion for auburn hair increased, and ladies sought to duplicate the desired color. Western women would mix henna powder to create their own shades of red. The term "to henna" became synonymous with dying one's hair, and boxes of “black henna,” “red henna,” “blonde henna,” and “neutral henna” were sold.

The above-pictured European woman of the 1880s is admiring the results after she has hennaed her hair, her soles, and her nails.

Untitled portrait by Jules Frederic Ballavoine (1855-1901)

Does She or Doesn't She?

It's easy to see why the ladies of the time were inspired to dye and bleach their hair, attempting to replicate the beauty of lovely women with pale skin and ‘Titian red’ hair. My upcoming new release features two brides: one born a natural red-head, and the other enhances her locks with henna. Our true bride is incensed that her intended doesn't seem to know the difference.

New Release: Book 14 in the Double Trouble Series
Coming Soon: March 15th 

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CRHVJCVW

As I write, my secondary characters often take on a life of their own as if crying out and demanding their own story. Such is the case for the loveable Sheriff Hiram Hartman. Hiram first appeared in Ace's Tenacious Bride as the brother-in-law of our card-playing, cigar-smoking railroad detective, Ace Caldwell. Later, he appeared in A Match for Gabe, where we last left him waiting for an update on the arrival of his mail-order bride. Poor Hiram, it seems like he's been waiting forever and now he's got double trouble.


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Fans of historical romance set in the late 19th century will enjoy stories combining, History, Humor, and Romance with an emphasis on Faith, Friends, and Good Clean Fun,

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