Everyone wants a bright, white smile. When it comes to making your teeth look whiter, your hair color can actually play a role. Hair color creates an illusion that makes teeth appear more or less white. So what is the best hair color to really make your teeth pop?
How Hair Color Affects Perceived Whiteness of Teeth
Hair color affects the perceived whiteness of teeth due to something called complementary colors. Complementary colors are opposite each other on the color wheel. When placed side-by-side, they create strong visual contrast.
For example, red and green are complementary colors. Red hair and green eyes really stand out when next to each other due to the stark color contrast.
This same principle applies to hair color and teeth. The complement to white is black. So black hair makes white teeth stand out and appear whiter. Meanwhile, lighter hair colors like blonde and gray create less contrast with white teeth, making them appear dingier and less bright.
Hair Colors that Make Teeth Look Whiter
Here is a breakdown of how different hair colors impact the perceived whiteness of teeth:
Black Hair
Of all hair colors, black hair makes teeth look the whitest. The high contrast creates an illusion that teeth are brighter than they really are. Black hair absorbs light, making any reflection off the tooth surface stand out.
Many celebrities dye their hair black for this whitening effect. Singers like Katy Perry, Rihanna, and Nicki Minaj as well as actors like Megan Fox often opt for black hair to make their smiles dazzle.
Dark Brown Hair
Nearly as dark as black, dark brown hair also makes teeth look significantly whiter. Deep brunettes like Kim Kardashian and Beyonce Knowles enhance the appearance of their smile with this nearly-black hue. It provides flattering contrast against pearly whites.
Red Hair
Vibrant red hair has a whitening effect on teeth. Scarlett Johansson and Emma Stone have dazzling smiles that really pop against their red locks.
The bold color is eye-catching on its own. But it also makes teeth look whiter due to its placement on the opposite side of the color wheel from white.
Strawberry Blonde Hair
Strawberry blonde hair, sometimes described as “Venitian blond,” provides the right amount of contrast against teeth to make them look whiter. The golden red tone is brightening but not overpowering. Celebrities like Isla Fisher and Amy Adams use it to make their teeth dazzle.
Hair Colors that Make Teeth Look Less White
On the other side of the spectrum, some hair colors make teeth look dingy and yellow in comparison:
Platinum and Bleached Blonde Hair
Ultra light blonde and platinum hair provides little contrast against teeth. Pop stars like Taylor Swift, Lady Gaga, and Katy Perry are frequently criticized for their less-than-pearly smiles when rocking bleach blonde locks.
The super light tone washes them out, downplaying their tooth color instead of enhancing it. Stick with a honey or caramel blonde for a more flattering effect.
Ashy Blonde and Silver Hair
Hair colorists advise staying away from ash blonde and silver gray hues if your goal is a brighter smile. The muted, cool undertones create an illusion that teeth are more yellow than they really are. Stars like Kylie Jenner and Khloe Kardashian have been accused of yellow teeth against their ashy blonde and platinum hair.
Auburn Hair
While vibrant reds make teeth pop, softer auburn shades have the opposite effect. The subtle mix of red, brown and blonde hues blends more easily with off-white teeth. Madelaine Petsch of Riverdale is a prime example of how auburn hair can make teeth appear dingy and yellowish.
Tips for Making Your Teeth Look Whiter
While hair color plays a role, there are other steps you can take to enhance your smile:
Whitening Treatments
Professionally administered in-office whitening treatments use higher concentrations of bleaching agents to whiten significantly. Take-home whitening kits from your dentist are slower acting but still very effective at removing stains. And over-the-counter whitening strips gradually brighten your smile with daily use.
Avoid Staining Foods and Beverages
Coffee, tea, red wine and dark sodas can all stain your enamel. Limit consumption and drink with a straw to minimize contact with your teeth. Rinse with water after consuming them as well.
Brush After Staining Foods and Beverages
When you do indulge in staining foods and drinks, be sure to brush your teeth soon after consuming them. This prevents stains from setting on the enamel surface.
DIY Whitening Remedies
For natural whitening at home, try brushing with baking soda or diluted hydrogen peroxide. Use coconut oil pulling by swishing a tablespoon around your mouth for 10-20 minutes to lift stains. Rinse with freshly squeezed lemon juice for some mild bleaching. Just be careful not to overdo it, as acidic remedies can damage enamel over time.
See Your Dentist Regularly
Your dentist can give your teeth a professional cleaning to remove built-up stains from coffee, cigarettes, or other sources. They also check for cavities and other problems that could be making your teeth appear darker.
How Teeth Whiteness Changes with Age
As you age, your teeth tend to become less white. Here’s an overview of how teeth change over time:
Teens and 20s
Teeth naturally start becoming less white in your teenage years as the enamel thins and the yellowish dentin underneath shows through more. Whitening treatments can help keep teeth looking brighter during this time. Stay away from smoking, coffee, tea and red wine to avoid stains.
30s and 40s
Discoloration continues gradually during this stage of life. Pregnancy can also stain teeth temporarily due to increased acidity in the mouth. Monitor your oral hygiene and use whitening treatments occasionally to slow changes.
50s and Beyond
Tooth color tends to darken more rapidly from your 50s on due to thinner enamel and increased yellowing of dentin. Recessions can also expose more yellow root surfaces. Vigilant oral hygiene and professional whitening treatments help offset discoloration.
Seniors
Elderly individuals often experience significant tooth discoloration that can be difficult to reverse. The mouth produces less saliva, allowing more staining. Gums recede further, revealing yellow roots. Medications, dental work, and root canals also discolor teeth. Focus on preventing decay rather than achieving a perfect shade of white.
How Men vs Women’s Teeth Whiten Differently
Biological differences between men and women impact how their teeth respond to whitening treatments:
Enamel Thickness
Men’s teeth tend to have thicker enamel than women’s teeth. Thicker enamel means less dentin shows through, keeping men’s teeth whiter for longer before discoloration sets in.
Dentin Properties
Women’s dentin develops faster than men’s dentin, making it more porous. This means women’s teeth tend to yellow at a younger age. Their dentin more readily absorbs stains as well.
Permeability
The more permeable nature of women’s teeth also allows whitening gel to penetrate faster during bleaching treatments. Men require longer application times and sometimes higher concentrations of peroxide gels.
Whitening Results
Thanks to differences in enamel and dentin, whitening treatments tend to produce quicker, more noticeable results in women. Men need more time and effort to achieve the same level of whitening.
Sensitivity
Women tend to experience more sensitivity during and after whitening treatments. Their thinner enamel transmits sensations more readily to the dentin underneath. Men generally tolerate whitening procedures better.
How Food and Drink Impact Tooth Color
Beyond hair color, what you put in your mouth also affects your tooth shade. Here’s how different foods and beverages stain or whiten:
| Staining Foods and Drinks | Whitening Foods and Drinks |
|---|---|
| Coffee | Apples |
| Tea | Strawberries |
| Cola | Pineapples |
| Red wine | Carrots |
| Soy sauce | Oranges |
| Balsamic vinegar | Broccoli |
| Curry spices | Celery |
| Beets | Hard cheeses |
| Blueberries | Nuts |
| Cherries | Chicken |
Staining Foods and Drinks
Coffee, tea, dark sodas, red wine and soy sauce all contain deep color pigments that cling to tooth enamel. Acidic foods like berries, citrus fruits, vinegars and curries erode enamel so stains penetrate deeper.
Whitening Foods and Drinks
Crunchy fruits and vegetables help scrub stains away mechanically. Pineapple and strawberries contain enzymes that whiten. Dairy, nuts, chicken and other fibrous foods also help clean teeth naturally. Stay hydrated with plenty of water as well.
Hollywood Smiles: Celebrities Known for Their Perfect White Teeth
Which celebrities flash the whitest smiles in Hollywood? Here are the stars renowned for their pearly whites.
Julia Roberts
Julia Roberts is known for her megawatt smile, enhanced by a set of perfectly white teeth. Her dentist uses advanced procedures like dental contouring to achieve her picture-perfect look.
Morgan Freeman
Morgan Freeman’s smooth voice and skillful acting light up the screen. His radiant smile framed by a white beard and bright teeth adds to his charm. He opts for professional whitening treatments.
Taylor Swift
Taylor Swift flaunts an energetic, fun-loving image centered around her gleaming white teeth. She gets frequent dental veneers and whitening to stay picture ready for cameras.
Patrick Dempsey
Patrick Dempsey, aka Dr. McDreamy, won over Grey’s Anatomy fans with his handsome face and heartthrob smile. Vigilant oral hygiene helps him maintain his pearly whites.
Gwen Stefani
Singer Gwen Stefani powers up her vocals and pumping up the crowd with her glowing, white teeth. She uses strips and professional whitening touch-ups.
Conclusion
While no hair color transforms yellow teeth to paper white, black locks provide the most flattering contrast. Dark brown, red, and strawberry blonde also enable teeth to stand out more. Platinum blonde, gray and auburn hair make teeth appear more dingy. Beyond hair color, whitening treatments, oral hygiene, and avoiding stains keep your smile brighter. Men’s thicker enamel means their teeth tend to whiten less readily than women’s teeth. But diligent care pays off with whiter teeth for life.