Hair color has long affected humans' social perception of each other, so it's no surprise that people have gone to great lengths to alter their hair color throughout history – from putting red earth in their hair to risking scalp burns from peroxide.

Natural Hair Colors

Two pigments give hair its natural color - eumelanin and pheomelanin. Eumelanin can be black or brown, and determines the darkness of hair color. Blonds have low concentrations of brown eumelanin, while brunettes have a high concentration of the pigment. Black hair contains more black eumelanin, while a low concentration of black eumelanin results in gray hair. The second type of pigment, pheomelanin, is red. Redheads, of course, have hair containing more pheomelanin than those with other hair colors; however, all human hair contains pheomelanin in varying concentrations.

Black Hair
By far the most common natural hair color, black hair occurs in people of all backgrounds and ethnicities.

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Brown Hair
Brown hair is also found all over the world, and is popularly associated with intelligence, trustworthiness, and success.

Blond Hair
Natural blond hair is relatively rare, due to its association with recessive genes. It can range in color from pale platinum to a dark golden shade, and occurs in approximately 2% of the world population, with the majority of natural blonds being of European descent. Since early Christian times, blond hair has been associated with being angelic and youth. Today, it is also associated with glamour.

Hailing from a region traditionally known for its abundant agriculture, Persian cuisine offers a diners a wide range of delicious dishes made with a stunning array of meats, vegetables, fresh and dried exotic fruits, yogurts and cheeses, beans, nuts, and seasonings. These are imaginatively incorporated into fragrant and unusual flavor combinations – you might find pomegranates paired with duck, or candied orange peels and sour cherries in rich meat stews.

by Chewy Chua

Iranian chefs have a rich variety of fruits and several herbs and spices to choose from when garnishing their dishes. Saffron, cinnamon, parsley, onions, garlic, turmeric, and cardamom – to name a few – can be found in many Persian recipes. However, this cuisine is known for its subtlety and is never overpowering – even the use of garlic is limited in order to avoid offending fellow diners.

by Niall McAuley

by zoyachubby

by pietroizzo

Diwali, the major Indian and Nepalese festive holiday, was celebrated just a week ago. With the vibrant colors from this wonderful cultural day still fresh in our minds, we'll take a look at its significance and traditions.

The holiday is celebrated by Hindus, Jains, and Sikhs the world over. Also known as the Festival of Light, it gets its name from the Sanskrit word deepavali, which translates literally to "rows of clay lamps". Though the stories and myths behind Diwali vary across regions, Diwali is everywhere a celebration of the victory of good over evil. It is generally celebrated in October or November, but exact dates vary across cultures and communities. In 2007, it was celebrated on November 9.

by acdme

Diwali festivities are spread over multiple days in some regions, during which celebrants explode fireworks, share sweets, and send greetings to friends and family. Women may have their hands decorated with henna designs. Homes are decorated with small lamps and colorful paper lanterns called diyas and kandils, important parts of Diwali decorations. In some parts of India, Hindus also create rangoli, intricate floor paintings made of colored tikka powder or sand. Rangoli designs are made up of an unbroken line, the idea being that there should be no gaps through which evil spirits can enter. Motifs are usually natural – animals, flowers, etc.— though they can also include geometric patterns.

by teachICT

by Kaushal Karkhanis

Thailand is a country rich in color, and its cuisine is no exception. With its exotic amalgam of flavors and styles, Thai food is popular in many Western countries. Though the cuisine actually consists of four distinct regional styles (Northern, Northeastern, Central, and Southern), Thai meals all share a a philosophy of balance among the five fundamental flavors – hot, sour, sweet, salty, and bitter. The result is a colorful dining experience.

Colors of Thai Dishes

by OceanBlue-AU

Pad thai is perhaps one of the best-known Thai dishes. It is usually made with stir-fried rice noodles, eggs, fish sauce, sugar, and tamarind pulp combined with a variety of vegetables or meat. In Thailand, it is sold everywhere from the highest-end restaurants to the smallest street vendor.

by madhatrk

Som tum is a crunchy, spicy salad made with grated green papaya, chopped tomatoes, whole beans, chilies, pounded garlic, fish sauce, sugar, peanuts, and lime juice. Variations can be found throughout the country made with salted black crab, dried shrimp, salted fish, or white eggplant.