The Dark Side

Photographer Cecil Beaton had been trying to arrange the shoot for three months, but she still turned up an hour and 15 minutes late at a suite in New York's Ambassador hotel. According to Beaton, the blonde bombshell squealed with delight and leapt onto the sofa putting a flower stem into her mouth and pretending to smoke it. I get the impression he wasn't too impressed with her avant garde nature. Pictured laughing into a cushion with apparent abandon, her slightly puffy eyes smile back at the camera. Marilyn Monroe was the ultimate blonde and dated a string of high profile men, yet her dark haired co-stars pocketed fatter wage packets. Now, in the midst of a recession, blonde women are dyeing their hair brown to be taken more seriously in the office. Twenty first century screen siren Scarlett Johansson kick started the trend by adopting a more sober shade. Researchers (or rather Superdrug staff handing out surveys) found 62 per cent of people think brunettes look more professional than blondes in the workplace. This has led to fair headed women darkening their locks - with the current economic climate partially to blame. The researchers found redheads have the most sex - enjoying a romp three times a week, compared to twice a week for brunettes. Blondes emerged as the most adventurous in the bedroom. Brushing the survey twaddle aside, I decided I wanted a change and it was after much debate (and without the aid of Superdrug's statistics) that I crossed over to the dark side. Whether it results in a fatter pay cheque remains to be seen.