The History of the Blonde Obsession

Every Thursday I have my on-site Italian Renaissance Rome class. Yesterday we were at the S. Maria Sopra Minevera church while I learned a very interesting tid bit that seemed to be very applicable to my situation here in Rome. My professor was explaining how back in the 14th and 15th century blonde hair represented the highest level of attraction because it was such a rare attribute in southern Europe (and still is).  Anyone who had blonde hair must have been wealthy or an angelic figure hence why Mary, Jesus, saints, or any esteemed person was painted with blonde hair during the Renaissance time period whether that was their true hair color or not. So if you ever wondered why a child representation of Jesus was depicted with blonde hair, this is why. Because hair dye was not available back then, anyone who wanted to change their hair to blonde in fact had to use their own urine to do so.