History Main / HairOfGold

[[quoteright:267:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/blondRapnuzel.jpg]]
[[caption-width-right:267:Literature/{{Rapunzel}}, like most FairyTale heroines, is illustrated with Hair of Gold.]]
The character is a blonde. Therefore, obviously, she is {{beaut|yEqualsGoodness}}iful, [[IncorruptiblePurePureness good]], young, and [[TheIngenue innocent]]. Sweet, wholesome, kind, and feminine tend to be included, and the innocence can range up to VirginPower.

Men falling under this trope are [[BlondGuysAreEvil rarer]], but the blond hero can also have Hair of Gold. Such a hero is more action-oriented than the Hair of Gold heroine, but he is also [[TheHero good]], wholesome, kind to those weaker than himself, [[ThinkNothingOfIt modest]], and prone to be the ChasteHero or CelibateHero.

Victorian literature would also use it to portray her as delicate and fragile, if not actually the IllGirl -- being, of course, TooGoodForThisSinfulEarth. This part would be a DiscreditedTrope if it were not a ForgottenTrope.

For even lighter hair, see WhiteHairedPrettyGirl.

All inversions belong in BlondesAreEvil. Also compare the sexy blonde in EveryoneLovesBlondes and the ambitious PowerBlonde. When blonde characters are popular and fun-loving rather than innocent, it's EveryoneLovesBlondes.

'''NOTE:''' Not all blondes belong in this list. Not even all good blondes. If the character does not match the personality type, she does not have Hair of Gold and should be listed only if she exploits the expectation.

----
!!Examples

[[foldercontrol]]

[[folder:Anime & Manga]]
* Janine from ''Animerica'' symbolizes this in the purest form imaginable, making her a direct contrast not just to her LoveInterest, but to the black-haired [[ActionGirl Lita]] and the red-headed [[TheRival Malin]]. In fact, just about every blonde (except for Takuya and Shirogane) in the series symbolizes this.
* Vivio of ''MagicalGirlLyricalNanoha''. The [[CheerfulChild young, cheerful]], MysteriousWaif adopted daughter of the main character.
** Fate, too, who, even during her tenure as a DarkMagicalGirl, was depicted to be kind and innocent to the point of {{Love Martyr}}dom.
* ''SoulEater'' has a very interesting version with its girls: Maka Albarn's blond hair has hints of silver (and she is the wisest), Liz Thompson has a caramel blond coloring (she is the most jaded, though remains optimistic), and Patti Thompson has cornsilk coloring and is the sweetest and most idealistic of the three. Justin Law at first seems to follow this, being a chaste [[spoiler: (or so we think)]] young death scythe. [[BlondGuysAreEvil Unfortunately]]...
* ''ProjectAKo'': C-ko, who is a strawberry blonde, was described in one of the original Japanese promos as "innocence personified".
* Not even a demon can find much fault in Elizabeth in ''Manga/BlackButler'', even if she ''did'' probably [[spoiler: lose any VirginPower she might have had]].
* ''OuranHighSchoolHostClub'' has Tamaki, a boy who has a very optimistic view on life, despite his own past and present hardships. He tries to see the good in people and, like a true romantic, thinks every woman is beautiful in her own way. Despite him being TheCharmer, his views on love are quite innocent and old fashioned. Honey would fit this trope as well, especially considering he even LOOKS a lot like a child, although he's actually the [[OlderThanTheyLook oldest]] of the Hosts. He also carries around a bunny plushie and has a love for sweets--cake in particular.
* In ''ToAruMajutsuNoIndex'' Vento of the Front is an interesting case, since her appearance is described as that of a holy virgin, but is ruined by her [[ObviouslyEvil self-presentation]].
* Reinhard von Lohengramm in LegendOfTheGalacticHeroes subverts this trope beautifully: he's certainly an [[{{Bishounen}} angelic-looking young man]], he's viewed by people as a [[KnightInShiningArmor perfect hero]] but his methods firmly place him into the AntiHero territory. His sister Annerose, though, is a straight example.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Ballads]]
* In the ChildBallad ''Literature/SirAldingar'', one variant describes the innocent queen's hair as yellow:
-->''They've putten her into prison strang,\\
A twalmon lang and mair,\\
Until the mice and wild rattens\\
Did tear her yallow hair.''
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Comics]]
* In ''Non Sequitur'', the blond Kate is the more optimistic and less ambitious {{Foil}} to her black-haired sister, Danae.
* In ''{{Peanuts}}'', Charlie Brown's little sister, Sally, fits this trope. When accused of "evading responsibility" by her brother, she responded with, "I don't know what you're talking about...I'm too young and innocent."
* ''MillieTheModel'' is nice, young, and innocent, especially compared to her FieryRedhead rival, Chili Storm.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Fairy Tales]]
* "Literature/{{Goldilocks}}" combines both the innocence and the [[DumbBlonde folly]] associated with blond hair.
* "[[http://www.mythfolklore.net/andrewlang/038.htm The Grateful Beasts]]" has a blond hero.
-->''The youngest of the three brothers, whose name was Ferko, was a beautiful youth, with a splendid figure, blue eyes, fair hair, and a complexion like milk and roses. ''
* In ''Literature/IronHans'', the prince's hair is turned to literal gold by the magical well. The princess takes it as evidence of his RoyalBlood.
* In ''Literature/TheRoseTree'', the girl's beautiful hair contributes to her stepmother's hatred.
* In ''Literature/TheGooseGirl'', the boy who tends the geese wants to steal some of it, the princess's hair being so beautiful.
-->''And when they had reached the common where the geese fed she sat down and unloosed her hair, which was of pure gold. Curdken loved to see it glitter in the sun, and wanted much to pull some hair out.''
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Films -- Animation]]
* Played straight with Rapunzel in ''Disney/{{Tangled}}'', as she is sweet, kind, and innocent. [[spoiler: Subverted when we find out she is actually a natural brunette when her hair gets cut off.]]
* Miguel from RoadToElDorado is a male version, despite being a thief for a living. His lack of actual innocence is made up for by his genuine sweetness and optimism about the world in general. Overall he's a really good person who isn't above using puppy eyes to get his way.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Films -- Live-Action]]
* Following the frequent book descriptions as "fair-haired", in the 2003 and 2005 film adaptations of ''PrideAndPrejudice'', the prettiest (and [[WideEyedIdealist most innocent]]) Bennet daughter, Jane, is a blonde. She isn't a blonde in the 1940s film, though.
* In ''Film/SweeneyToddTheDemonBarberOfFleetStreet'', Johanna is ''definitely'' one of these, fitting the innocent, [[TheIngenue child-womanish]] category almost to a T.
** Both the movie and the stage play made a big deal of this. Johanna got this from her mother, Lucy, who is described by Sweeney as "beautiful" and "virtuous" at the start of the whole thing, if something of a "silly little nit" according to Mrs. Lovett. Of course, in the stage play, [[spoiler:Johanna gets one of the two kills that Sweeney doesn't get when she guns down the asylum keeper Jonas Fogg]].
* The title character of CaptainAmericaTheFirstAvenger, who is also a shining example of IncorruptiblePurePureness.
* Amy Kane (GraceKelly) in ''HighNoon''. Initially portrayed as innocent and naive, she proves to be the only person willing to help her husband fight the villains.
* ''StarWars''' Luke Skywalker, of course! Idealistic and able to see the goodness in most everyone, [[TheMessiah this personality trait]] is pointed out fairly often in the ExpandedUniverse and a ''lot'' in fanfic. His four known descendants, however ([[http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Ben_Skywalker two]] [[http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Kol_Skywalker redheaded]], [[http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Nat_Skywalker two]] [[http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Cade_Skywalker blond]]), decidedly don't fit this trope and, instead, wear JadeColoredGlasses.
** [[IncrediblyLamePun Just like the other half of Ben's parentage]].
* Manon of ''ManonOfTheSpring'' (''Manon des Sources'') is proud, beautiful, and no man's fool -- but she is also good-natured at heart and righteous. Her role, in juxtaposition to the other characters, is basically purity personified.
* Rosemary in ''Film/ShallowHal'' is kind and generous with attractive inner beauty.
* In the movie ''Dear John'', Savannah is naive, kind, and morally upstanding.
* {{Jesus}} in some film depictions, despite Him being from the Middle East. ''King Of Kings'' and ''JesusChristSuperstar'' come to mind.
* Kim in ''EdwardScissorhands'' is a DoubleSubversion. She's first seen in a family photo where Peg describes her as her pride and joy. When we meet Kim, however, she seems like a bratty teenager. But as the film goes on and she warms to Edward, we see she is kind and caring, thus fitting the trope.
* Katrina in SleepyHollow is yet another Tim Burton example complete with an [[WickedStepmother evil blonde foil]] ( his recent Film/AliceInWonderland adaptation's titular heroine also counts); although he is most associated with the EeriePaleSkinnedBrunette look, it appears Burton has some fondness for blondes as well.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Literature]]
* In Creator/CSLewis' ''TheChroniclesOfNarnia'', the innocent Lucy, who first finds Narnia and is closest to Aslan, is described (near the end of the first novel) as having blond hair. However, the illustrations by Pauline Baynes show her with black hair and pigtails. The only adaptation that actually has her as a blonde is the 1970s animated film.
* In ''The Clique'' novels, Claire Lyons has light blonde hair and is the nicest member of the Pretty Commitee.
* Subverted by the Lannisters in ''ASongOfIceAndFire''. They are all blondes and the nicest of them can only be described as a particularly ambiguous anti-hero. The others are just plain evil.
** However the youngest Lannisters, Tommen and Myrcella, might be somewhat playing this straight.
** It's also played with in-universe. When someone writes a ballad about the Battle of Blackwater, it makes a big deal of the handsome young golden-haired prince and equally golden-haired mother going up against his wicked black-haired uncle. (The actual hero of the Battle of Blackwater, who is three feet tall, deformed, and missing a nose, doesn't get mentioned at all).
* Evangeline in ''UncleTomsCabin'' has golden hair...and oh my god, what a near-sickeningly angelic, [[WiseBeyondTheirYears Wise Beyond Her Years]] child she is. She follows the Victorian version of this trope to the letter. [[spoiler:She eventually becomes TooGoodForThisSinfulEarth]].
* ''LittleLordFauntleroy'' is famous for the titular character's blond, curly hair.
* In the ''Literature/TheDemonPrinces'', Alusz Iphigenia Eperje-Tokay has dusty blond hair and GrayEyes. She's beautiful, intelligent, gently bred and fatalistic.
* The title character of Creator/JaneAusten's ''{{Emma}}'' is interested in befriending a girl of lower social standing than herself, Harriet, specifically because of Harriet's beauty--she has Hair of Gold and big InnocentBlueEyes.
* In ''GoblinMarket'', Laura's golden hair is a key part of the plot, because she buys fruit with "a golden curl" rather than with actual money. Using her hair this way leads to the loss of innocence (and, metaphorically, her virginity).
* Most of Creator/JRRTolkien's elves are dark-haired, so the golden ones stand out, and it tends to be symbolic. In ''Literature/TheSilmarillion'', this is the hallmark of the Houses of Ingwë and Finarfin, and they are of the High Elven houses the wisest, kindest, least rash, and (in the case of the Exiles) most friendly and helpful to mortals. One of those (Galadriel) even survived long enough to appear in ''Literature/LordOfTheRings''.
** Ingwë, and his people (the Vanyar) in general, are noted as the wisest and most holy of the High Elves. They live exclusively in [[PhysicalHeaven Valinor]] itself. Every one of them chose to come to Valinor instead of staying behind in Middle-earth, and only a small handful joined the rebellion of the Noldor. Which is why they get the least page-time of the three clans.
** Of the Noldorin royalty, Finarfin's family are the wisest, and he was the only major character who quit the rebellion and returned to Valinor to humbly ask the Valar for pardon before it was too late. Thus, they made him king of what was left of his people. His kids all continued with the rebellion but were the most reluctant to participate (other than Galadriel, who was just itching to leave).
** Galadriel's hair is literally luminescent, and said to have been like "a mesh of gold" with the light of Laurelin (a holy golden tree that served as a precursor to the sun) bound up in it. Her part in the Fall of the Noldor changed as Tolkien's concept of her character evolved -- in most versions she's a leader of the rebellion and more eager than her brothers to leave Valinor. Later JRRT decided she was entirely innocent of any wrongdoing, and [[AuthorExistenceFailure planned to]] change the stories to say she didn't participate in the rebellion, but only happened to leave Valinor at the same time.
* Maybeth, the third sibling in ''TheTillermanFamilySeries'' by Cynthia Voigt, is practically angelic by description.
* Fantine in ''LesMiserables'' is noted for her beauty and particularly her long, angelic golden hair. She is presented as the model of motherly virtue, and at the beginning of her transition to BrokenBird she sells her beautiful hair to provide for her daughter Cosette. Cosette herself is described as brunette in the text, but in the musical and other adaptations is often played by a blonde actress because of this trope. Enjolras also has HairOfGold and is explicitly a ChasteHero.
* Lucy Westenra in the novel 'Dracula' is blonde (Dr Seward makes a reference to her hair laying on her pillow in "sunny ripples") and after becoming a vampire eyewitnesses describe her as having dark hair. Because blonde = good and pure and brunette = wanton and evil, obviously.
* Little Eldie Porter in ''Literature/ABrothersPrice'', five years old and [[spoiler: entirely innocent in her parents' scheming]]. It does get [[DyeOrDie dyed black]] by the end.
* Prim and Mrs. Everdeen in ''Literature/TheHungerGames''. Prim is a compassionate young blonde girl with blue eyes. She loves all living creatures. Prim was also a good healer at an early age, often helping her mother with patients. When Katniss leaves her family she doesn't bother suggesting that Prim learn to hunt because her attempts were disastrous. The woods terrified her and whenever Katniss shot something it would make Prim teary and she's talk about how they might be able to heal it. Katniss is always amazed when her mother is brought a wounded or sick patient: "she morphs from someone who calls her daughter to kill a spider to a woman immune to fear", Katniss says.
* Both Laurana and Goldmoon in the ''{{Dragonlance}}'' books are naive but kind beautiful blond princessess (elf and barbarian human, respectively). The former especially was naive and sheltered to the point of being an airhead while the latter was actually worshipped as a goddess by her tribe. They both grew out of it into an ActionGirl and TheMessiah, respectively.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Live-Action TV]]
* All three daughters on ''TheBradyBunch'' have "...hair of gold, like their mother." This is because the four are the innocent girls, while all the boys have dark brown/black hair (they even colored Mike Lookinland's hair from its natural reddish for the first season).
* Don "Doc" Dogoier of ''Series/KaizokuSentaiGokaiger'' stands out among his crew of pirates for being kind, gentle, shy, cheerful, and a pacifist - even more so than supposed TokenGoodTeammate (and dark-haired) Ahim, who has proven herself to have a devious side that Don doesn't share.
* On ''ParksAndRecreation'', while Leslie Knope is hardly ''innocent'', she certainly is relatively naive, good-hearted, hardworking, and cheerful in the face of her [[BeleagueredBureaucrat thankless small-town government job]].
* In Victorian flashbacks, ''{{Sanctuary}}'''s Helen Magnus has long, curly blond hair. She's also more soft-spoken, cheerful, and younger (obviously) than in the present. Sometime after [[spoiler: discovering her fiance is Jack the Ripper and being contracted by the Crown to kill Adam Worth]], she goes brunette.
** She also has red hair during World War II.
* Henry VIII sees Jane Seymour as this in ''TheTudors''. In season 3, it becomes clear she has a little more depth, but Henry reacts aggresively to any indication that she doesn't agree with him. [[spoiler: When she returns briefly in season 4, she's the only ghost Henry seems happy to see. Unfortunately for him, she is not as meek as before]].
** Truth in Television, at least in part; blond Jane was significantly more tractable and sweet than her tempestous, brunette predecessor Anne Boleyn.
* ''Series/TheNewNormal'' has Goldie, a straight ally to gay couple David and Bryan. She stands up to her bigoted grandmother for them, and carries their baby.
* Gabrielle in ''XenaWarriorPrincess'', even to the point where her hair got darker for a while as her character became less innocent.
* [[HookerWithAHeartOfGold Cassiopeia]] in ''Series/{{Battlestar Galactica|Classic}}'', who decides to abandon her life as a Socialator to become a Med Tech. Other than her past life, she is sweet and kind, often looks after Boxey and even takes care of an ill-ridden Adama in "The Young Lords".
* Despite being a CowboyCop who along with his partner seems to [[TheCasanova get around]], [[Series/StarskyAndHutch Ken Hutchinson]] fits the bill as a male example. Jokes were made about his hair, too - mainly by Starsky.
* In the DoctorWho episode ''[[Recap/DoctorWhoS20E6TheKingsDemons The King's Demons]]'', Hugh has this -- a young knight valiant in his defense of his father.
* The appropriately named Goldie on ''TheNewNormal''. Almost girlishly sweet and more than a little naive. Not quite a DumbBlonde, but can seem close at times.
* ''Series/TheXFiles'': The SerialKiller in the episode "Elegy" targets young and beautiful women who have blond hair.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Music]]
* The girl described in EricClapton's "Wonderful Tonight" (actually his then-wife, and muse, Pattie Boyd).
--> ''She puts on her makeup and brushes her long blonde hair...''
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Musical Theater]]
* Kendra from ''Theatre/{{Thirteen}}'' fits this because she's very trusting, [[spoiler:though it doesn't work out for her]], [[DumbBlonde although she can be quite ditzy at times...]]
* Audrey from ''LittleShopOfHorrors'', another lovable DumbBlonde.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Puppet Shows]]
* Naive, innocent Wembley, the youngest member of ''FraggleRock'''s FiveManBand, has yellow hair.
* Janice from ''TheMuppetShow'' can fit under here as well, as she is kind and laid-back.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Video Games]]
* Noel Vermillion from ''BlazBlue''. Beautiful, [[TheCutie innocent,]] [[ShrinkingViolet and shy]]? Check, check, and check. [[BreakTheCutie The world wants to crush her beneath its heel?]] [[TheWoobie So, so much.]]
* Beautiful, young, good, and innocent? That's Amano's concept of {{T|heHeroine}}erra/Tina from ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyVI'' all over, and applies to a lesser extent to [[{{Foil}} Celes as well]]. And [[BrattyHalfPint Relm]] (she really is a sweet girl, deep down...Really really deep down). Next tier has the heroic male characters [[ChivalrousPervert Edgar]], [[TheBigGuy Sabin/Mash]], and [[ChronicHeroSyndrome Locke]], who was originally conceptualized with blond hair. If you really wanted, you could argue that [[WorthyOpponent General Leo]] fits this, though he really shines as a {{subverted|Trope}} BlondGuysAreEvil, {{foil}}ing the blond Kefka. The world of ''Final Fantasy VI'' has no CanonName, but we have reason to believe it's Blondania.
* Ventus from ''VideoGame/KingdomHeartsBirthBySleep''. Blonde hair, [[InnocentBlueEyes bright blue eyes]], and a [[TheIngenue personality to match.]] [[spoiler: [[JustifiedTrope Justified]], however, since the darkness in his heart was taken by [[BadassGrandpa Master Xehanort]].]]
* Lucas from ''VideoGame/{{Mother 3}}'' has gold hair, an innocent personality, a pure mind, and, [[spoiler: unlike Claus, stays good. Claus' hair, orange, could possibly be that way because of red (evil) mixing with blonde (purity)]].
* Another male example: [[spoiler:Teddie]] from ''{{Persona 4}}'' [[spoiler: in his human form, where he appears as a blond, [[InnocentBlueEyes blue-eyed]] {{Bishonen}}, with an innocent personality to match.]]
* Bianca from ''VideoGame/PokemonBlackAndWhite'' - pretty, kind, heroic, and idealistic.
* Spiritia Rosenberg from ''{{Rosenkreuzstilette}}'' has flowing gold hair held in a huge ponytail and is a straightforward, honest, and kind girl whose moral convictions are second to none and who is greatly respected by others, including other soldiers of the Holy Empire. Iris also has gold hair, [[spoiler:but unlike Tia, believe it or not, she only pretends to be kind and innocent to disguise her true, evil intentions]]. Both characters are [[spoiler:reincarnations of the legendary Magus Rosenkreuz, whom the organization of RKS is named after - Tia got his soul and his ability to tap into the strength of others', and Iris was blessed with his magical prowess and the abundance of knowledge he had acquired over the course of his life]].
* Wendy from ''RuleOfRose'' could have her picture describing this trope; a quiet, sickly little girl with a pretty smile and a blue sundress. [[spoiler:Unfortunately, she's also a manipulative {{Yandere}}]].
* Colette from ''VideoGame/TalesOfSymphonia'', a [[TheFool foolish]] [[TheMessiah Messiah]] {{Pollyanna}} LoveFreak.
** ''[[VideoGame/TalesOfSymphoniaDawnOfTheNewWorld Dawn of the New World]]'' had the male variety in Emil.
** Speaking of the male variety, don't forget about Flynn from ''VideoGame/TalesOfVesperia''.
** The grandmother of them all is Mint from ''VideoGame/TalesOfPhantasia''. She's 90 pounds of IncorruptiblePurePureness, a shy WhiteMagicianGirl, ''and'' [[ActualPacifist completely devoted to healing]].
** ''VideoGame/TalesOfTheAbyss'' brings us both a male ''and'' a female example. Guy Cecil--the [[IdiotHero (idiot) hero's]] best friend and confidant. He's also pretty skilled with a blade. And [[RebelliousPrincess Natalia]], a kind, yet [[PluckyGirl plucky young princess]] who's also an [[TheArcher amazing archer]] and [[CombatMedic healer]].
* [[Franchise/SuperMarioBros Princess Peach]] is constantly described as having the [[IncorruptiblePurePureness purest heart]].
* The LawfulGood [[ThePaladin Ky Kiske]] in the ''GuiltyGear'' series. Especially in the "youthfully naive, {{angst}}-ridden and clueless" department.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Visual Novels]]
* Regina Berry, in ''AceAttorney'', is so sweet and innocent that [[spoiler:she actually doesn't understand the concept of death or the consequences of her naive but dangerous actions]].
** Colias Palaeno has a near-constant smile and is ridiculously friendly to everyone he meets. [[spoiler:Which is why Manny Coachen was able to manipulate him so easily.]]
* Komari from ''LittleBusters'' has short blonde hair with side [[GirlishPigtails twintails]] and is extremely innocent, cheerful, and childlike. Her route even deconstructs this a little, as [[spoiler:she is innocent mainly because her brother tried to shield her from anything painful, meaning that she cannot encounter things like death without breaking down entirely.]] She also has a bit of DumbBlonde to her, too.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Webcomics]]
* Rolan and Zalanna of ''Webcomic/EarsForElves'' have this. In the former case, it shows that he's a ''high'' elf, as well as being innocent and such. For Zalanna, straight blonde hair symbolises her status and how she embraces it, and provides contrast with the RebelliousPrincess Tanna's messy and short(er) brown hair.
* His rare moments of [[spoiler:SuperpoweredEvilSide MadScientist]] aside, Franken from ''{{Noblesse}}'' is very kind and patient.
* [[SpoonyBard Elan]] in ''Webcomic/TheOrderOfTheStick'' is apparently extremely attractive, in part due to this trope, although it's hard to tell from the stick-figure art. He also fits very well in terms of personality, being the sweetest and most innocent major character in the comic (as well as [[DumbBlonde not too bright]] aside from his GenreSavvy).
* [[http://www.sinfest.net/archive_page.php?comicID=3162 The angels]] in ''Webcomic/{{Sinfest}}''. Annoying, mind you, but good.
* In ''ThistilMistilKistil'', while she is a trifle uncanny, [[http://tmkcomic.depleti.com/comic/ch06-pg03/ Sigyn is still a gentle and generous woman]].
* In ''Webcomic/MonsieurCharlatan'', Magda O'Neill. She's rather bullying with Charlatan, but given what he's wallowing in, she's keeping him alive with it.
* In ''Webcomic/{{Widdershins}}'', Wolfe is a NiceGuy, and even a good influence on Malloy.
* Melissa, the AlphaBitch Witch of [[AllGhoulsSchool Charybdis Heights]] in ''Webcomic/EerieCuties'', [[HumiliationConga less so]] in ''Webcomic/MagickChicks''. She's lazy and occasionally mean, but mostly falls under JerkWithAHeartOfGold. In that she can stand for a friend in serious danger, while the worst action we know of was trying to cause a break-up between Kade and Layla, but [[http://www.eeriecuties.com/strips-ec/%28preferably_me%29 this relationship]] doesn't look like a fragile and precious thing, to say the least.
** Tiffany, the IdiotHero who got convinced it's her purpose to [[VanHelsingHateCrimes stake vampires and burn witches]], but ended up saving and befriending both of these.
** Chloe, a cripplingly shy {{succubus}} -- she got worse and better later, but retained some good streaks even [[spoiler:while DrunkOnTheDarkSide ''badly'']].
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Web Original]]
* Apollo, Artemis, Aglaea, and Eros in ''ThaliasMusings''. Apollo, though hardly a ChasteHero, is one of the more moral gods in the Pantheon and renowned as a champion of moderate living. His twin sister, Artemis, is a sworn virgin. Both have healing powers, as does Aglaea, Apollo's granddaughter, who is a dedicated physician. Eros can make life difficult for his "victims", but he ultimately just wants everyone to find true love, [[{{moe}} something his parents never had]].
* Mega-Girl of the WhateleyUniverse. Not only is she a beautiful Exemplar with flight and super strength, she's extremely feminine and bubbly. She's also a virgin (she's only a high school sophomore) mainly because [[spoiler:she doesn't have a vagina yet]].
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Western Animation]]
* Princess Dawn, the PrincessClassic protagonist of ''WesternAnimation/HereComesTheGrump''.
* ''JimmyTwoShoes'': Jimmy's blond hair is so pure and innocent (just like him), that it even induces niceness upon an {{Expy}} of {{Satan}}.
* Mikey and Gus from ''{{Recess}}'', who are considerably the most innocent and pure among the main six.
[[/folder]]

----

* Prim and Mrs. Everdeen in ''TheHungerGames''. Prim is a compassionate young blonde girl with blue eyes. She loves all living creatures. Prim was also a good healer at an early age, often helping her mother with patients. When Katniss leaves her family she doesn't bother suggesting that Prim learn to hunt because her attempts were disastrous. The woods terrified her and whenever Katniss shot something it would make Prim teary and she's talk about how they might be able to heal it. Katniss is always amazed when her mother is brought a wounded or sick patient: "she morphs from someone who calls her daughter to kill a spider to a woman immune to fear", Katniss says.

** Galadriel's hair is literally luminescent, and said to have been like "a mesh of gold" with the light of Laurelin (a holy golden tree that served as a precursor to the sun) bound up in it. Her part in the Fall of the Noldor changed as Tolkien's concept of her character evolved -- in some versions she a leader of the rebellion and more eager than her brothers to leave Valinor. Later JRRT decided she was entirely innocent of any wrongdoing, and [[AuthorExistenceFailure planned to]] change the stories to say she didn't participate in the rebellion, but only happened to leave Valinor at the same time.

* Arguably, both Galadriel and Eowyn in ''[[Film/LordOfTheRings The Lord of the Rings]]'' film trilogy. Though a beautiful and kind character with a good heart, Galadriel is briefly tempted by the Ring but ultimate resists it. Eowyn is normally good-hearted and feminine, but then she dresses up as a soldier to [[DeathSeeker ride into battle]] with her Rohirrim brethren.
** Sam, Merry and Legolas are the male examples in the same trilogy. All three of them are heroes fighting for their homelands and kind-hearted, though only Sam is the most pure of the three being able to fully resist the temptations of the Ring.
** Arguably, Fili in ''Film/TheHobbit'' trilogy though he seems to only have the heroic good guy part down. He was blond in the book as well.

* In ''Literature/TheSilmarillion'', this is the hallmark of the Houses of Ingwë and Finarfin, and they are of the High Elven houses the wisest, kindest, least rash, and (in the case of the Exiles) most friendly and helpful to mortals. One of those (Galadriel) even survived long enough to appear in ''Literature/LordOfTheRings''.

** Galadriel's hair is literally luminescent, and said to have been like "a mesh of gold" with the light of Laurelin (a holy golden tree that served as a precursor to the sun) bound up in it. Considering her part in the Fall of the Noldor, though, although she wasn't quite on the Fëanorian-level of cunning evil, she isn't exactly innocent, though she is an idealist early-on and later extremely wise.

* In ''Literature/TheSilmarillion'', this is the hallmark of the House of Finarfin (the more innocent, wise, and spiritual house of High Elves). One of those elves (Galadriel) even lasted long enough to appear in ''Literature/LordOfTheRings''.
** Glorfindel's name translates as this in Sindarin ("Elf with Gold Hair").
** Galadriel's hair is literally luminescent, and said to have been made of "a mesh of gold" with the light of Laurelin (a golden tree that served as a precursor to the sun) bound up in it. Considering her part in the Fall of the Noldor, though, although she wasn't quite on the Fëanorian-level of cunning evil, she isn't exactly innocent, though she is an idealist early-on and later extremely wise.

The trope generally presumes blond is the natural color, since the correlation with youth no longer holds once dye is used. Indeed, this may drive this trope's interchange with BlondesAreEvil, a deeply CyclicTrope.

A prevalent trope wherever blond hair occurs naturally in the population. (Where it does not, the color may signify foreignness.) Since hair tends to darken with age, blondness does correlate with youth and [[ChildrenAreInnocent the innocence correlated with that]]. Fiction runs with this so that the women are ColourCodedForYourConvenience.

Often [[{{Foil}} contrasted with]] a dark-haired heroine -- as the Betty in a BettyAndVeronica, the GirlNextDoor compared to the FemmeFatale, the DamselInDistress rather than TheVamp, the CountryMouse instead of the CityMouse -- or just lacking the brunette's JadeColoredGlasses. A [[FieryRedhead redhead]] may also [[{{Foil}} contrast]] and [[HeroesWantRedHeads serve as a rival]], though she will likely be more {{action|Girl}}-oriented than the blonde. She tends to be the younger of the pair; this is even more likely to be true for the male version.

The blonde's youth may also make her more naive than her counterpart, which can, but does not have to, slide into the DumbBlonde. On the other hand, she may regard studying and doing well in school as part of her responsibilities and so perform better than her dark-haired and irresponsible {{Foil}}.

When blondes are natural, blondness does correlate with youth and so is attractive. Women, therefore, dye their hair blond. But after a critical mass of blondes have dyed hair, it no longer correlates with youth. And it certainly doesn't correlate with innocence; the honest brunette who does not dye her hair, perhaps because she is not scheming to get a man, appears more innocent. Therefore, blond hair dye falls out of fashion and then blondes are once again mostly natural blondes and so the correlation recurs -- restarting the cycle.

When the cycle is on Hair of Gold, lack of blond hair may convince a woman or girl that she is not beautiful -- leading to BeautifulAllAlong.

Women with Hair of Gold are also prone to InnocentBlueEyes or GrayEyes (though this is less common in more recent times). This contains a certain amount of TruthInTelevision, but it is exaggerated in fiction. They also tend to have voices in the soprano range.

All inversions belong in BlondesAreEvil. Also compare the sexy blonde in EveryoneLovesBlondes and the ambitious PowerBlonde. [[RedheadsAreUncool If the youth is redheaded she will be uncool.]]

Not all blondes belong in this list. Not even all good blondes. If the character does not match the personality type, she does not have Hair of Gold and should be listed only if she exploits the expectation. When blonde characters are popular and fun-loving rather than innocent, it's EveryoneLovesBlondes.

* Ilana in ''{{Sym-Bionic Titan}}''.

* ''SoulEater'' has a very interesting version with its girls: Maka Albarn's blond hair has hints of silver (and she is the wisest), Liz Thompson has a caramel blond coloring (she is the most jaded, though remains optimistic), and Patti Thompson has cornsilk coloring and is the sweetest and most idealistic of the three. Justin Law at first seems to follow this, being a chaste [[spoiler: (or so we think)]] young death scythe. [[BlondGuysAreEvil Unfortunately]]...

* Not even a demon can find much fault in Elizabeth in ''Manga/BlackButler'', even if she ''did'' probably [[spoiler: lose any VirginPower she might have had]].

A twalmon lang and mair,\\
Until the mice and wild rattens\\
Did tear her yallow hair.''

-->''The youngest of the three brothers, whose name was Ferko, was a beautiful youth, with a splendid figure, blue eyes, fair hair, and a complexion like milk and roses. ''

* Played straight with Rapunzel in ''Disney/{{Tangled}}'', as she is sweet, kind, and innocent. [[spoiler: Subverted when we find out she is actually a natural brunette when her hair gets cut off.]]

* The title character of CaptainAmericaTheFirstAvenger, who is also a shining example of IncorruptiblePurePureness.

* Arguably, both Galadriel and Eowyn in ''[[Film/LordOfTheRings The Lord of the Rings]]'' film trilogy. Though a beautiful and kind character with a good heart, Galadriel is briefly tempted by the Ring but ultimate resists it. Eowyn is normally good-hearted and feminine, but then she dresses up as a soldier to [[DeathSeeker ride into battle]] with her Rohirrim brethren.

* In Creator/CSLewis' ''TheChroniclesOfNarnia'', the innocent Lucy, who first finds Narnia and is closest to Aslan, is described (near the end of the first novel) as having blond hair. However, the illustrations by Pauline Baynes show her with black hair and pigtails. The only adaptation that actually has her as a blonde is the 1970s animated film.

* Lucy Westenra in the novel 'Dracula' is blonde (Dr Seward makes a reference to her hair laying on her pillow in "sunny ripples") and after becoming a vampire eyewitnesses describe her as having dark hair. Because blonde = good and pure and brunette = wanton and evil, obviously.
* Little Eldie Porter in ''Literature/ABrothersPrice'', five years old and [[spoiler: entirely innocent in her parents' scheming]]. It does get [[DyeOrDie dyed black]] by the end.
* Prim and Mrs. Everdeen in ''TheHungerGames''. Prim is a compassionate young blonde girl with blue eyes. She loves all living creatures. Prim was also a good healer at an early age, often helping her mother with patients. When Katniss leaves her family she doesn't bother suggesting that Prim learn to hunt because her attempts were disastrous. The woods terrified her and whenever Katniss shot something it would make Prim teary and she's talk about how they might be able to heal it. Katniss is always amazed when her mother is brought a wounded or sick patient: "she morphs from someone who calls her daughter to kill a spider to a woman immune to fear", Katniss says.

* In Victorian flashbacks, ''{{Sanctuary}}'''s Helen Magnus has long, curly blond hair. She's also more soft-spoken, cheerful, and younger (obviously) than in the present. Sometime after [[spoiler: discovering her fiance is Jack the Ripper and being contracted by the Crown to kill Adam Worth]], she goes brunette.

* Henry VIII sees Jane Seymour as this in ''TheTudors''. In season 3, it becomes clear she has a little more depth, but Henry reacts aggresively to any indication that she doesn't agree with him. [[spoiler: When she returns briefly in season 4, she's the only ghost Henry seems happy to see. Unfortunately for him, she is not as meek as before]].

* Ventus from ''VideoGame/KingdomHeartsBirthBySleep''. Blonde hair, [[InnocentBlueEyes bright blue eyes]], and a [[TheIngenue personality to match.]] [[spoiler: [[JustifiedTrope Justified]], however, since the darkness in his heart was taken by [[BadassGrandpa Master Xehanort]].]]
* Lucas from ''VideoGame/{{Mother 3}}'' has gold hair, an innocent personality, a pure mind, and, [[spoiler: unlike Claus, stays good. Claus' hair, orange, could possibly be that way because of red (evil) mixing with blonde (purity)]].
* Another male example: [[spoiler:Teddie]] from ''{{Persona 4}}'' [[spoiler: in his human form, where he appears as a blond, [[InnocentBlueEyes blue-eyed]] {{Bishonen}}, with an innocent personality to match.]]

* Spiritia Rosenberg from ''{{Rosenkreuzstilette}}'' has flowing gold hair held in a huge ponytail and is a straightforward, honest, and kind girl whose moral convictions are second to none and who is greatly respected by others, including other soldiers of the Holy Empire. Iris also has gold hair, [[spoiler:but unlike Tia, believe it or not, she only pretends to be kind and innocent to disguise her true, evil intentions]]. Both characters are [[spoiler:reincarnations of the legendary Magus Rosenkreuz, whom the organization of RKS is named after - Tia got his soul and his ability to tap into the strength of others', and Iris was blessed with his magical prowess and the abundance of knowledge he had acquired over the course of his life]].
* Wendy from ''RuleOfRose'' could have her picture describing this trope; a quiet, sickly little girl with a pretty smile and a blue sundress. [[spoiler:Unfortunately, she's also a manipulative {{Yandere}}]].