History Main / ImplausibleHairColor

* More common than not in the modern ''Franchise/Persona'' games. Only three major characters (Minato, Fuuka, and Haru) have truly impossible hair (Dark blue, teal, and pink respectively); but Mitsuru, Chidori, Rise, and Futaba have red hair, Akihiko, Takaya, and Souji have white or grey hair, Ken, Yosuke, and Chie have light brown hair, and Aigis, Kanji, Teddie, Ryuji, and Ann have blond hair (Although Aigis and Teddie aren't human, Kanji and Ryuji are explicitly dyed-with Kanji's natural color being black-and Ann has it explained as being 1/4 American). In comparison, there are only eight characters (Junpei, Metis, Jin, Adachi, Yukiko, Naoto, Joker, Makoto, and Yusuke) with black hair and one (Shinjiro) with dark brown.

* The manga, TV series, and video game adaptations of ''Manga/{{Area 88}}'' give Shin blonde hair for no readily apparent reason, even though he's ethnically Japanese. Ryoko also has pink hair in the OVA and TV series, while Taeko has red hair in the OVA.

* Atsuko from ''Anime/MichikoToHatchin'' is a black woman with a blonde afro. While not impossible it's very rare.

* In ''LightNovel/HaiyoreNyarkoSan'', the human characters have brown or black hair (realistic colors for Japanese people) while the alien characters have unusual colors (Nyarko's is silver, Cuuko's is [[FieryRedhead red]], Hasta's is yellow).

* ''Anime/KidouTenshiAngelicLayer'' has a few blondes here and there amongst the black and brown. (The outrageous hair colours are reserved for the Angels, who are all robots.)

Usually, this is at least a little {{justified|Trope}}. The character might have foreign parents or MixedAncestry, or dye their hair, or something more interesting (like [[RobotHair being a robot]]). Other times, the reasons are left to the viewer's imaginations.

This trope in regards to human hair colors shows up more in East Asian works, where hair colors other than black or dark brown are rarest. This is by no means limited to that part of the world. A [[DarkSkinnedBlond black, Melanesian, or Aborigine character with blonde hair]] or a [[DarkSkinnedRedhead redhead with a darker than pale or fair skintone]] would be a good example.

Usually, this is at least a little {{justified|Trope}}. The character might have foreign parents, or dye their hair, or something more interesting (like [[RobotHair being a robot]]). Other times, the reasons are left to the viewer's imaginations.

* Lampshaded, and even deconstructed, in ''Manga/FruitsBasket''. Although some of the [[EasternZodiac Members of the Zodiac]] have dark brown or black hair, most of them have hair ranging from red/orange to blonde, and a few of them have grey or white hair (always corresponding to their [[AnimalMotifs animal forms]]). Unlike most manga and anime where no one comments on Japanese characters having [[YouGottaHaveBlueHair unusual hair colors]], other characters ''do'' notice, with most adults [[MistakenForDyed suspecting that they dye their hair]]. It's even worse with other students - ''all'' of the cursed Sohmas with such unusual hair colors ([[ButNotTooForeign except Momiji]]) got teased, or even bullied for it, as kids. Most of them were able to get through it relatively unscathed, but poor [[ElectiveMute Kisa]] was traumatized by it, being bullied by her classmates for having naturally golden hair [[SupernaturalGoldEyes and eyes]]. The most hysterical lampshade would probably be when the student council president demands that Hatsuharu shows him physical proof that his [[MulticoloredHair black and white hair]] was his natural hair color...and Hatsuharu complies by dragging him into the nearby bathroom, heavily implying that his "proof" was showing the president his ''pubic hair''.

* In ''Disney/{{Frozen}}'', Queen Elsa has platinum blonde hair, but her sister Princess Anna and her father Agdar have strawberry blonde hair and her mother Idunn is a brunette. WordOfGod states it's a case of MysticalWhiteHair because of her [[AnIcePerson ice powers]]. Had she not been born with them, she would've been a brunette like her mother.

* Lampshaded, and even somewhat deconstructed, in ''Manga/FruitsBasket''. Although some of the [[EasternZodiac Members of the Zodiac]] have dark brown or black hair, most of them have hair ranging from red/orange to blonde, and a few of them have grey or white hair (always corresponding to their [[AnimalMotifs animal forms]]). Unlike most manga and anime where no one comments on Japanese characters having [[YouGottaHaveBlueHair unusual hair colors]], other characters ''do'' notice, with most adults [[MistakenForDyed suspecting that they dye their hair]]. It's even worse with other students - ''all'' of the cursed Sohmas with such unusual hair colors ([[ButNotTooForeign except Momiji]]) got teased, or even bullied for it, as kids. Most of them were able to get through it relatively unscathed, but poor [[ElectiveMute Kisa]] was traumatized by it, being bullied by her classmates for having naturally golden hair [[SupernaturalGoldEyes and eyes]]. The most hysterical lampshade would probably be when the student council president demands that Hatsuharu shows him physical proof that his [[MulticoloredHair black and white hair]] was his natural hair color...and Hatsuharu complies by dragging him into the nearby bathroom, heavily implying that his "proof" was showing the president his ''pubic hair''.

* Lampshaded, and even somewhat deconstructed, in ''Manga/FruitsBasket''. Although some of the [[EasternZodiac Members of the Zodiac]] have dark brown or black hair, most of them have hair ranging from red/orange to blonde, and a few of them have grey or white hair (always corresponding to their [[InvoluntaryShapeshifting animal forms]]). Unlike most manga and anime where Japanese characters often have [[YouGottaHaveBlueHair unusual hair colors]], it's constantly noted by other characters, with most adults [[MistakenForDyed suspecting that they dye their hair]]. It's even worse with other students - ''all'' of the cursed Sohmas with such unusual hair colors ([[ButNotTooForeign except Momiji]]) got teased, or even bullied for it, as kids. Most of them were able to get through it relatively unscathed, but poor [[ElectiveMute Kisa]] was traumatized by it, being bullied by her classmates for having naturally golden hair [[SupernaturalGoldEyes and eyes]]. The most hysterical lampshade would probably be when the student council president demands that Hatsuharu shows him physical proof that his [[MulticoloredHair black and white hair]] was his natural hair color...and Hatsuharu complies by dragging him into the nearby bathroom, heavily implying that his "proof" was showing the president his ''pubic hair''.

* Lampshaded, and even somewhat deconstructed, in ''Manga/FruitsBasket''. Although some of the [[EasternZodiac Members of the Zodiac]] have dark brown or black hair, most of them have hair ranging from red/orange to blonde, and a few of them have grey or white hair (always corresponding to their [[InvoluntaryShapeshifting animal forms]]). This is not normal for Japan. It's constantly noted by other characters, with most adults suspecting that they dye their hair. It's even worse with other students - ''all'' of the Juunishi with such unusual hair colors ([[ButNotTooForeign except Momiji]]) got teased, or even bullied for it, as kids. Most of them were able to get through it relatively unscathed, but poor [[CuteMute Kisa]] was traumatized by it. The most hysterical lampshade would probably be when the student council president demands that Hatsuharu shows him physical proof that his [[MulticoloredHair black and white hair]] was his natural hair color...and Hatsuharu complies by dragging him into the nearby bathroom, heavily implying that his "proof" was showing the president his ''pubic hair''.

* The characters in ''Manga/{{X1999}}'' all have fairly typical black or brown hair, but Kotori and her mother both have inexplicable wavy blonde hair.

* ''Manga/{{Eyeshield 21}}'': For all its wackiness, is actually pretty good about hair colors. Most of the cast either has brown or black hair, and those who don't clearly dye their hair (they all have black eye brows). However, there are still a few exceptions in the cast; most notably, Taka's been a white-haired pretty boy since childhood, Agon was light-haired as a child, and Sakuraba's hair ranges from light brown to blonde. Given Sakuraba's status as an idol, it's probable that he was forced to dye it.
* Although the artist of ''Manga/{{Liar Game}}'' hasn't actually picked a hair color for Akiyama, he is always drawn with his hair ranging from a light reddish-brown to ginger to gold. Despite being Japanese.

* Shōyō Hinata, the main character of ''Manga/{{Haikyuu}}'', has bright red hair and stands out amongst the predominantly brunet and raven-haired cast. Unlike other characters in the series his hair seems natural, as his little sister has the same tone.

[[folder: Web Comics]]

* Most characters in ''Anime/YuriOnIce'' have realistic hair colors, and any cases of MulticoloredHair is obviously due to hair dye. The exception is Victor Nikiforov, who has silver hair despite being only 27, and flashbacks show that his hair was silver even when he was younger.

* There are a surprising number of auburn-haired Japanese in ''Anime/MartianSuccessorNadesico'', but it's otherwise realistic if you consider blue or purple hair to be stylized black, and you remember that Ryoko and Inez are both dye-jobs (and Inez's nationality is pretty vague anyway). [[HeroicAlbino Ruri]] gets a pass for being a Rei {{expy}} (see below).

This trope in regards to human hair colors shows up more in East Asian works, where hair colors other than black or dark brown are rarest. This is by no means limited to that part of the world. A [[DarkSkinnedBlond black, Melanesian, or Aborigine character with blonde hair]] or a redhead with a darker than pale or fair skintone would be a good example.

* Lu Su’s hair in Fanfic/ClassicalPower.

* Lampshaded, and even somewhat deconstructed, in ''Manga/FruitsBasket''. Although some of the [[EasternZodiac Members of the Zodiac]] have dark brown or black hair, most of them have hair ranging from red/orange to blonde, and a few of them have grey or white hair (always corresponding to their [[InvoluntaryShapeshifting animal forms]]). [[CaptainObvious This is not normal for Japan.]] It's constantly noted by other characters, with most adults suspecting that they dye their hair. It's even worse with other students - ''all'' of the Juunishi with such unusual hair colors ([[ButNotTooForeign except Momiji]]) got teased, or even bullied for it, as kids. Most of them were able to get through it relatively unscathed, but poor [[CuteMute Kisa]] was traumatized by it. The most hysterical lampshade would probably be when the student council president demands that Hatsuharu shows him physical proof that his [[MulticoloredHair black and white hair]] was his natural hair color...and Hatsuharu complies by dragging him into the nearby bathroom, heavily implying that his "proof" was showing the president his ''pubic hair''.

* In ''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/3505392/7/Hell-is-a-Martial-Artist Hell is a Martial Artist]]'' Ranma wonders how both [[Anime/SailorMoon Usagi and Minako]] are natural blondes despite clearly being Japanese; though he does admit he doesn't have room to talk given he's a redhead as a girl.

** Light has light brown. It stands out even more [[HollywoodGenetics as his family members don't]].

* Lampshaded, and even somewhat deconstructed, in ''Manga/FruitsBasket''. Although some of the [[EasternZodiac Members of the Zodiac]] have dark brown or black hair, most of them have hair ranging from red/orange to blonde, and a few of them have grey or white hair (always corresponding to their [[InvoluntaryShapeshifting animal forms]]). [[CaptainObvious This is not normal for Japan.]] It's constantly noted by other characters, with most adults suspecting that they dye their hair. It's even worse with other students - ''all'' of the Juunishi with such unusual hair colors ([[ButNotTooForeign except Momiji]]) got teased, or even bullied for it, as kids. Most of them were able to get through it relatively unscathed, but poor [[CuteMute Kisa]] was traumatized by it. The most hysterical lampshade would probably be when the student council president demanded that Hatsuharu show him physical proof that that was his natural hair color...and Hatsuharu complied. By dragging him into the nearby bathroom.

* The nameless {{ronin}} protagonist of ''Anime/SwordOfTheStranger'' also has red hair, which [[DyeOrDie he dyed black to avoid mockery and seekers of retribution]]. Seems people in feudal times hated foreigners.

* Creator/SpikeMilligan and his Army mates were astonished in 1943 to visit an Arab village in Tunisia where everybody had bright natural red hair. They nicknamed it ''Glen [=MacDonald=]''. A cultured officer with an {{Oxbridge}} education pointed out that the Romans, the Visigoths and the Normans had all been this way and all were European peoples, especially the Scandinavian Normans. Could they be surprised?