Consumer Critique: The New Rules for Blondes

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If you've ever been blonde, or know blonde friends, whether or not you buy into the stereotype, you will probably get a kick out of The New Rules for Blondes: Highlights from a Fair-Haired Life. The information in the book ranges from the practical (how to care for blonde hair) to the funny (you might be an ashy/brassy blonde if...). Selena Coppock (you can also find her @SelenaCoppock) writes this manual to dispense advice to blondes, but also to help others learn a little more about blondes. Although obviously not all people of a certain hair color have the same personality, there are enough blondes out there rocking the blonde personas (which she clearly differentiates) that it's worth reading, just for the laughs!

I had a chance to interview the author to find a little more about her.

1)    What was the inspiration behind writing this book?

I wanted to share all of the fun of blondeness while imparting some useful hair care information. The book is lots of things—it’s a collection of humorous essays celebrating and subverting the blonde stereotype and it’s quite a mix. Some of the essays are storytelling pieces from my life—mostly tales of totally true adventures that I have had with my best friend (and blondetourage) Suzanne. Some of the essays are completely informational: blondes should be strong, self-sufficient, and capable, so I share information about how to read maps with ease, how to throw a drink or a punch, how to understand football. And other essays are brilliant tidbits and stories from my mother, my lifelong blonde mentor. 

2) What is your favorite "blonde moment?"

A few years ago, I was on vacation in Las Vegas with my best friend Suzanne and we were sitting by the pool at the hotel New York, New York (great location on the strip, not a great pool area, FYI) and we had been there all morning into late afternoon. We were trying to figure out how long we had been at the pool and I said, “Well, we got down here at 10:30 this morning and it’s 3:45 now, so that’s like….” and we both silently tried to tally how many hours we had been sitting there. Then at the exact same time Suzanne and I both say, “A lot of hours.” Hilarious and so blonde.  

3) It does seem like certain hair colors bring out certain traits - why do you think that is?

It’s such a chicken or egg situation, I think. Do women act a bit ditzy when they are blonde because they think that they perhaps “get away with it” in a way, or do women who are genuinely a bit ditzy just get drawn to lighter hair. I’ve been a brunette (6 months in college) and I’ve had red streaks and, of course, now I’m a blonde for life and I think that changing your hair color can definitely make your perspective shift and make you behave in a different way. It feels like trying on a new identity and I think everyone should try out different colors—it’s so much fun! 

4) Who is your favorite blonde hero and why?

My mother is a brilliant, beautiful blonde and my lifelong blonde mentor. She’s the epitome of class and grace and she taught me everything I know about that. Well, she and my father—I gotta give him credit, too. They’re wonderful people. She’s super smart and has so many interests—she speaks a few languages and is always taking classes and learning new things. She’s quite a  bold blonde.