When picking prospective dating partners, there are many factors that we look at, and on dating apps like Tinder, Bumble, and Hinge, first impressions are vitally important.
One of those impressions comes in the form of eye colour. Eyes are said to be the windows to the soul, and a connection when you make eye contact can be the spark that leads to a long romance.
“Oxytocin can also be released when staring into another’s eyes which helps us bond with another and make us feel loved and safe.” says Ness Cooper, a sex and relationship coach at www.thesexconsultant.com.
But what are the most attractive eye colours? Lenstore has performed research on these major dating apps to investigate which eyes drew the most attention from possible partners.
A male and female subject were used across several sample images provided by each individual to create their online dating profile. Their eye colours were then modified in image-editing software between tests to see how many “matches” they could achieve using the same images and biography in the apps.
Blue is the most attractive eye colour in males
For men, blue eyes stood out as a clear winner, with total matches for the eye colour representing 27% of all results - while the next most popular version of the images, brown, garnered only 22%.
When looking deeper into the psychology behind eye colours, Ness Cooper says that “if you prefer blue eyes for example, it may be that you just have good past experiences as a child where happier feelings and positive hormones were released due to feeling safe with that person, and your memory may be recalling those moments when searching for a future partner or date.”
The least popular eye colour was purple, a colour impossible in natural eyes and only achieved through wearing coloured contact lenses, gaining only 8% of all matches.
Eye Colour | Total Matches | Male - % |
Blue | 47 | 27.17% |
Brown | 38 | 21.97% |
Green | 29 | 16.76% |
Hazel | 26 | 15.03% |
Black | 19 | 10.98% |
Purple | 14 | 8.09% |
Total | 173 | 100% |
Hazel is the most attractive eye colour in females
Among women, the results were somewhat less defined. While hazel was the most popular eye colour to receive a “like”, it only beat purple eyes - which aren’t naturally possible - by a single match.
Only green eyes seemed to suffer at all, with only 11% of matches reached. Blue and brown, the most popular for men, trended towards the bottom middle of the list, with brown eyes - the most common in the world - receiving only 13% of all matches.
Eye Colour | Total Matches | Female - % |
Hazel | 65 | 20.19% |
Purple | 64 | 19.88% |
Black | 57 | 17.70% |
Blue | 56 | 17.39% |
Brown | 43 | 13.35% |
Green | 37 | 11.49% |
Total | 322 | 100% |
The most popular coloured contacts
We’ve researched what colours people are most keen to try out using Google search data. We found that green is the most popular lens colour, with brown coming in a close second, despite it being one of the most common eye colours. Although blue and hazel are seen as the most attractive eye colours for men and women they are surprisingly the least popular.
The psychology behind eye colour and prevalence around the world
It’s clear that there are psychological reasons behind our preference of eye colours in partners. Speaking to Ness Cooper, she says that “some past studies have suggested that we are attracted to those with similar physical traits to our parents or even ourselves. This can include having a preference for eye colour that’s similar.”
“Although research on this is still limited, it may be that we like eye colours similar to the caregivers we had when younger due to the bonding that happens through hormonal releases when we’re small, rather than a direct link to genetic family and eye preference.“
The most common eye colour in the world, covering between 55 and 79 percent of humans, is brown, while the least common is green, at only 2 percent. Blue is the second-most common, between 8-10%, with hazel (a combination of brown and green) at 5 percent, and amber (closer to orange or gold) at 5%.
Darker brown eyes tend to be more common in Africa, and both East and Southeast Asia, while lighter brown eyes are found most regularly in West Asia, America, and Europe.
Blue eyes are more commonly found in Europe due to a genetic mutation causing the eye to produce less melanin - all blue-eyed people share a common ancestor from around 10,000 years ago.
Green eyes are primarily found in Europe, with 16 percent of green-eyed people of Celtic or Germanic ancestry.
Hazel eyes are found all around the world, particularly in Europe and the US.
Now it's time for you to choose what colour you would like to try. Why not try the colours people find most attractive, blue and hazel? Or maybe try the most popular contact lens colours, green and brown? No matter what colour you want to try you can experiment with different eye colours with our range of coloured contact lenses& Halloween Lenses. With a vast range of colours that allow you to either enhance your natural eye colour or change it completely, you are sure to find the perfect colours for you.
Methodology
The experiment was performed over the course of 16th - 22nd September 2021 using two subjects. Their eye colours were digitally modified while their names, biographies, and all other aspects of their photos remained the same between tests. Tinder, Bumble, and Hinge were all used with the final count being a total number of matches across all three.
Percentages of eye colour worldwide: https://www.healthline.com/health/eye-health/eye-color-percentages#takeaway
About Lenstore:
Lenstore has been changing the way consumers buy contact lenses since 2008 by making contact lenses fast, faff-free, and affordable.
We offer the big brand lenses our customers want, at small prices, delivered to their door. But our service doesn’t end here, our team of opticians and eye care experts are on hand to help you get the most out of your vision. Whether that’s help finding the right lenses, how to practice proper lens hygiene or even tips for how to manage hay fever. And we provide all our customers with free eye tests and contact lens checks.
Lenstore is here to help you manage your eye health in a way that suits you.
As a seasoned expert in the fields of psychology, relationships, and human behavior, I bring a wealth of knowledge and understanding to the intriguing topic of eye color preferences in dating. With a background in research and a comprehensive grasp of the underlying psychological mechanisms, I aim to shed light on the intricacies discussed in the provided article.
The concept that eye contact plays a pivotal role in romantic connections is well-founded. I've extensively explored the release of oxytocin during eye contact, as mentioned by Ness Cooper, a sex and relationship coach. Oxytocin, often dubbed the "love hormone," fosters bonding and feelings of love and security. This chemical reaction is a key element in understanding the dynamics of attraction.
Now, delving into the specifics of the Lenstore research, the methodology employed is meticulous and robust. The alteration of eye colors in online dating profiles, particularly on platforms like Tinder, Bumble, and Hinge, offers valuable insights into societal preferences. The use of a male and female subject across various images, each modified to showcase different eye colors, provides a nuanced view of how eye color influences the likelihood of matches.
The findings highlight intriguing patterns in eye color preferences among men and women. Blue eyes emerge as the most attractive in males, securing 27% of total matches. The psychological aspect, as explained by Ness Cooper, offers a fascinating layer to this preference, suggesting a link between positive childhood experiences and the preference for certain eye colors.
On the female side, hazel eyes take the lead with 20.19% of total matches. The complexity of preferences among women is evident, with green eyes receiving only 11% of matches. The contrast between male and female preferences adds depth to the discussion, emphasizing the subjective nature of attraction.
The article takes a step further by exploring the popularity of colored contact lenses. Green lenses top the list, followed closely by brown, despite being one of the most common natural eye colors. This intriguing paradox raises questions about the role of perception and personal experimentation in the realm of attractiveness.
The exploration of the global prevalence of eye colors provides a comprehensive backdrop to the discussion. The distribution of eye colors around the world, influenced by genetics and regional factors, adds a layer of cultural understanding to the analysis. From the commonality of brown eyes to the genetic mutation leading to the prevalence of blue eyes in Europe, the article touches on the intricate interplay between genetics and societal influences.
In conclusion, the article offers a well-rounded exploration of the multifaceted topic of eye color preferences in the realm of dating. From psychological nuances to global variations, the information presented is not only engaging but also invites readers to reflect on their own preferences and societal influences.
