Blondes don't have more fun, survey finds

They have a reputation for having the most fun, but blondes are more likely to have their romantic hopes crushed after a first date, a survey has found.
While a third of first dates in Britain end in "disaster", flaxen-haired hopefuls are a quarter more likely to have their dreams of true loved nipped in the bud than their brunette or red-headed counterparts.

Blondes are apparently the most likely of anyone to have attempted to seduce a first date with reminiscences about an ex, seen their judgement impaired by drinking too much, bed their date at the end of the night, and even forget the name of their would-be paramour.

A total of 1,300 people were surveyed by internet dating firm Parship.co.uk in an attempt to discover why so many first dates ended with both parties vowing never to cross paths again.

Of the 18 million first dates "enjoyed" by Britons every year, as many as 6 million never progress to a second date.

Penny Conway, from the online dating firm, said: "Although it's unlikely a person will behave differently simply because of their hair colour, they may act out of character if they are being treated badly, or according to a stereotype.

"In films blondes are often assumed as being clueless or as having more fun. How we are treated by other people can influence how we behave, so this may explain why blondes are more likely to behave badly compared to brunettes or red heads, or go home with their dates on the first night."

The company found that misguided ideas of alluring behaviour - including turning up late, running away from a partner, getting drunk, and telling their potential partner choice tales about their ex and previous sexual conquests - was responsible for dampening any first flames of passion.

And, according to the survey, most of the eight million people looking for love will never hear from their date again.

Nearly half (48 per cent) of women questioned admitted to turning up late to a first date, with 10 per cent of them keeping their man waiting for over half an hour.

Some 12 per cent of women said they had taken advantage of a date's momentary absence at the bar or loo to flee the scene, and 5 per cent of men and women confessed to arriving at a bar or restaurant, being horrified by what greeted them, and heading for the door.

A total of 28 per cent said they had tried to seduce their date with stories about their ex and previous sexual conquests, 14 per cent admitted getting too drunk to stay in control of themselves, and 6 per cent confessed that they had decided to bring along their mother or pet to meet their potential partner.

And 30 per cent of men and 20 per cent of women admitted to going home with their date, with one in four men (26 per cent) and one in five women (20 per cent) saying they had later bedded them.