No, very black hair is not rare. In fact, it's one of the most common natural hair colors globally.
The Prevalence of Black Hair
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Globally Dominant: Black hair is by far the most prevalent natural hair color worldwide, accounting for an estimated 75% to 85% of the population. [Reference: "Black hair is by far the most common natural hair colour in the world. In fact, around 75 to 85 percent of the people in the world have some shade of black hair. 01-Jun-2022"]
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Regional Variations: While globally common, the frequency of very black hair can vary across different populations and ethnic groups. For example, while common in Southern Europe, jet-black hair might be less frequent in Northern European populations. [Reference: "Why is pure or jet black hair so rare among most ethnic Europeans ..."] This variation is due to genetic diversity and the distribution of genes influencing hair pigmentation.
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Rarity of Combinations: While black hair itself is not rare, specific combinations with other features, such as blue eyes, can be less common. The rarity depends on the combination of genes involved. For instance, black hair and blue eyes are considered rarer than blonde hair and blue eyes. [Reference: "Geneticists have indicated that black hair and blue eyes is a more rare combination than blonde hair and blue eyes. Even though it's more rare ..."]
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Misconceptions: There are online discussions suggesting that black hair is rare, but this is inaccurate based on the overwhelming global prevalence of this hair color. [Reference: Reddit thread "Is it true that black hair is rare? : r/Hair" which discusses misconceptions about black hair rarity.]
Conclusion
The perception of black hair rarity is often a misconception. While certain combinations with other traits might be less common, very black hair itself is exceptionally prevalent worldwide.
