Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:My DH always says his eyes are green but they don't look green at all to me. We've just agreed to disagree.
This is true of everyone who says they have green eyes. I have never seen anyone who has objectively green eyes. But people love to say they have green eyes because they think it makes them “special.”
DP. I have no idea what the scientific stats are on green versus "hazel" but, as someone with hazel eyes married to someone with hazel eyes, I think that a lot of people whose eyes are hazel tend to describe their own eyes as green (though I say hazel). Hazel is technically a green-brown combination, often with brown in a ring around the iris and green surrounding that, so the predominant color is very often much more green than brown. I don't think people claim green because "it makes them 'special.'" I think they just see mostly green. It's a bit petty-minded to assume that people who call their own eye color green are doing so just out of vanity. A lot of people don't even really know what "hazel" means in eye color or why it's differentiated from green, so it's probably easier to say, or put onto forms, "green eyes."
You’re right that the word “hazel” is confusing. My SIL told me that light brown eyes are hazel and that only dark brown eyes are actually “brown.” I’ve never heard before that hazel can have a greenish component to it.
I think the “green” you’re talking about here is more of an olive-y brownish green, that reads to most people as brown. We all look at our own eyes in the mirror while brushing our teeth or putting on makeup, so we might see those little flecks of “green” that no one else would notice. Most people just see a light brown color. I do think that most people who say their eyes are green just think it sounds more special than brown, for whatever reason.
Light brown eyes are sometimes called amber. Hazel is brown + another color (usually green).
+1
A lot of people misuse the word "hazel", unfortunately. Many people genuinely believe it means light brown. Actual hazel eyes are a mix of one or more colors, usually brown and something else, but many times all three.
Here is an example of a hazel eye:
![]()
It's actually quite rare which is what can be somewhat frustrating, from an etymology standpoint, about people using it thoughtlessly to describe brown eyes. That's just not what it means. Hazel eyes are actually more similar to central heterochromia, and indeed, that's the word used for people with that condition.
I think I have hazel eyes. They are like the pic, but with small brown splotches over gray and green. They read as green, so that's what I put on my DL. My husband has very dark brown eyes. My child has olive green eyes. I think genetics are interesting. We have a red headed child, but my husband and I both have dark brown hair. We don't know where it came from.
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:My DH always says his eyes are green but they don't look green at all to me. We've just agreed to disagree.
This is true of everyone who says they have green eyes. I have never seen anyone who has objectively green eyes. But people love to say they have green eyes because they think it makes them “special.”
DP. I have no idea what the scientific stats are on green versus "hazel" but, as someone with hazel eyes married to someone with hazel eyes, I think that a lot of people whose eyes are hazel tend to describe their own eyes as green (though I say hazel). Hazel is technically a green-brown combination, often with brown in a ring around the iris and green surrounding that, so the predominant color is very often much more green than brown. I don't think people claim green because "it makes them 'special.'" I think they just see mostly green. It's a bit petty-minded to assume that people who call their own eye color green are doing so just out of vanity. A lot of people don't even really know what "hazel" means in eye color or why it's differentiated from green, so it's probably easier to say, or put onto forms, "green eyes."
You’re right that the word “hazel” is confusing. My SIL told me that light brown eyes are hazel and that only dark brown eyes are actually “brown.” I’ve never heard before that hazel can have a greenish component to it.
I think the “green” you’re talking about here is more of an olive-y brownish green, that reads to most people as brown. We all look at our own eyes in the mirror while brushing our teeth or putting on makeup, so we might see those little flecks of “green” that no one else would notice. Most people just see a light brown color. I do think that most people who say their eyes are green just think it sounds more special than brown, for whatever reason.
Light brown eyes are sometimes called amber. Hazel is brown + another color (usually green).
+1
A lot of people misuse the word "hazel", unfortunately. Many people genuinely believe it means light brown. Actual hazel eyes are a mix of one or more colors, usually brown and something else, but many times all three.
Here is an example of a hazel eye:
![]()
It's actually quite rare which is what can be somewhat frustrating, from an etymology standpoint, about people using it thoughtlessly to describe brown eyes. That's just not what it means. Hazel eyes are actually more similar to central heterochromia, and indeed, that's the word used for people with that condition.
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:IMO brown eyes age better, just like tan skin.
Blue eyes pairs beautifully with youthful plump skin, but blue eyes don't really do anything (doesn't give you those bonus points) if you have thinning wrinkly skin. It's especially aging for those whose blue colors turns gray-ish or opaque with advanced age.
At least brown eyes stay the same color and does not contribute to looking older.
My dad’s blue eyes were still bright and stunning on his death bed. Olive skin still smooth too at 76.
Anonymous wrote:IMO brown eyes age better, just like tan skin.
Blue eyes pairs beautifully with youthful plump skin, but blue eyes don't really do anything (doesn't give you those bonus points) if you have thinning wrinkly skin. It's especially aging for those whose blue colors turns gray-ish or opaque with advanced age.
At least brown eyes stay the same color and does not contribute to looking older.
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:My DH always says his eyes are green but they don't look green at all to me. We've just agreed to disagree.
This is true of everyone who says they have green eyes. I have never seen anyone who has objectively green eyes. But people love to say they have green eyes because they think it makes them “special.”
DP. I have no idea what the scientific stats are on green versus "hazel" but, as someone with hazel eyes married to someone with hazel eyes, I think that a lot of people whose eyes are hazel tend to describe their own eyes as green (though I say hazel). Hazel is technically a green-brown combination, often with brown in a ring around the iris and green surrounding that, so the predominant color is very often much more green than brown. I don't think people claim green because "it makes them 'special.'" I think they just see mostly green. It's a bit petty-minded to assume that people who call their own eye color green are doing so just out of vanity. A lot of people don't even really know what "hazel" means in eye color or why it's differentiated from green, so it's probably easier to say, or put onto forms, "green eyes."
You’re right that the word “hazel” is confusing. My SIL told me that light brown eyes are hazel and that only dark brown eyes are actually “brown.” I’ve never heard before that hazel can have a greenish component to it.
I think the “green” you’re talking about here is more of an olive-y brownish green, that reads to most people as brown. We all look at our own eyes in the mirror while brushing our teeth or putting on makeup, so we might see those little flecks of “green” that no one else would notice. Most people just see a light brown color. I do think that most people who say their eyes are green just think it sounds more special than brown, for whatever reason.
Light brown eyes are sometimes called amber. Hazel is brown + another color (usually green).
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:My DH always says his eyes are green but they don't look green at all to me. We've just agreed to disagree.
This is true of everyone who says they have green eyes. I have never seen anyone who has objectively green eyes. But people love to say they have green eyes because they think it makes them “special.”
DP. I have no idea what the scientific stats are on green versus "hazel" but, as someone with hazel eyes married to someone with hazel eyes, I think that a lot of people whose eyes are hazel tend to describe their own eyes as green (though I say hazel). Hazel is technically a green-brown combination, often with brown in a ring around the iris and green surrounding that, so the predominant color is very often much more green than brown. I don't think people claim green because "it makes them 'special.'" I think they just see mostly green. It's a bit petty-minded to assume that people who call their own eye color green are doing so just out of vanity. A lot of people don't even really know what "hazel" means in eye color or why it's differentiated from green, so it's probably easier to say, or put onto forms, "green eyes."
You’re right that the word “hazel” is confusing. My SIL told me that light brown eyes are hazel and that only dark brown eyes are actually “brown.” I’ve never heard before that hazel can have a greenish component to it.
I think the “green” you’re talking about here is more of an olive-y brownish green, that reads to most people as brown. We all look at our own eyes in the mirror while brushing our teeth or putting on makeup, so we might see those little flecks of “green” that no one else would notice. Most people just see a light brown color. I do think that most people who say their eyes are green just think it sounds more special than brown, for whatever reason.
Anonymous wrote:My spouse has blue. I have brown. DS has brown. When he was little he'd tell me how much he disliked "light eyes" and was so happy he had brown ones! To each their own.
Anonymous wrote:IMO brown eyes age better, just like tan skin.
Blue eyes pairs beautifully with youthful plump skin, but blue eyes don't really do anything (doesn't give you those bonus points) if you have thinning wrinkly skin. It's especially aging for those whose blue colors turns gray-ish or opaque with advanced age.
At least brown eyes stay the same color and does not contribute to looking older.
Anonymous wrote:I'm pretty sure the OP won a bet with this one.
"I bet I can start a topic on DCUM with the most inane, ridiculous premise and get at least ten or twenty pages of inane, ridiculous responses."
Anonymous wrote:IMO brown eyes age better, just like tan skin.
Blue eyes pairs beautifully with youthful plump skin, but blue eyes don't really do anything (doesn't give you those bonus points) if you have thinning wrinkly skin. It's especially aging for those whose blue colors turns gray-ish or opaque with advanced age.
At least brown eyes stay the same color and does not contribute to looking older.
Anonymous wrote:IMO brown eyes age better, just like tan skin.
Blue eyes pairs beautifully with youthful plump skin, but blue eyes don't really do anything (doesn't give you those bonus points) if you have thinning wrinkly skin. It's especially aging for those whose blue colors turns gray-ish or opaque with advanced age.
At least brown eyes stay the same color and does not contribute to looking older.