<P> Brown hair is common among populations in the Western world, especially among those from Central Europe, Southeastern Europe, Eastern Europe, Southern Europe, Southern Cone, the United States, and also some populations in the Greater Middle East where it transitions smoothly into black hair . Additionally, brown hair is common among Australian Aborigines and Melanesians . </P> <P> The term brunette is the feminine form of the French word brunet, which is a diminutive form of brun meaning "brown / brown - haired", the feminine of which is brune . All of these terms ultimately derive from the Proto - Indo - European root * bhrūn - "brown, grey". The form "brun" (pronounced / bruːn /) is still commonly used in Scotland, particularly in rural areas, and is also the word for "brown" in the Scandinavian languages . In modern English usage, however, it has lost the diminutive meaning and usually refers to any brown - or black - haired girl or woman, or the associated hair color . Merriam - Webster defines "brunet" as "a person having brown or black hair"--with which they may have "a relatively dark complexion--spelled brunet when used of a boy or man and usually brunette when used of a girl or woman". Although brunet is the masculine version of the popular diminutive form used to describe a little boy or young man with brown hair, the use of "brunet" is uncommon in English . One is more likely to say about a man or boy, "He has brown hair" or "He is brown - haired" than to say, "He is a brunette" (or brunet). </P> <P> Lighter or darker shades of brown hair may be referred to as "light brunette" or "dark brunette", though in such cases one is generally referring only to the hair color, not using the term as a metaphor for the person; one would be unlikely to say, "She is a light brunette ." Rather, one would say, "She has light - brown hair ." </P> <P> Brown - haired individuals predominate in most parts of Europe . In northern and central Europe medium to light brown shades are the most common, while darker shades prevail in the rest of the continent, especially in the Iberian Peninsula, where it transitions into black hair . Brown hair, mostly medium to light brown shades, are also dominant in Australia, Canada and the United States among descendants of the Northern, Central and Eastern European (British, German, Polish, and Russian) immigrants . </P>

Where does brown eyes and brown hair come from