Girls: dyeing for a good time

On the surface, Britain is a nation of blonde beauties - but most women are faking it.

In a survey, 75 per cent of golden-haired women admitted using bottled dyes to change their colour, while one in four went to a salon for highlights. Some said they had ambitions to lead a Sex And The City lifestyle like Kim Cattrall while others merely tried to hide their age.

Bournemouth has the highest proportion of bottle blondes in the country. The highest number of blondes - both real and fake - live in Manchester, the study by women's website iVillage.co.uk found. Beauty expert Roni Dutta said: 'We must look at the influence of celebrities such as Linda Barker and Penny Smith, whose hair oozes glamour, sophistication and youth. 'As our attitudes become younger, so must our appearance.'