Hazel, Green, Blue, Brown, Gray And Amber Eyes: The Full Guide
Each eye color has its own look, its own cause, and its own rare score. In this guide I will go through hazel, green, blue, brown, gray and amber eyes one by one. You will learn what makes each shade, how rare it is, and how to bring out the best in your own eyes. Let us go color by color.
Brown Eyes
Brown eyes have a lot of pigment in the iris. The more pigment, the darker the brown. Brown is the most common eye color in the world, so if your eyes are brown, you share it with most people.
Brown eyes suit most hair tones and skin tones. They look rich and warm in soft day light. Dark brown can look near black in a dim room, while light brown can glow gold in the sun.
- Most pigment of all eye colors.
- Most common eye color on earth.
- Suits most hair and skin tones.
- Looks rich and warm in day light.
Hazel Eyes
Hazel eyes are a true mix. They can have brown, gold and green all in one iris. The shade can change in different light, which is part of the fun.
Hazel is rare. Only a small part of the world has it. The mix comes from medium pigment plus some light scatter. Most hazel eyes have gold flecks near the pupil and green or gray at the edge.
- Mix of brown, gold and green.
- Can change shade in different light.
- Rare in the world.
- Most have gold flecks near the pupil.
Amber Eyes
Amber eyes are gold or copper. They look like a wolf or a cat eye. The color comes from a pigment named lipochrome, not just melanin.
Amber is one of the most rare eye colors in humans. If you have it, your eyes are a true find. Amber eyes can glow in the sun and look warm in soft light.
Green Eyes
Green eyes have no green dye in them. The color comes from how light scatters in the iris, plus a tiny bit of brown pigment. It is the same trick that makes the sky look blue, but with a green tone.
Green eyes are very rare. Only about 2 in 100 people have them. They are most common in some parts of Europe, like Ireland and Scotland.
- No green pigment in the iris.
- Color from light scatter plus low melanin.
- Very rare in the world.
- Most common in some parts of Europe.
Blue Eyes
Blue eyes have no blue dye at all. The blue look comes from how light scatters in the pale iris. It is the same trick that makes the sky look blue.
Blue eyes are less common than brown but found all over the world. All blue eyed people may share one old family root from long ago, a single person who had the first blue eye gene.
- No blue pigment in the iris.
- Color from light scatter on a pale iris.
- Less common than brown.
- All blue eyed people may share one old root.
Gray Eyes
Gray eyes are very rare. They look pale and cool, like soft stone. They have very low pigment and more collagen in the iris stroma, which gives the gray look.
Gray eyes can look blue or green in different light. Some babies born with blue eyes end up with gray eyes as they grow.
How To Tell The Colors Apart
It can be hard to tell hazel from green, or blue from gray. Here is my cheat sheet.
| Look For | Means |
|---|---|
| Gold near pupil, green at edge | Hazel |
| Green all over, maybe a tiny brown | Green |
| Solid blue, no gold or green | Blue |
| Pale gray with maybe a hint of blue | Gray |
| Solid gold or copper | Amber |
| Deep rich brown, near black | Dark Brown |
What Makes Each Color
Each eye color has its own cause. Here is the short list.
- Brown: lots of melanin.
- Hazel: medium melanin plus light scatter.
- Amber: lipochrome pigment.
- Green: low melanin plus light scatter.
- Blue: very low melanin, light scatter.
- Gray: very low melanin plus more collagen.
How To Bring Out Your Eye Color
You can bring out your eye color with the right tones in your hair, clothes, and makeup. Here are my tips for each color.
Brown Eyes
Wear warm tones like gold, copper, and deep green. These bring out the warmth in brown eyes.
Hazel Eyes
Wear green, gold, or warm brown. These pick up the flecks in hazel eyes and make them pop.
Green Eyes
Wear deep green, plum, or copper. These match the green tone and make it more bright.
Blue Eyes
Wear warm orange, copper, or soft gold. The warm tone makes the cool blue look more bright.
Gray Eyes
Wear soft blue, gray, or deep plum. These match the cool tone of gray eyes.
Amber Eyes
Wear deep green, brown, or warm gold. These match the warm glow of amber eyes.
How Rare Is Each Color
Here is a quick look at how rare each eye color is in the world.
| Color | Share Of World |
|---|---|
| Brown (all shades) | ~79% |
| Blue | ~8% |
| Hazel | ~5% |
| Amber | ~5% |
| Green | ~2% |
| Gray | ~1% |
| Violet / Red | <1% |
What To Do Next
Now you know each color. The next step is to find your true shade. Use our free AI eye color scanner. Upload a clear photo, agree to the rules, and we will show you your full report in a few seconds.
You can also read the rest of our guide for more on how eye color works, how genes play a part, and how to read your eye from a photo.
Key takeaways
- Brown has the most pigment, blue has the least.
- Hazel is a true mix of brown, gold and green.
- Green and amber come from light scatter and rare pigments.
- Gray eyes have very low pigment and more collagen.
- Wear tones that match your eye color to make it pop.
FAQ
Which eye color is the most rare?
True violet and red are the most rare. Among the more common colors, green and gray are the most rare.
Can two brown eyed parents have a blue eyed child?
Yes, it can happen. Both parents may carry a hidden blue eye gene that can show up in the child.
Are hazel eyes green or brown?
Hazel is a mix. Most hazel eyes have brown or gold near the pupil and green or gray at the edge.
Do amber eyes glow in the dark?
No, but they can look very bright in low light because of the gold tone.
Find your true eye color now
Upload a clear photo, agree to the rules, and our AI scanner gives you the exact shade plus a full report in seconds.
Take the free eye color test