<!DOCTYPE html> <html> <head> <style> option {color: green} option[selected] {color: red} option:not([selected]):not(:default) + option {color: green} </style> </head> <body onload='document.getElementById("one").removeAttribute("selected");'> <select size="2"> <option id="one" selected="selected">Should be no red</option> <option id="two">Should be no red</option> </select> </body> </html>