I remember a girl in my class in primary school who had red hair. Red hair and lots of freckles. She wasn't very popular, mainly because she was ginger. And even we all knew Pipi Lastrum and Anne of Green Gables by heart, and each one of us wanted to be exactly like Anne, that girl wasn't playing with us. Kids don't appreciate individuality, one has to be just like the majority to fit in. It does change as we grow up though and then everyone wants to be different, one of a kind.
Today red hair is rare. I am in total awe when I see someone with natural ginger head.
Did you know?
Less than 2 percent of the world’s population has red hair, making it the rarest hair colour in the world. It’s the result of the mutated MC1R gene. If both parents carry that gene, their child has a 25 percent chance of getting lovely, red locks, even if the parents don’t have red hair themselves. Ireland has the highest per capita percentage of redheads in the world, anywhere from 10 to 30 percent according to Eupedia, a website that explores European genetics and ancestry. They are almost equally prevalent in Scotland and other pockets of Celtic pride.
Apparently, Irish people developed their red hair because of a lack of sunlight, according to new research from a leading DNA lab. Ireland's DNA has revealed that one in 10 Irish people have red hair but it is thought that up to half the population could be carrying the redhead gene even though they are blonde or brunette.
Red hair will never turn grey. Instead, the pigment simply fades over time. Redheads usually end up with blonde or silvery white hair when they get older, skipping the greying stage altogether.
They also need more local topical anesthetics, such as Llidocaine or Novocain, which is why many redheads have a fear of dentists. However, studies suggest that their general pain tolerance may be higher.
In ancient Asian civilizations (dating back to the second millennium B.C.), people were said to have red and auburn hair. There are several accounts of redheads in Greek literature. The ancient people Budini, Sarmatians, and Thracians were reported by Greek authors to be blue-eyed and red-haired.
There are numerous festivals around the world to celebrate Redheads in all their uniqueness and splendour. These ones below are the most famous:
WORLD REDHEAD DAY is celebrated every year on May 26.
IRISH REDHEAD CONVENTION - August 25-27, 2023 The event is to raise money for the Irish Cancer Society and enjoy some ginger based fun including carrot tossing, a redhead parade and a chance to win a best-dressed redhead.
ROODHARIGENDAG - August 25-27, 2023 Its founding is credited to Dutch artist Bart Rouwenhorst, who decided to paint 15 redheads and then advertised for willing models. He fielded over 150 responses and thus, a tradition was born.
The Redhead Days festival is a gathering of tens of thousands of people in the Netherlands, including many thousands of redheads from more than 80 countries. It is the oldest, largest, and most spectacular redhead festival in the world. It is free; you only pay for specific activities. Redheads from all over the world come to this annual festival to meet fellow redheads from six continents. The festival is for redheads, but non-redhead family, friends, fans etc are welcome as well.
Redheads have less hair on their heads. On average, someone with red hair has 90,000 strands of hair. Blonds have 110,000 strands of hair on average and brunettes have the most with 140,000 strands of hair. On the other hand, red hair is thicker than other colours. Each strand of red hair is generally thicker than other shades which compensates for the fact that redheads have less hair.
Blue eyed redheads are super rare. Blue eyes and red hair form the rarest combo on earth. Most redheads will have brown eyes, followed by hazel or green shades.
Red hair isn’t the only thing that’s rare. A high portion of redheads are also left-handed.
Being a man with red hair could mean a lower risk for prostate cancer. A study from the British Journal of Cancer found men with naturally red hair were 54% less likely to develop prostate cancer, compared to other men with blond, brown or black hair.
According to Health Magazine, redheads can produce their own vitamin D when exposed to low levels of light.
Research has shown that people with red hair perceive pain differently than others. They may not need as much pain medication. The gene responsible for red hair (MC1R) also releases a hormone that is similar to endorphins which limit the feeling of pain.
At the same time, they may be more sensitive to certain types of pain and can require higher doses of some pain-killing medications. They need about 20 percent more anesthesia to be sedated.
NATIONAL REDHEAD DAY - November 5, 2023 The event is supported by the Anti-Bullying Alliance charity because let’s face it; being ginger at school wasn’t a walk in the park for anyone. It was founded in 2015 by redheaded sisters Adrienne and Stephanie Vendetti, the co-founders of the website How to Be a Redhead. They launched the site in 2011 as a response to the unwanted attention and bullying they experienced at school because of their natural hair colour and created a holiday celebrating redheads four years later. The Vendetti sisters wanted to create a day that would counteract the negativity associated with red hair by spreading a positive message about redheads, encourage redheads to embrace their natural hair colour, and remind people that everyone deserves respect regardless of their colour.
