Hello!

50 Comment

There’s more that sets redheads apart than just their incredible hair colour…

Redheads make up just two percent of the population, but science has revealed that it’s not just their red hair that makes them unique. The specific make up of redheads gives them a number of genetic qualities, some which put them at an advantage over their blonde and brunette counterparts, and others that are a little more unusual…

One Of A Kind

Redhead and author of The Big Redhead Book Erin La Rosa says there are some interesting consequences to having red hair. In her book she writes that a 2003 study by McGill University proved that women with red hair have a 25% higher pain threshold due to rare MC1R mutation that gives them their auburn locks. While this mutation makes them better able to cope better with pain, redheads also feel changes in temperature far more intensely than non-redheads as a result, making the height of summer and the depths of winter less than comfortable. Being Vitamin D deficient is something redheads will never have to worry about – they need much less than the rest of us and can make their own rather efficiently! This is starting to sound a lot like a list of superpowers to us…

redhead

Better In Every Way

Not only can redheads resist pain and make their own Vitamin D, but they also smell significantly better than the rest of the population. Greater levels in the acidity of their skin’s surface means that redheads evaporate their scent, natural or otherwise, at a higher and more fragrant potency. Unfortunately, if you’re planning on masquerading as a redhead, it may be harder than you thought. Red is the hardest colour to fake and red hair from a bottle is nearly always distinguishable from the real deal – and you won’t be getting any of these other incredible genetic qualities to go with it (they don’t go grey!)

So for all the nicknames, teasing and sun safety that redheads often have to endure, it looks like they’re the ones having the last laugh.

Are you or your children genetically blessed redheads? Let us know in the comments below!

  • Nope…but my 4 of my closest friends are red heads.

    Reply

  • I always picture strong Irish genes when I see someone with red locks.

    Reply

  • My sister is a red head, I’m a brunette so when my baby popped out with beautiful red hair we joked that I had her baby. Red heads are absolutely beautiful

    Reply

  • I agree with some of the other comments, all hair colours are unique and beautiful. I love brunettes.

    Reply

  • everyone is unique in their own ways, we need to ccelebrate it


    • I wish i was a redhead – I think the colours are stunning.

    Reply

  • All hair colours are special!

    Reply

  • I’ve got red headed cousins, their hair is lovely and thick and that wonderful Auburn red

    Reply

  • No redhead in our family but I reckon red hair are nice

    Reply

  • My dad has black hair but a red moustache does that count? My son has a bit of strawberry in his hair

    Reply

  • I have red hair, my cousin has red hair, I have family aunt’s & uncle’s with red hair and now my daughter and my cousins daughter both are strawberry blonde. It runs right through our family from way back. And being a red head back when I was younger wasn’t great being the only red head at school. But now my daughter’s school has a lot more kids with red hair.

    Reply

  • Not so sure majority of the population would agree with this. Redhead kids cop such a hard time at school, as well as adults in the work environment

    Reply

  • My son is a red head [golden red these days, but a real ginger in the beginning] and so is his son. I’d agree about the pain threshold for both of them and they don’t feel the cold either, but don’t like the heat at all. My son also doesn’t look his age whereas my children [all dark haired] do. He is certainly having the last laugh over his brother and sisters as far as that is concerned and not a grey hair to be seen with him.

    Reply

  • Reds are a rarity and so are blondes or natural ones at least.

    Reply

  • I had auburn hair but most of it is white according to the hairdresser (2 have told me that), not grey.
    One of my friends from school has really red curly hair, and her son has red curly hair too

    Reply

  • No both of mine are fair haired

    Reply

  • My youngest is a bit strawberry blonde. My father had always a red beard when he was younger. My sister was reddish and her 2 kids are both red haired.

    Reply

  • Very interesting article to read

    Reply

  • My mum is a redhead but did know this until I was older, she dyes it black. The closest my children have come to red hair is my third son was born strawberry blonde. Many jokes from hubby’s family as to how he got it, I was not telling. It did not last long as he went blonde by the time he was about six months.

    Reply

  • My 6 month old daughters hair seemed a little red however it’s slowly falling out & heading to more of a brown colour.
    I think redheads are beautiful. Flaunt it if you got it!

    Reply

  • I was born with red hair but it all fell out, grew back in as white blonde and turned really boring mousy brown later on. Wonder what genes I get to do that. I have awesome vitamin D levels and definitely feel hot and cold badly and also have a very high pain tolerance.

    Reply

Post a comment

To post a review/comment please join us or login so we can allocate your points.

↥ Back to top

Thanks For Your Star Rating!

Would you like to add a written rating or just a star rating?

Write A Rating Just A Star Rating
Join