22 Fascinating Facts About Red Heads That Might Surprise You

By: Alec Donaldson | Last updated: Oct 30, 2023

Whether it’s the color of a dress, a stop sign, or the hair atop a person’s head, the color red seems to constantly fascinate us. Redheads, in particular, are deemed a more interesting set of people than most, as they possess several unique capabilities, all thanks to their hair color.

Sounds intriguing? Well, stick around as we uncover all the juicy secrets that make redheads stand out.

Their Pain Tolerance Is on Another Level

If you thought this was the sole ability of comic book heroes, then think again. While folks of other hair colors would be very sensitive to certain types of pain, according to scientific research, redheads would be better equipped to withstand such discomfort.

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Studies have also proven that this pain threshold can help recover from knife wounds, sharp pains, and even electrocution.

They Detect Changes in Temperature Faster Than Others

Another interesting fact about carrot-haired folks is that they detect thermal fluctuations sooner than people of other hair colors. This is all thanks to their ginger gene, the MCIR, which gives them that special red flair and also endows them with such unique abilities.

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This means they probably won’t rely on weather forecasts to determine whether it’s going to be sunny or not. Their extreme reactions would be more than sufficient for the task.

Can You Create Your Vitamin D?

A daily dose of Vitamin D is imperative for building a healthy set of teeth, bones, and muscles. The common sources of this nutrient are sardines, orange juice, and enough exposure to sunlight. Yet, if you’re a ginger, chances are you won’t need to bask in the sun to satisfy this nutritional requirement.

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Since redheads are commonly found at the northern and western extremes of Europe, where sunlight is an infrequent visitor, their bodies simply create the needed Vitamin D. Extraordinary!

Your Red-Haired Friends Make Better Comedians

Ever wonder why clowns have been regarded as hilarious? Well, it has a lot to do with the color red—the red nose and the typical red wigs they wear. This can be traced to the 19th century when ginger hair was regarded as an important aspect of a clown’s persona as it contributed massively to the entire comedic performance.

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This trend continues today, as many comedians like Carrot Top and Carol Burnett are considered humorous for their red hair.

Redheads Have A Higher Level Of Intimacy

Although it may seem strange, research has revealed that redhead women are more involved in intimate relationships. Many individuals might disagree with this claim, but Greman researcher Dr. Werner Habermehl has conducted extensive research to back it up.

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When compared to women with other hair colors, women with red hair were seen to be more engaged with their partners. Statistics also showed that redheads engage in intimate activities at least once more frequently than others each week.

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Redheads Are All Over The World

Thanks to their hair color, redheads are undoubtedly a group of ladies who stand out from other women. Contrary to the common belief, redheads are not exclusively Caucasian; they can be found in many other races.

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Although some regions of Russia and Northern Europe may have a higher proportion of redheads, still this set of women can be found in all races and ethnic groups all around the world.

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Everyone Loves A Redhead

Have you ever noticed how many more redheads you see in TV commercials? It seems that despite their small percentage of the population, commercial directors have a particular fondness for this group of women.

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According to research done in 2014 by Upstream Analysis, at least 30% of TV commercials that air during television programs feature at least one or more redheads. This is undoubtedly a good representation of their small population.

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Natural Redheads Are Rare

Even though there are many women with red hair today, only about 2% of people were born with red hair naturally. With Scotland having the greatest population of 13% of redheads worldwide, Western Europe has a larger proportion of redheads than other continents.

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Ladies who fall under this category definitely take great delight in it, perhaps due to their distinctive hair color or the many advantages that come with being a redhead.

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More Beauty, Less Strands

Before you get envious of the thick and luxurious red hair you see, you should also know that most redheads have less hair on their heads than people with other hair colors.

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Redheads rank lowest when compared to blondes and brunettes, with roughly 90,000 strands, whereas blondes and brunettes can each boast 110,000 and 140,000 strands. Still, redheads (gingers) have some of the prettiest hair colors ever.

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Grey Hair Late Bloomers?

Forget about hair dyes and hair treatments, here’s an amazing secret to keep your natural hair color – be born a redhead!

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Redheads have a clear edge when it comes to aging gracefully. Unlike other hair colors, red hair fades with age, slowly losing its brightness and transitioning to a rosy-blonde color, and eventually, silvery-white. So, if you’re a redhead, you can rest easy knowing that your hair will not turn grey until much later in life.

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A Celebration of Rarity

Did you know that November 5th is celebrated as National Redhead Day? This day, also known as “Love Your Red Hair Day,” is celebrated worldwide, and its initial idea was to allow redheads to feel included and appreciated.

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Given the enormous list of days to celebrate these days, this doesn’t come as a surprise. Nonetheless, in countries like the U.K. and the U.S., this day promotes pride in having ginger hair, emphasizing its rarity and beauty.

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The Many Shades of Red Hair

Redheads come in all shades of red, from light strawberry-blonde to dark auburn. Each shade is unique to the individual and is influenced by several factors, such as genetics, environment, and lifestyle.

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As one would expect, the red hue is the most common shade. While red hair is often associated with a bright, fiery hue, there are several variations of the color, making it a peculiar and versatile hair color.

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The Fascinating Connection between Surnames and Red Hair

Delving into the history of surnames in the British Isles, one discovers an intriguing link to the fiery shade of red hair. It’s astonishing to note that several popular surnames originate in the distinctive hue of red hair prevalent in the family line.

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For instance, the surname Flannery is specifically associated with the fiery hue of red eyebrows. Nonetheless, the most widespread surname that denotes this feature is Reid, literally meaning a “red-haired person.”

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Could The Rarity be Headed for Extinction?

Despite lacking concrete evidence, studies suggest that the gene responsible for red hair is dwindling and may disappear altogether by 2060.

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Nevertheless, other experts counter that the gene could simply lay dormant for multiple generations before resurfacing. While the future is uncertain, the consensus amongst the scientific community is that as long as redheads continue to reproduce, the gene has a chance of survival.

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How to Make Dark Hair Red without Dye

Who said you need a full salon appointment to get copper-colored locks? Not everyone has time for the salon or the money. If you want red hair, there’s an easier way: skip the protein-rich foods and let kwashiorkor do the rest.

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Kwashiorkor is common among children in regions where famine is prevalent, such as Central America and sub-Saharan Africa. It results from severe malnutrition or protein deficiency and causes dark hair to turn pale orange or ginger.

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Are Redheads More Prone to Parkinson's?

Some studies have shown that red-haired mice experience fewer dopamine surges and slower locomotive activity. The case isn’t necessarily closed on whether or not red hair can be linked to diseases like Parkinson’s in humans.

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If you are concerned about your future health, plenty of things you can do right now will help keep your brain healthy as it ages. These include eating well, exercising regularly, getting enough sleep, and staying socially active.

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Anesthetics Have to Work Harder

Redheaded women are known for their stunning beauty but are also more sensitive to pain. That’s why doctors need to exercise greater care when dealing with red-haired female patients, especially during medical operations requiring anesthesia.

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Research suggests that anesthetics have less powerful effects on red-haired women compared to dark-haired women. On the other hand, redheaded females respond faster to pain relievers than their dark-haired colleagues.

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Fame Is Red Hair's Best Friend

There have been so many popular redheads throughout history that it’s nearly impossible to list them all. So we’ll start with a few more recent ones: Ed Sheeran and Christina Hendricks made the cut.

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In the medieval era, Queen Elizabeth I was one of the first women to wear red hair and make it a trend. And then there’s Seth Green, who’s been acting since he was a kid, and Prince Harry, who has made waves over the years.

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The Fleeing Prince Who Became the First Redhead

Long ago, there was a prince called Idon of Mu. One day, he ran away from his homeland and found a magical city called Atlantis. The city sky glowed with a bright red color, unlike anything he’d ever seen.

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Many people believe that Idon’s hair changed to the sky’s color. They also presumed he passed the hair color to his descendants so unborn children would inherit the red hair.

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The Legend of Red Conception

Aside from the famed legend of the fleeing prince, there are other stories about redheads. One belief was that women conceived red-haired children during their menstrual cycle.

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At the time, people associated ginger-colored hair with unholy blood and hated red-haired kids. They claimed the blood from a woman’s period contaminates a man’s reproductive organs. Thanks to biology, we know that genes determine hair color so the trait isn’t unholy.

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As Common as a Redhead with Blue Eyes

Redheads are among the rarest set of humans alive. Since the gene carrying this trait is recessive, it takes a while before it shows up in a child.

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Yet, in this small population, there’s a rarer faction of individuals. Redheads with blue eyes! This attribute is so rare that unborn children have only a 0.17% chance of ending up with the mix. In a nutshell, red-haired children with blue eyes have the rarest physical attribute.

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Meet your Red-Haired Talents

Who’s your favorite red-haired celeb? Which entertainment star comes to mind when you see the fiery red color? Hollywood and the music scene abounds with beautiful, talented women, and redheads aren’t left out.

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Their radiant complexion and fiery hair set them apart from others. These redheads don’t only dominate the screens, they rock the industry. Here’s a list of some stunning and gifted redheads in the entertainment industry.

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