12 Weird Facts You Didn’t Know About Redheads

Growing up in Ireland, which is synonymous with red hair, was a fun time. You were guaranteed to have at least a “ginger” or two in your class, as we called them.

Unfortunately, the color wasn’t embraced for its beauty at the time. Kids liked to poke fun at these innocent faces who stood out for their bold freckles, pale skin that easily burned in the sun, and, of course, their bright, fiery hair.

I don’t feel it was bullying then; Irish humor always likes to tease and ridicule others, especially those we like. Maybe the “gingers” will tell you a different story.

As you grow up, you realize how special and rare the hair color is. Here are 12 weird facts you didn’t know about these beautiful redheads.

Scotland Has the Most Redheads

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The highest number of red heads are found in Northern Europe, particularly Scotland and Ireland. They are also found in lower numbers in Wales, England, the Franco-Belgian border, Switzerland, Denmark, and Norway.They may be less commonly seen in other parts of the world.

Redheads are found in higher concentrations where there were ancient Celtic civilizations.

Blue Eyes and Red Hair Is Extremely Rare

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Red hair occurs in one to two percent of the population. Pair that with blue eyes, and you’ve got the rarest of all color combinations.

To be born with blue eyes and red hair, you must inherit this genetic information from your parents. The odds of this happening are around 0.17 percent.

Redheads Struggle to Tan

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Melanocortin 1 receptor (MC1R) on chromosome 16 is responsible for the red hair mutation, causing a person to produce more phaeomelanin, a red pigment that is present in our lips.

The result is less eumelanin pigment, which is responsible for brown hair and skin. This is why redheads naturally have pale skin and freckles.

Redheads Are More Likely To Be Left-Handed

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While brown hair is a dominant or strong gene, redheadness is usually inherited as a recessive trait. Recessive genes often come in pairs. Research suggests that redheads are more likely to be left-handed, which is also recessive. If you know someone who is red-haired, blue-eyed, and left-handed, consider them pretty special!

Both Parents Must Carry the Gene

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Luckily, the ginger folks aren’t going to disappear anytime soon. The red-haired and blue-eyed combo could even skip a few generations.

MC1R is a recessive gene. Even if parents don’t have the unique traits themselves, they could both still carry the genetic variants. If only one parent carries the gene, it’s not enough to inherit red hair!

Redheads Experience Different Pain Thresholds

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Redheads perceive pain differently. Due to the MC1R mutation, redheads are more sensitive to pain tied to hot and cold temperatures. They are sensitive to cold pain perception, cold pain tolerance, and heat pain more than their dark-haired counterparts. Studies also show that redheads are less sensitive to electric shock pain.

Sensitivity to Drugs

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Interestingly, redheads don't get as much pain relief from local anesthetics (subcutaneous lidocaine) as others do. One study found that redheads required significantly more of the drug to get the same effects.

Opioid morphine, on the other hand, works in different ways on the brain and body, and redheads require less of this to treat pain.

Redheads May Be More Attractive

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Redheads may actually be considered more attractive than non-redheads due to their rarity. Studies show that both red-haired men and women have more children than non-redheads.

Despite red-haired women having higher incidences of fertility problems, they seemed to enjoy greater mating success and also had more sexual partners.

Redheads Probably Won’t Go Gray

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Redheads may be at an advantage in this aspect of aging. While all their non-redhead friends are turning grey, redheads retain their color for longer, which makes them even more enviable!

Redheads eventually begin to lose their pigment, which may turn to blonde or white hair. This process is known as achromotrichia.

Red Hair Is Thicker

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Redheads may have fuller, more luscious locks than the rest of us. As it turns out, redheads typically have thicker hair and less of it.

Red hair is known to have a lower strand count of around 90,000 strands, while blondes have about 150,000 hair strands. The average person has about 100,000 strands of hair.

Redheads Get More Vitamin D

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While redheads may have trouble sitting out in the sun, that doesn’t mean they are deficient in vitamin D.

Despite their pale skin, redheads produce more vitamin D. They can synthesize vitamin D better, even in low-light conditions, and may have an advantage in cooler climates for this reason.

Perfect for living in Scotland and Ireland, no doubt!

There Is an Annual Festival To Celebrate Redheads

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Spotting a redhead may not be a regular occurrence, depending on what part of the world you’re in, but you sure have a great opportunity to do so at the Redhead Days Festival. This year’s event took place from August 23 to 25 in Spoorpark, Tilburg, the Netherlands.

Thousands of people from around the world gather for the event each year and partake in an amazing photoshoot.

Author: Caitriona Maria

Caitriona Maria is an accomplished writer, editor, and the founder of TPR Teaching. Her passion for education and entertainment shines through in her content, which inspires and empowers individuals of all ages.

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