LITTLE-KNOWN TRUTHS ABOUT REDHEADS

I've made 40+ trips around the sun and have never Googled anything related to being a redhead!!! My red hair is such a big part of who I am, and while I know it's rare, I had no idea what other traits are common among all redheads. It's really quite amazing! So many things make sense now ; )

It doesn't matter where you live or where you go, odds are that you will come across someone with red hair in your lifetime. While it's a rare trait, it stands out in such a way that you notice it anywhere. Many "facts" that exist about redheads are nothing more than myths. You're about to find that the truth is even more surprising!

WE ARE ONLY ABOUT 2% OF THE U.S. POPULATION

So how rare is it to have red hair? It turns out that if you're talking about the U.S., it's extremely rare. Only about 2% of the population in the U.S. has red hair, and that estimate is probably a bit on the high end. Of course, this number varies by country. In places like Ireland, that number is closer to 10%.

RED HAIR AND BLUE EYES ARE EVEN MORE RARE (THINK UNICORN)

When some people think of people with red hair, they automatically think they have blue eyes, but that's rarely the case. Both red hair and blue eyes are relatively uncommon, so it makes sense that a combination of the two would be pretty hard to find.

It turns out that the combination of red hair and blue eyes only occurs in 0.17% of the population!

For someone to be born with both red hair and blue eyes, both of their parents would have to carry the genes for both red hair and blue eyes.

REDHEADS TAKE A LOT LONGER TO GO GRAY, IF AT ALL

I've yet to find a gray hair on my head, so this was very surprising (and exciting) to hear! Redheads take a lot longer to go gray than other hair colors. Usually, red hair just loses some of its luster as a person ages. Their hair fades until it becomes copper and then a blonde color, then it slowly turns gray, if it turns a different color at all. Crazy!!!

WE HAVE LESS HAIR THAN OTHER HAIR COLORS, BUT IT IS THICKER

Most people who know me, know that I joke about having a lion's mane of hair. It is crazy thick, so this truth was a little surprising for me! People with red hair usually have less hair on their heads than people with brown or blonde hair. On average, redheads have about 90,000 strands of hair, while the numbers for other hair colors average over 100,000. For example, brunettes usually have around 140,000 strands of hair. The reason you usually can't tell, is that red hair is actually thicker. It looks like they have the same amount of hair even though their strand count is on the lower end.

REDHEADS ARE MORE SENSITIVE TO TEMP CHANGES

Ok, now I'm beginning to think I have superpowers!

Redheads have an ability to detect changes in temperature a bit better than others. According to a study that was done in 2005 by a pretty reputable university, redheads might have a gene that allows them to detect changes in temperature before others. According to The Guardian, the same gene that causes red hair is thought to "over-activate" the gene that detects temperature changes.

So, the next time you want to know if summer is going to come early or not, ditch the groundhog and just ask me what I think is going to happen!

WE HAVE A HIGHER PAIN TOLERANCE

This could account for my many, many tattoos!

This urban legend definitely doesn't sound like something you'd expect to be true, but it turns out that the science actually backs up what people say about redheads and pain tolerance. People with red hair actually have a higher pain tolerance on average than others. Some studies suggest that redheads may have a higher resistance to certain types of pain, such as toothaches and pain associated with childbirth, due to a genetic variation related to the MC1R gene.

THERE'S A HOLIDAY FOR US!

There's pretty much a holiday for everything these days, so it makes sense that there would be a holiday for us with red hair too. Red hair is officially celebrated around the world on November 5 every year, and it's meant to evoke pride among those with red hair. It's also meant as a way for those with red hair to celebrate their unique trait or traits. There's also World Redhead Day, which is celebrated on May 26 of every year. The two are very similar, but one is celebrated more so in the U.S. and the U.K., while the other is more international.

WE MIGHT BE GOING EXTINCT

This fact is kind of sad to think about if it's true. Some scientists think that red hair is slowly disappearing and that it will be entirely gone by 2060, which would be a shame. Luckily, there are just as many, if not more, scientists who say that this theory is very unlikely. They argue that red hair can stay dormant for generations before showing up again.

MYTHBUSTER - RED HAIR DOES NOT EQUAL HOT TEMPER

This actually makes me happy! I'm not quite sure why this stereotype exists, but there is no scientific evidence to suggest that redheads have a different temperament or personality compared to individuals with other hair colors.

REDHEAD VS. GINGER

I don't want to speak for all redheads out there, but I definitely know how I feel about this. I have always found it offensive when someone calls me a "ginger," especially when they say it to me directly. It’s fine to call someone a "redhead," but it’s generally not okay to call someone a "ginger" without their permission. The word “ginger” can have negative connotations, and is often used as an insult. It's good to know that through my research, most redheads feel the same way I do.

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It's taken me decades to love and embrace my red hair. I'm so happy to have learned about all of these traits that most redheads and I share!

I'm proud to be one of the .17% blue-eyed, red-haired unicorns!