Redheads: Myths, Legends, and Famous Red Hair
89
Where Are All the Redheads?
Throughout history, redheads have been feared and revered, loathed and adored, degraded and exalted. No other single human trait has provoked such a dichotomy of emotions in such a large number of fellow humans. It is as boiling is to freezing or despair is to hope. It is as hate is to love.
There are degrees of reddishness when referring to hair, including ginger, auburn (reddish brown), and strawberry blonde. Red hair is found most commonly at the western fringes of Europe. Leading the pack, Scotland, Ireland, Wales and England have the most redheads. Scotland has the highest proportion with 13% having red hair and approximately 40% possessing the recessive redhead gene. Ireland is second highest with approximately 10% having it and 40% carrying the gene.
The U.S. can boast (or not) anywhere from two to six percent of the population having red tresses. A seemingly paltry figure, but with a massive population, this gives the good ol' USA the largest number of redheads in the world with 6 to 18 million. Compare that to 650,000 in Scotland and 420,000 in Ireland. Who's paltry now? Read it and weep you redhead haters.
Fear and Loathing
Historically, prejudice and suspicion has always greeted the redhead, along with the belief that they were fiery and hot-tempered. This image - wrong or not - most likely stems from the fact that the Scots, with their high percentage of red haired people, are descended from the Celts, notoriously violent warriers. It is this perception that spawned many strange and fantastical beliefs and ideas about red hair.
The myths do seem to permeate all cultures. The ancient Egyptians couldn't make up their minds, typical of the super superstitious Egyptians of the time. They covered all their bases with a god for every purpose and situation. Sort of a god grab-bag. On the one hand, they believed that red haired animals and people were associated with the god 'Set', and many of their pharaohs had red hair. That included Ramses who was the most powerful baddest dude of all the pharaohs. Conversely, they also regarded the color red as unlucky and many red haired maidens were burnt to death to wipe out the tint. Talk about a makeover. Stories still persist that redheads were buried alive.
It's All Greek To Me
The Greeks, not to be outdone (the Greeks were never to be outdone as they were sore losers and it really got their sacrificial goat), believed that redheads would turn into vampires following their death. Aristotle - philosopher, student of Plato, teacher of Alexander the Great, and all-around smart guy and occasional ass - described redheads as being emotionally un-housebroken. I don't know what that means but whadda ya say you and I step outside, Tots?
Roman historian Deo Cassius described British Warrior Queen Boudicca (or Boudicca the bodacious) as " tall and terrifying in appearance [with] a great mass of red hair." Incidentally the ancient Romans also paid a premium for red haired slaves.
During the Spanish Inquisition (one of the fairest and justified of all inquisitions) flame colored hair was evidence that it's owner had stolen the fire of hell and had to be burned as a witch. Apparently, stealing the fire of hell is a crime and crime doesn't pay. In Corsica, if you pass a redhead in the street you are supposed to spit and turn around. It is unclear if that is supposed to bring good luck or because redheads leave a bad taste in your mouth. During the Middle Ages, red was seen as the color of the Devil, and it was thought that a child born with red hair was conceived during "that time of the month". Is that a little too much menstruation information?
Don't Adjust the Color on Your Set
Russian tradition declares that red hair is both a sign of a fiery temper and craziness, and a proverb warns, "There was never a saint with red hair. Indeed, red hair figures in the bible, The word Adam is supposedly the Hebrew word for 'red' or 'ruddy', and Judas - poster boy tor tratorious - is often portrayed with red hair as is Mary Magdalene. King David is thought to have been a redhead, and some even believe the 'mark of cain' to actually be red hair.
The association of red hair and untrustworthiness and ugliness somehow prevails in the modern age. The Nazi's discussed whether red haired people should be allowed to wed, fearing their degenerate offspring. Red hair is often portrayed in less than flattering ways in films and on TV. An Irish judge in 2001 fined a man for disorderly conduct stating "I am a firm believer that hair coloring has an effect on temper and your coloring suggests you have a temper." Thomas Wolfe was right: you can't go home again. At least not if you're from Ireland and have red hair.
Stupid Is As Stupid Does
In modern-day United Kingdom, the terms "ginger" or "ginga" are used to derogatorily describe red-headed people, despite having one of the highest populations of redheads, or perhaps because of it. This has given rise to terms such as "gingerphobia (fear of redheads) or "gingerism" (prejudiced against). Redheads are sometimes disparaged with the monikers "carrot tops" and "carrot heads". Red haired children have been branded as offspring of "unclean" sex (uh oh, we're back to the menstrual thing) which has gotten them taunts like "red-knob" or "tampon tops". This intolerant attitude has led to a rise in harassment that has caused families to relocate, and has even led to murder. A 23 year old redhead was stabbed in the back. Why? "For being ginger", replied the miscreant that committed the foul deed.
There are some documented medical differences. We'll skip the fair skin sensitivity to the sun melanoma stuff, but did you know that human adults have about 120.000 hairs on their heads? Really. I counted my head. The bad news is redheads have fewer, blondes have more, and brunettes have the most. Researchers at the University of Louisville discovered that, on average, people born with red hair require about 20 percent more anesthesia to obtain satisfactory sedation. University indeed. Anyone who's ever tried to seduce a redhead knows that.
It's not all bad though. British legend states that King Arthur had red hair, and that a red haired leader would come to lead the country in times of trouble. Enter Elizabeth I and Churchill, who were thought to be answers to this legend. The Merovians of ancient Gaul were red headed and this was believed to give them magical powers.
Red On the Head, Fire In the Bed
Red hair was thought to be a mark of a beastly sexual desire and moral degeneration. See? I told you it's not all bad. It is a common belief that redheads are highly sexed. Jonathon Swift satirized this redhead stereotype in Gulliver's Travels, part 4, A Voyage to the Country of the Houyhnhnms, when he wrote: "It is observed that the red-haired of both sexes are more libidinous and mischievous than the rest, whom yet they much exceed in strength and activity." As Austin Powers might observe, Oh, yeah, baby!
So do not despair you red heads so fair. Brunettes may be smarter, blondes may have more fun, but none are wrapped so tightly in mystery and intrigue. Like a gift to be opened on a special day. That is what fascinates us about you, and that's no myth.
Redhead Quotes and the Gallery of Red Hair
"Once in his life, every man is entitled to fall madly in love with a gorgeous redhead." - Lucille Ball
"If you want trouble... find yourself a redhead." - Unknown
"You'd find it easier to be bad than good if you had red hair," said Anne reproachfully. "People who haven't red hair don't know what trouble is."- Anne to Marilla in Anne of Green Gables
"Blondes are noticed but redheads are never forgotten." - Unknown
"Please just call me red-headed and forgive me." - Anne to Gilbert in Anne's House of Dreams
"Nobody who has known a redhead can say that redheads are tame. Even shy redheads have a burning spark of adventure inside them. Opinionated, hotheaded, logical, loyal, friendly, reserved, whatever the redheads' personality, you can bet they'll have SCADS of it!" - Review of The Redhead Encyclopedia
"I do believe my redheadedness plays a huge part in who I am. If I were a blonde or brunette, I would be an entirely different person." - Unknown
"We redheads are a minority, we tend to notice each other - you know, and notice our identity." - Juliann Moore, actress
"All throughout history, from Reuben to Robbins, redheads have been recognized as a rare breed. Blondes may have more fun, brunettes may be brainier, but when it comes down to raw energy, creativity, and personality ... you just can't beat a redhead well, you can, but beware ... she'll probably beat you back!" - Redheads Unlimited
"While the rest of the species is descended from apes, redheads are descended from cats." - Mark Twain
"It's not the hair that turns men on, it's the spirit that redheads exude." - Unknown
"When a fellow has a home and a dear, little, red-haired wife in it what more need he ask of life?" - Gilbert in Anne's House of Dreams
"Gentlemen may prefer blondes, but it takes a real man to handle a redhead." - Unknown
Out of the ash
I rise with my red hair
And eat men like air.
-Sylvia Plath
"I used to hate my red hair, but now I love the attention I get with it. I think that very smart, daring men love red hair, and I love that in a man." - Unknown
"The attraction to redheads is a lot like being addicted to drugs." - Unknown
"I am always asked where I got my bright auburn-red hair from, seeing as both my parents have a very dark almost black hair. My father, being 60 when I was born, always answered, "rust in the pipes." - Unknown
Blondes are wild, brunettes are true,
but you never know just what a redhead will do! - Unknown
'According to the wire, you are resting well and are being taken care of by a nurse. I hope she is beautiful and that she has red hair. I don't know why, but whenever I dream of a nurse she always has red hair. Red hair makes a man want to recover his health quickly, so that he can get on his feet and get the nurse off hers.' - Groucho Marx, in a letter to his son
"It was dreadful. They tried to put the little redhead in a cage" - . Sarah Ferguson, former Duchess of York
There once was a girl
with a Strawberry curl
Right in the middle of her forehead
And when she was good
she was very, very good
-but when she was bad she was horrid. - Unknown
"My husband said he wanted to have a relationship with a redhead...so I died my hair." - Jane Fonda
"Ruadh gu brath!" - Scots Gaelic for "Red heads forever!"
Life as a Redhead by Ardie
You've gotta read this. Life as a Redhead is a wonderful article by Ardie, detailing a young girls' struggle with childhood as a redhead, enduring the stereotypes, myths, and the feeling of being ostracised by the world. You won't believe the innappriate remarks made to this young girl or the bizarre reactions and treatment of her. Follow her as she grows into a confident, proud, and, in my opinion, a gorgeous adult with three lovely daughters. This is a must read!
Life as a Redhead by Ardie
Memoir of a Redhead by Anna Marie Bowman
- The Curse of Being a Redhead
First of all, I have always hated that term...ginger. It never sat well with me, and really don't like being called a ginger. For those of you who don't know, a ginger is someone with a lighter shade of red...
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Hi Shawna. Thanks for stopping by and your comments. Cheers!
Christoph great hub. I too am partial to redheads but they done me no good. I had a redhaired girlfriend in my youth and my ex of 34 years was a redhead. She left me. So no further comment.
What a great hub! I really enjoyed this, and the photos and illustrations are great! Thank you for another entertaining piece. I had red hair, which has now gone gray-white. I'm thinking of coloring it again since I may need to go on some job interviews and I think it helps if I don't look like I'm 100. Maybe I'd better stick to something brownish!
This is the perfect Hub...entertaining, informative, and colorful in both language and images.
I didn't know about the need redheads may have for additional anesthesia, and now I have a new insight into what my auburn-haired daughter had told me for years about a surgery she had when she was a child. She said she remembers awakening during the procedure and being terrified.
Thanks for creating this wonderful piece on the legends and truths about red hair.
What a fun hub! I read it with particular enjoyment as a sort of semi-redhead. My hair is technically brown, but it has such strong (natural) red highlights that it looks true red in many lights, and a lot of people mistake me for a redhead. Must be all that Scotch-Irish blood. :)
I was born an auburn. I've never had a general anasthesia in my life, in fact I'm phobic about it but it takes nearly twice the dose for the dentist to numb me. I didn't realize it was cuz of my hair color. This is a great hub!
sixtyorso: Thanks for the comment. Sounds like you saw both sides of the "redhead" coin. My personal experience with redheads is limited, but memorable. So, in case my better half is reading this, I, too, have no further comment. Thanks again.
Pgrundy: Hi! Thanks for writing. Don't get me started on the dreaded gray hair subject. Mine started in my 20's and I know the specific event that got the ball rolling. I never went for a men's hair dye product in spite of many people telling me to, figuring I wasn't that vain, but if I were on the market today? Who knows! Hello, Grecian Formula! Thank you for your kind comments. You always take the time to leave a word or two (or 200) and I appreciate that!
Sally's Trove: It is a pleasure to see you here and, as always, your comment is most welcome. As always, your words are kind, thoughtful, and personable and welcoming you to my hub seems like welcoming an old friend to my hearth. Thanks!
kerryg: With all that Scotch/Irish blood, you are entitled by your heritage to call yourself a redhead! Thank you for reading and writing! Stop by anytime!
hot dorkage. I would say the dentist definitely qualifies. Thanks for taking the time to read this and for your comment. Ciao!
My Step Dad was originally a red head, although now fairly bald on top. My Mum swears he is far to virulent for a man in his 70's and she can't keep up with his libido. I suspect now it is something to do with his hair colour.
What an absolute and total joy to read. I found myself alternating between, "Oh really? I had no idea," and "OMFG" as I genuinely laughed outloud. I stopped at least three times to turn and holler a great line at my wife, my personal favorite being:
Red hair was thought to be a mark of a beastly sexual desire and moral degeneration. See? I told you it's not all bad.
That's just flat funny as hell given the placement and timing etc. Congrats on another remarkable hub. Absolutely fantastic. (You know, I read somewhere that the red-hair gene will be gone in 2070. I sure hope that's not true.)
Great hub. Damn. I have always LOVED redheads but I never knew about the medical stuff.
Shadesbreath - Guess how many men will be chasing redheads as the gene becomes buried! The few left will be mobbed - seen as having magical sexual powers, or just plain magic. They'll be made into goddesses and take over countries, or be chased with tourches like Frankenstein.
Fun Hub, Christoph!
Mistyhorizon: Do my eyes decieve me or aren't you a redhead? Heaven knows, your personality sure fits, what with all your back and forth regarding particular battery powered products, not to mention your sharp tongue, woman! But reallly, great to see you here and I'm glad you had a read and left a word. Thanks!
Shadesbreath: Again, thanks for your comments and undeserved praise, which comes from someone whose writing I admire. Thanks!. I also came across this claim about the red haired gene, but it was being dismissed as a crock so I didn't pay much attention. (Patty Inglish MS is here so I must choose my words carefully, talking about science, as it were.) Perhaps I should research this further and include something about it. Part of my immediate dismissal, I guess, is that it WOULD be such a shame, and so to me is unthinkable. Or, call it my recessive Scotch/Irish gene for the detection of Blarney! I think I'll look into it. I hate having something that seems incomplete, so thanks A LOT!!! But seriously, folks, thanks!
D.J. Funktual: Thanks for stopping by, Dude! I have read many of you "funkalicious" hubs so it's nice to see you hangin' at my pad! Thanks!
Why...it's Patti Inglish MS! I didn't know you were here! Welcome. I think your right, if it's true. But there won't be one or the other reaction. People, powerful people, will take sides. There will be war, destruction and pestilence! (Not to mention, breeding programs! Damn! I didn't get no recessive gene!) Thanks for reading and glad you enjoyed it.
Patty, I bet there will be a ton. Red-heads are just flat hawt as hell. I catch a lot of crap for holding Marcia Cross aloft as one of the hawtest celebrities out there. Eye of the beholder and all that rot, I guess, but she's friggin' yummy.
As for the genetic thing... it may be rubbish, Christoph, I hope it is, but given the globalization thing and the propensity of black hair/brown eye'd dominant genes out there, I think it's entirely possible. I think any real debate will be about the year, not the likelihood. Red hair, blonde hair, blue eyes... I believe that was the vanishing order in the thing I read, taking place over a few centuries.
My wife is a redhead. And I enjoy her :)
So do.... uh, man, if I knew you better I could have owned you right there. If you'd said that at a bar, I would have anyway. (Sorry, couldn't help it. Don't hate the fool.)
I think Marcia Cross and Juilane Moore are very attractive.
Oh, btw - in my family everyone on both sides had black hair except me, kinda auburn. Definitely recessive. If different ethnicities continue intermarriage, could the red gene be buried deeper each decade? - I don't know. I think it would show itself here and there and surprise people anyway, because there is even an African nation with some red hair (not the malnutrition kind). Fun to think about, though.
I am as red as it comes, mostly irish with some scottish and german (all carrying the recessive gene in considerable abundance). I laughed out loud the entire article and it does make a lot of sense. I also woke out of anesthesia uncontrollably twice in my life, both were the only times I had been on the drugs, ever.
And about leading the country in times of trouble...guess it's my turn...lol.
LOL Shadesbreath, no sweat, I don't mind as long as she enjoys it, too :)
Yea, Shadesbreath, me too. I'm going to add some more pictures, I think. Now that I think about it, what I read might have said something along the lines of "it will be a really long time" before that happens. I wonder if there's a trend showingor if it's just scientific hypothesis. Only her hairdresser knows for sure.
Oh, yeah Misha, I remember that night, Shadesbreath and I were just hangin' when....oh, nevermind.
Dr. Patti: You are right. Red hair shows up sporadically in Africa (Malcom X was red haired), Asia, and the Middle East. One might suppose that with all the genetic stuff going on, they could isolate the redhead gene and propigate it if they wanted too. How far away could that be? But this raises another interesting delimma: If science can "make" redheads, then the rarity is diminshed. Catch my upcoming lecture: Redheads: Hunka, Hunka Burnin' Love? or Are the Scientists Screwing Us!
t.keeley. Thanks for coming by and the kind words. It's appreciated. As for leading the country, I was hoping for someone more....curvy? Thanks!
So you're a Palin supporter? lol...there's a lot of talk about her curves on here :D
Not a redhead I'm afraid, simply a blondeish colour with the mentality of a red head I suspect!
Now hold your horses Mr. t.keely. I said no such thing. I meant like, when we need a Queen and she ain't it. As for you, you'll be needed in the breeding program.
Hi Misty. No problem. You are a gem anyway!
So I'm the stud? lol
I am a member of an online group supporting red-headed civil rights, because the stats are showing we're going extinct. I for one am not a fan of monarchy because they usually abuse power, but if she's just a really young and hot version of Her Majesty of England, I can deal with that much!
What a fun hub! I really enjoyed your information, your sense of humor and the inclusion of those really great quotes. My favorite is the one attributed to Mark Twain about redheads descending from cats. LOL!
Thanks Christoph for a lovely compliment :)
Hi Spryte: Thanks for winging by! I'm glad you really enjoyed it. I really enjoyed your comments about how you enjoyed it. But enough about me. How do YOU feel about me? (har).
The Twain quote wasn't my favorite, I think because I don't like my cat. But then I thought, 'He's not talking about house cats. He's talking about Jungle cats', and them I like! I like the Groucho quote - only because I like Grouco quotes - and try to use them whenever possible. Which reminds me of one: Groucho was leaving a party, and he said to the hostess, "I had a wonderful dinner....this wasn't it."
Thanks for the kind words!
Mistyhorizon: A lovely compliment for a lovely lady! With hublove, Christoph. (My wife tells me I'm good. Well, I'm Irish!)
t.keeley: If you had some spare time and wanted to do a brief hub on the dissappearing redhead gene, I would link to it. Think about it.
As a redhead, I absolutely LOVED this!!!! Save the Gene!! Long live the redheads!!!
Ahhh of course, the Irish Charm (smiles)
I will need to do some more research, but I don't think it will be too tough. I'll let you know when I get it done :)
BTW, my wife wants to mention she loves redheads too...lol.
Anna Marie Bowman: I haven't seen you around and it's really nice to hear from you. Thanks for the compliment. I'll have to have a look at your hubs to see what I've been missing.
Misty: I want to clarify: Just because we enjoy a gift of the gab and a turn of the phrase, doesn't mean that we don't feel it. Ya know?
t.keeley: I think that would be great. Do let me know. Obviously, people are interested and you already know something about it. Tell your wife I said Hi.
Hey Christoph, I am sure you do, never doubted it. Very sexy accent the Irish have too by the way, :)
Yes, they do. I wish I had one. I can fake it pretty good (that's what she said!)
I never had the opportunity of meeting a red head before but mmm they sure sounds good. he-he. OK OK 2 hubs about hair and both greatly entertaining. wish my hub about hair was half as good as this :=/ I enjoyed myself thoroughly sir. looking forward to reading more of your wonderful hubs soon. thumbs up.
Hey ashwin, thanks for checking this out and leaving the comment. Never even met a redhead? Wow! How's the golf game coming along? Thanks!
Awesome Hub, Christoph, although I still think that blondes to it better. :)
My favorite Bugs Bunny episodes were the ones where he dressed up as a red headed bombshell. That's like crack to a Jackalope!
Ryan: Thanks for the comment! Not being a redhead myself, I have no opinion in the redhead vs. blonde debate. I have always gone with brunettes and raven-haired. Thanks!
Yes, B.T. Thats a good Bugs episode. I always likened myself to Pepe LePew. I don't know why. Maybe because I was always trying to kiss on the girls, and they always reacted like that cat that he confused for a skunk.
Thanks for the comment!
"Redheads: Hunka, Hunka Burnin' Love? or Are the Scientists Screwing Us!" -- I shall take copious notes and translate into three semi-languages... I'm not a Dr., I just play one in absurdist literature.
"My favorite Bugs Bunny episodes were the ones where he dressed up as a red headed bombshell. That's like crack to a Jackalope!" -- That is also my favorite one. I am not a Jackalope, I repeat, I am not a Jackalope. I also like Pepe LePew episodes. I am also not a cat dressed as a skunk. [scream = /on] Get away from me, Skunk! [scream = /off]
pattY
Actually the naming of REDhead is DECEIVING, "Marketing 101!" Red hair is not red at all, instead its a burnt orange, auburn or ocher. RED conotates SEX, hot blooded and steamy seduction! So the WORDS help make the phycology, the words "auburn" or the others are....boring, but RED works every time. SEX SELLS!
Patti: No need for notes. Thanks to my dynamic presence and superior oratory skills, each and every word will live on in your mind like a finely-cut diamond, it's multi-faceted brilliance shining like a beacon of hope.
"I am also not a cat dressed as a skunk." Yes, about that....it was an HONEST MISTAKE! I apologise and won't let it happen again.
Pauliewalnuts: I see your point and am feeling your pain. The question is, how long has the term "redhead" been in use? And was it used to sell worship or fear? I doubt the ancient Egyption gals - whilst being dragged to burning pyre - were screaming, "Wait! Wait! My hair is BURNT AUBURN!" Well, not YET, anyway.
Thanks for the comment!
Must - find - cart - big - enough - for - diamonds.
You can borrow my John Deere bucket loader, Patti. I am nothing if not a gentleman, and humble too!
You know, I found a few things that didn't entirely seem in-place for me.
I'm not a natural red-head. I dyed my hair red a little over a month ago as my personal little show of independence (yay for turning the magical age of 18, right?). The fun part was, I didn't tell my mother I was doing it. So when she saw me, the first thing she said was "Why didn't you tell me you were going to dye your hair red? Our hair sucks up red like it's been in the desert for 50 years and just found a pool of water."
Anywho, I had somewhat of something to say.
I was born a superbrightlight blonde. Like, my hair was almost white. Before I dyed it, it'd turned a caramel blonde/brunette color. But it always had red strands in it that I'd sometimes find in my hairbrush. And I always thought it was interesting that when I'd go swimming in a big pool with lights, my hair turned bright red in their light. Sticking to the blonde/brunette thing, I've always had a problem with anesthetics. This leads me to believe that research bit might not have been as accurate as it could be.
Either way, this article made me LAWL just a little too much for 1:59 in the morning. :-P It was an amusing read, and the quotes made me giggle. ^_^
Kika Rose: I'm glad you enjoyed the article (I think) and took the time to write. I find it interesting that you take it as a scientific article, instead of just humorous observations culled from actual facts.
I take it you think the research was flawed regarding Redheads needing more anesthesia. Are you saying this isn't true, or are you saying that because you need more anesthesia, then it is not a unique condition that applies to redheads, but rather to everyone? I say, everyone has different tolerance levels and perhaps you are unique (and you are in many ways) and require more also, but it still applies on a larger - too much to be coincidental - scale to redheads. You did say there was red showing up in your hair, and that it looked red under certain conditions. Maybe you are a little bit strawberry blonde, but it is so subtle no one noticed, or thought that you might have just a bit of the recessive redhead gene.
But I am nothing if not thorough. I'll get my crack research staff working on this in my basement tomorrow. Or, you could take it up with the University of Louisville yourself. Or you could read about the study at the UOL at medscape.com. Even when I write a silly article, I do a lot research and keep copious notes. Here is the link:
http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/487261
Now, I have an issue: You use the shortcut LAWL. This can mean Laughing A Whole Lot, or can be used sarcastically to mean Laughiing at Weird Loser. I certainly hope you meant the former.
Really, though, I haven't seen you here before and it's nice to have you visit. Glad you were amused and had a giggle or two.
BTW for the girls David Caruso Miami Vice. The girls go crazy about him! One of few,if any male redheads in the movie business (Red Buttons?).
hey sixty. Thanks for dropping by.
Lawl is basically the phonetic term for LOL. It's kind of a joke at a joke. And I did find the article very amusing and figured it was more for laughs than for actual science. It was just the few things that made me go "Hmm."
I just signed up last night, so I'm extremely new. :-D Yay! I'm trying to work on my first article and hope to post it up soon, though life has this nasty little habit of getting in the way... :-P Maybe when I finish you can come and check it out, give me a few tips and such. ^_^ Sorry if you thought I was criticizing your article. Sometimes I come off as a jerk when I'm really trying to be nice. ^_^;
Kika, I wasn't pissed, but a little tired and it had been a screwy day. I'll be happy to read your stuff, just let me know. I don't give advice though. Not because I'm a jerk, but because it doesn't seem like it's my place to do it, even if asked. I'll give positive reinforcement however, lots of it. You didn't come off as a jerk. In fact, I was thinking I was a jerk as I wrote my response. I was trying to be funny/irritated. Curmudgeonly.
Glad you are here at hubpages and congratulations on your 18th birthday. I'm looking forward to seeing more of you. Peace and love, baby!
*holds up the peace sign* Amen to peace and love.
I just published my first thingamajiggerwhat'sitcalled. Hub thing. Yeah. That thing. (cut me some slack, I have blonde roots. :-P)
My birthday was in January, but thanks for the congratulations anyway. xD It didn't turn out like I'd planned, but it was alright all the same. I was sent home from school for getting sick, so my mom took me out to Applebee's for lunch. ^_^
I'll have to check out your other page things later. Right now, I have to get ready for work. Ciao, man!
I'll definitely check it out.
I always like it when I meet a natural red head and they have blue or green eyes, such a beautiful look.
Hi research analyst. I like that look too. Thanks for posting the link to all the hair hubs.
As a redhead I thoughly enjoyed your article. When I was young I hated having red hair (not really red...more like a copper penny). I was often called carrot top, (lets not forget the freckles that usually accompany red hair) and freckle face. I thought I was ugly. But my hair always attracted a great deal of attention and everyone asked me if it was natural. I never understood why.
Time and boys took care of my ugly duckling complex. I learned to ignore the constant turning of heads in my direction. and now that the copper finish is darkening with age and a sprinkiling of gray has begun to appear, I realize that I really enjoyed being a redhead...it perfectly matched my personality.
Ana: Your story reminds me of a cousin of mine. She is about 10 years younger than I, with alabaster skin and red hair and really gorgeous. I don't see my relatives very often. At the time I am thinking of she was a Sr. in High School, I asked her if she had a boyfriend. She said she didn't, and I could tell that this was something serious to her young mind. She said the boys didn't like her and thought she was ugly. I was somewhat stunned. While my family is very Irish, there is very little red hair. In fact, just her and her brother I think. Anyway, to me, she was one of the most beautiful girls I had ever seen. I told her not to worry, that boy's were stupid at that age and just wait till next year when she went to college. Sure enough, she became very popular and married one of the most eligible wealthy bachelors in Memphis. As you say, time took care of it.
Thanks for your thoughtful comment!
Lucille Ball is the ultimate redhead, incredibly timeless. I love the story you tell about your cousin.. boys are stupid at that age, and your words I'm sure she still remembers. Great Hub, it made me smile :)
Hi Summer! Nice to see you here and I'm glad I could put a smile on your face. Thanks for the comment!
Cool hub, and really nice pictures too!
It is very unfortunate how some people treat red heads here in the UK; it is a real prejudice, I don't know why - jealousy probably! I think that it's such a beautiful hair colour. I've had one failed attempt at dying my hair red, lol! And if I decide again to try changing the colour of my hair, red will once more be my first choice.
Moon Daisy: Thanks so muich for stopping by and having a read. Glad you took the time to visit! I don't know if I'd change my hair to red in the UK though. People will be calling you "Ginger". There is no such prejudice in the US - at least not that I know of. Thanks for the comment!
It's a good point, I guess I'd have to decide if it was worth the risk. LUckily the people that I know hold no such prejudices, (although I know a couple of girls who used to do some 'ginger baiting' behind the redheads' backs. Nasty, schoolgirl stuff).
I'm glad there's no such prejudice in the US. I've heard before that red hair is admired there. And quite rightly!
You could give it a go and see what happens. It's true about the US. I'm not sure why. Maybe because we have such a large and influential Irish population, and don't have Englands history with Ireland. I don't know. It's a thought. Thanks for the comment. I'll have to go see what you've been up to!
Thanks for a fun article. I'm one of those dastardly fake redheads. In my own defense, though, very, very few people can tell (including hairdressers). I have that German-British fair skin, bright blue eyes and burn as much or more than a natural redhead (I have no freckles, which on some redheads makes them look tan later in the summer). I have been coloring my hair since about the second week of my freshman year of college and will never go back. But there are lots of fake redheads out there - Lucille Ball herself was one. Gillian Anderson of the X-Files is another.
Amy: Hi! Nice of you to stop in and leave a comment. From your description, I think red hair sounds lovely for you and I bet you look like a natural! There's' lots of all the fake hair colors out there, so why not red? I new Lucille wasn't natural (she made enough jokes about it) but I didn't know Gillian Anderson wasn't. Good to see a new person here! Come back some more. I always appreciate a chat!
Haha, cornwall isn't in the far north of engliand, it's the southernmost county. Although england's not exactly massive anyway! There are far fewer redheads in england than scotland and ireland - expecially southern england. Cornish art etc feature quite a few redheads because it's maintained more of it's celtish heritage than most places in england, but these days it's got a very small population of red heads.
i think most of the prejudice a lot of english people have against redheads stems from the history of war between the celts and the nordic settlers in england, which is also why there are more blondes in england than the rest of the country. It's silly to think that modern attitudes are so influenced by ancient grudges, but i suppose that's how stereotypes develop.
rowan: Thanks for the correction re. Cornwall and England. I believe you are correct in the reason the prejudice exists today, and the Celts were particlarly violent.
Thanks for reading and commenting.
Fun Hub.. I am a natural readhead BTW. Fun pics.
Reynolds Writing: Thanks! You're a natural redhead? It looked sort of like...a cartoon. Oh, that's not your real picture. It is always a pleasure to meet a redhead! How do you do?
Mark Twain had another great anecdote about redheads. It was a "news article" about this red head who bashed the brains in of any fool who so dared to mention her red hair. One day, this guy says, "Miss, I rather like this Skeneateles hair of yours." When she finally got too curious to ask, "What in God's name is Skeneateles hair?" He said "It's about forty miles beyond Auburn, you know" and was soon after hospitalized. And redheads.....it's definitely like being addicted to drugs.
KDorfman: I love that story and haven't heard it until now, so thank you for sharing it! I am a big Twain fan and if I ever write that Emporer Norton story I've been meaning to, Twain will figure prominently. Thanks for reading!
BRAVO!!!! Great hub and great idea. This coming from a blonde who comes from a long line of blondes with a sprinkling of redheads. Thanks!
Very good informative hub! But you didn't mention anyone who was born a red-head but changed. I was born with red hair and over the years it NATURALLY turned blonde. Now, the summer sun brings out all these red highlights and everyone swears that I've dyed my hair. Wonder how I would be classified?
Nice hub. Good point RGraf. What about the other way around? How about all those faux redhead-wannabes? ;)
Great hub Christoph - I have a small penchant for red haired men i must admit - on the television anyway - that red headed chap from Miami Vice and of course our own KerryO'Brien from the 7.30 report - had my hair dyed red once - unfortunately it didn't suit my skin colour but it doesn't stop me admiring the red heads!
ajcor: You do? Then i must dye my hair red pronto! How will red look going over gray hair? I don't know Kerry O'Brien, of course, but I have a lot of O'Brien cousins. Maybe we're related. Thanks for having a read and your comment!
Great Hub, the anesthetic bit is true, and works the same on red haired men, I am a bit of a chameleon, as you can see from my avatar, darkish brown on my head, a full blown red beard, interposed with grey, ginger body hair.
Am accused of being fiery, and temperamental, more temper and even more mental,
Just-Rodney: Thanks for the comment! I like the "more mental" twist! Very clever! Thanks!
red hair rocks - so rock on Reilly!!! lol..
Rock on more, ajcor!
Brilliant hub! There was admittingly some things that I didn't know. Even believed that some of these myths were true myself. But thanks to this hub, I can put some of them to rest. Thank you for the hard work you put into creating this great hub.
marketingmergenow
Marketingmergenow: Thanks so much for stopping in and your kind words. Thank you!
hi i am small city personi have some frinds only women & girls so call me on 09301750886
Awesome hub! I always wanted to be more of a redhead - just a few auburn highlights is all I've got. Makes me want to find some hair dye...
Hi Christoph, very nice and informative hub. keep going buddy.
tatas: Thanks for stopping by and leaving me your phone number, which I'm sure is really your personal home phone number and that I would "have a good time" if I called that number. I have always liked tatas, by the way, and I believe such would be the case with you. I would call you, but I don't have a phone. It's sad for me, yes, but I have no doubt that you will meet someone really special and live happily ever after. I wish you the best of luck in your quest for Mr. Right (or Mrs. Right or whatever).
Lisa Packer: Thank you for stopping in and reading this hub. Glad you liked it and your kind words are appreciated. Thank you!
anirvan: Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for the comment!
I just saw a crazy documentary on the science channel, that red heads feel less pain than others! Theydid these tests, and it actually proved tha red heads can tolerate more pain.
Also remember the episode from southpark, when cartman goes around calling kids with red hair 'ginger kids'... if not its an episode to catch. ; ) Cool nfo you got here mate!
Mella: What? You again? Well, I'm flattered. It remains my pleasure to welcome you to my humble hub! Thanks!
I'm totally mystified by this thing about amount of hairs for redheads, blondes and brunettes! Who knew!!Had loads of fun with this article, plus the quotes are great! Thanks!
I had crimson hair untill recently.. i looked like ariel from the little mermaid lol
Lovely hub! "Ginga" (pronounced with a "g" like in "goal" not as in "geography") can be a term of affection in the UK, I have a bright ginga brother in law (-:
Elena: Thank you. Glad you stopped by and had fun (and some mystery!) The "amounts of hair" thing is mystifying. After I had counted the hairs on the heads of 1000 women, I couldn't believe the figures! But seriously, it is curious. Until this article, it never occured to me that they would be different based on hair color.
Thanks for stopping by and the comment!
riotgrrl: Ariel is a pretty good way to look, except for the tail of course. Did you have that looked at? By a doctor, a specialist, or a fisherman at least? Thanks for dropping in and leaving a comment! It's appreciated!
LondonGirl: I'm glad you pointed that out, since my research (included above) didn't mention that "Ginga" could be a sign of affection--only that it was derogatory. I find the British prejudice at Redheads perplexing, to say the least. I'm glad it doesn't seem so with you. Thank you for the comment!
It's not really a whole-hearted prejudice, more of an affectionate teasing, in my experience. My next child could easily be a ginga, as there are red hair genes on both sides of the gene pool! Both my Dad and my other half are closet gingas - dark hair, but red stubble if they don't shave, and my brother in law and mother in law both full on carrot tops.
It's not really a whole-hearted prejudice, more of an affectionate teasing, in my experience. My next child could easily be a ginga, as there are red hair genes on both sides of the gene pool! Both my Dad and my other half are closet gingas - dark hair, but red stubble if they don't shave, and my brother in law and mother in law both full on carrot tops.
LondonGirl: Thanks for straightening that out. Glad to see there is affection too. (I am not redheadded, by the way. A couple of cousins are, but nobody else...and in an Irish family too!)
Glad to see you again!
In life, may we all learn to "mind the gap."
REDHEADS DO IT BEST! I like to think that my red hair matches my personality... blonde, brown, black... those hair colors are so boring. Let's go for take notice hair!
dana: I agree! I don't have red hair personally but I have always liked redheads! Thanks for visiting and the comment!
Christoph, great info here. Good job my man. Love those reheads, there toes come with 'em too?
Aw, man. Bet you like those toe nails painted bright red too! Or a shoe that just reveals a little toe-cleavage? I was just reading your toe comments on Pam R's hub about muses. I never understood the feet thing but, yes, I think redheads have toes too.
Thanks for coming by and commenting, and sharing your predilections towards the pedal extremities of females.
G'day Chris, my dear late ma-inlaw was a flaming redhead and even though she was knee high to a grasshopper you did not mess with her. Man did she have a temper. Fortunatly for me my wife did not inherit the temper or the red hair.
mate I enjoyed the read and now appreciate redheads a bit better!
One other thing, do you have any idea why we call red headed guys "blue" or "bluey" ?
Ag: Sounds like your ma-inlaw was a little firecracker! As for "bluey", it is a particularly Australian thing, and redheads are called blue because orange or yellow vegetables (pumpkin, squash) are called blue vegetables. Now, if you were to ask me why those vegetables are called blue, I can't help you.
Thanks for stopping in, sitting a spell, and reading this. It's always appreciated, as are your comments!
Wouldn't you know, Christoph, I met a redhead yesterday, new kid on the office block, and I told her she had less hairs in her cute head than I do and if she didn't believe me she could start counting! The look on her face told me she didn't believe me, but that she thought I was bonkers. It's all your fault now! Laugh!
Ha! I'll bet she goes home tonight and spends hours trying to count them! Nice to have you. I've been a little shy bout coming round to see you...afraid I may have over done it. Nice to see you here though. Thanks!
Actually, I'm working on a hub in your honor...not telling anyone though--just our secret, however, I'm not sure I can finish it. I'm having to omit so many things because they are private and I just cant share them with the masses. Plus, somewhat risque...well...downright naughty. Anyway, we'll see. It is in answer to a question you asked me.
Ay, Christoph, no way! Nothing is overdone when it's done with style! You're courteous, chivalrous, considerate and if that weren't enough you're loads of fun and good for my ego! What more could a girl hope for? Do visit, por favor, whenever you feel the inclination, it's my pleasure entirely!
Thanks Elena! I'll be round soon. Gotta run to the post office. Gamergirl wants an autographed 8x10. She's yanking my chain...but I'm sending it anyway cause it's funny.
As a suicide redhead, (dyed by my own hand,) I loved this article! Well-written, great pics, fun stuff! Thanks!
michellcat: Thanks for coming by and the comment! It's appreciated!
Thanks for this hub. I've always been intrigued by red hair. My mother who died when I was three, was a red head. I got the easy to burn skin but not much more than a glint of strawberry. My kids didn't get it either. I always wonder when I see a red head if my mom's was that particular color? When I ask my Dad he says something like, "Dark red, the really pretty kind." Kay, that's as clear as mud.
Patricia: I think I see that glint of strawberry. As Irish as my family is, we have no redheads (except for two cousins.) I like the hair I have but also have always been intrigued by redheads. Maybe the recessive gene will rear its head in your grandkids?
Thanks for coming by and the thoughtful comment!
Is it possiple that people in Asia get redhead? My friend just asked me why i dyed my hair dark red. I just read this page and found out I have the same symptom of redhead.
Paul: Thanks for coming by and the comment. So you have the "symptoms" of redheads, eh? I don't really see it as an affliction, but anyway, yes, it is certainly possible. Read this:
Red hair has also been found in Asia, notably among the Tocharians who occupied the northwesternmost province of what is modern-day China. The 2nd millennium BC caucasian Tarim mummies in China were found with red and blonde hair and most likely were of European origin.
The next time tell your friend that you have Tocharian blood. Thanks!
Hi Christoph -
I thoroughly enjoyed your hub (along with many others; WoW, so many comments! I read most of them but had to stop for taking up too much time! I love the one left by BT Evilpants and Bugs!!!).
I was led here by Rgrafs hub on the topic. Very interesting about the anesthesia...and I knew the Irish were known for producing redheads, but did not know that they came in second to the Scots! (I'm both, with also French and English). You included a lot of great pics and so complete in not forgetting the men. So many of those you included really span the spectrum and I would have never thought to include some of those you did.
Nice job (thumbs up) and thank you!
christinekv: Thank you so much. I'm glad yoou enjoyed it. Thanks for the comment about the pics too. Want to hear something odd? Just last night I spent a couple of hours updating this with new photos. Kind of amazing, eh? Anyway, thanks for coming by. Hope to see you again!
did you forget George Washington, a favorite redhead...the mark of Cain ! whoah. that's kind of spooky but makes one wonder, the mark of Cain has to something...will never look at 2 of my sons the same way again
Ah dang - too late to edit...when I said I was led here by Rgraf's hub on a similar subject, I meant ARDIE!!! I guess it was too early for me and I hadn't had enough coffee yet...please excuse the mistake as I do like to give credit and honor where it is due! (Sorry Ardie!)
Delores Monet: Thanks for the heads-up on George Washington. I queried the Mt. Vernon website, and they said that he in fact was known to have light reddish-brown hair as a youngster. I don't think I came across that info before, but of course, this isn't supposed to have a picture of every famous red headed person - that would be problematic. But - George Washington - of course he should be here. Now he is! Thanks, and thanks for the comment!
christinekv: Well, I am more than happy to give Ardie credit where credit is due. Everybody loves Ardie and so do I! THANK YOU ARDIE! Actually, I didn't know Ardie had a red head hub. I'll go check it out. Thanks!
If anyone is following this thread, you should go read Ardie's hub, Life as a Redhead. It is excellent! There's a link up there under the article, but so you don't miss it, here it is again:
CR -
Since I have been married to a RedHead for fify years, and in love with one for sixty years; I think that I can comment one this hub, with some authority. Mark Twain was right! RedHeads are like cats. Tigers, I think, "Tiger, tiger burning bright in the forest of the night...." And like cats, you can not own one. They chose to allow you in their presence.
I was lucky - I found mine sixty years ago http://hubpages.com/hub/
Forget-Not-the-Bride-of-thy-Youth
A very Good Hub!
Bohica: Yes. I think you have that right. But what the cat has to learn is: I choose to allow HIM in MY presence. I could take him to the human society any time and trade him in for a different model.
Thanks for coming by and the comment.
Awwe, you are so nice Christoph! :* (Thats a kiss on the cheek) I am glad you updated your photos, I had no idea there were so many redhead celebs out there. How could I have forgotten about Molly R?! I love her. And the anesthesia thing is true...in my case anyways. Now that's a scary thing to live with...how do you tell the doc to amp up the meds before operating?!
Thanks for the oh-so-nice mention, again.
Ardie: You were nice before I was! Ssllllllluuuuurrrrrrp! That's a big sloppy kiss on the cheek! To a Doctor, I'd just say, "Hey, Doc, you know about the Redhead/anethesia thing? Well CRANK it up!
Thank you for everything.
I´ve loved this article!
My hair is originally auburn red, but i recently dyed it with a more bright red and I´m loving it! I believe it´s true that we have some sort of different behavior, but in a god way. I´ve always kind of fought with my hair colour, for most of time I tought it has an undefined colour, since here in Brazil there aren´t much people with redheads; so if you go to a hair salon they will probably think your hair is some sort of blond; wich makes the incertanty even bigger!
When I was born my hair was completely red, "ginger" like, but then it all fell and a blond hair grew instead. When becoming a teenager, the hair started growning auburn red again, making it all very confusing to me!
Recently I decided to let it grow naturally, without any colour added to it, so my boyfriend keeped telling me my hair would grow red. I was a little aprehensive wheter he would like it or not, but he loved! So today, I have assumed I´m a redhead with most pride! And I´m must say I´m feeling wonderfoul than ever now.
Reading to this only made me more confidence to keep it bright and red! :)
Oh, and over the anesthesia thing, it was exactly what happened to me. The anesthesiologist keeped giving me more and more propofol and it would never kick! When it finally did, the procedure went throught and when he pulled the seringe out I was awaked within seconds. He was completely astonished with the role thing. Now I have and explanation.
THANKS!!!
Fernanda: Thank you so much for your comment! Tudo Bem? Ha, ha. I had many Brazillian friends from Rio when I lived in New York, and dated a Brazillian girl for two years. She is back in Rio now, and we still exchange letters occasionally. So, it was nice to hear from you.
Of course you should keep it red! I'll bet you look stunning, especially with red hair being so rare in Brazil. I'm glad your boyfriend likes it.
So many redheads have written to me saying that they new they were harder to anesthetize but didn't know why. I'm glad I could answer that question for you!
Thank you again for coming by. It made my day to hear from a Brazillian!
Prazer em conhecê-lo.Te cuida.
Oh and I would add the actor that plays Dexter on TV, Michal C. Hall as another redhead personality!
And I would also like to comment about the prejudice by saying that here in Brazil people actually admire redheads, altought they don´t adooore it. :) But I don´t see any prejudice.
When I was little I studied in a swiss school and - wow - people where more prejudice about redhead there than at any other school I went to. As my hair it´s a bit curly, the kids from kindergarten in the swiss school said that I looked like a witch! LOL! I think they got used to my magic powers later, cuz they never said anything anymore.
And the pain resistence, for me, it´s absolutelly true. My bf is a brunette and far taller then me and I can take pain much more easier then he does. LOL
Thanks again for the great information!
I hope to keep in touch!
I didn´t know your´re so familiar to Brazil. Thats nice! :)
Está bem no português! Parabéns!
Fernanda: Aw, we just missed each other. I'm glad you don't experience any red head prejudice in Brazil. It's so silly anyway.
I can tell you're not a witch. I'm glad you put a spell on those Swiss girls!
O prazer é meu. Vamos manter contato. Saúde!
saúde!!!
Cheers to you!
Wow! So much information. Thanks for setting the record straight. We redheads definitely have more fun.
dark faery: Thanks for coming by and leaving a comment. I'm happy to set the record straight. So, redheads have more fun, eh? That's good to know and it confirms my suspicions!
I wish I looked like Julian Moore or Kate Winslet I am average compared to them as they are beautiful!!! I love being a redhead, or auburn whatever you want to call it , however the strange thing is all of my sisters are blondes. My parents told me I came from the pumpkin patch..Lol:) I now realize the color of my hair comes from my grandmother and I love it!!!:) Not only are redheads, mysterious, they are also smart and fun!!!:)
AEvans: Well, I'm sure you are very lovely. Thanks for reading. I know what you mean about the siblings thing. My brother has black hair, then I came along with brown, then my sister with blonde...I always said to my Mom that if she had had one more kid, It would have been red-headed. I always told my sister she was adopted...just to be mean.
If you'r'e any indications redheads ARE mysterious, smart, and fun! Thanks for the comment!
@ AEvand, didn't you say your avatar is the real you now? I'm not a guy, but its obvious you are gorgeous!
Randy: Thanks for pointing that out. You know, I always thought AE used a real pic...Why AEvans..you are GORGEOUS! You hold your own with the best of them!
And Randy..you're no slouch yourself! Know what I mean? Wowza! Of course, we've only seen your back and your midriff, but I'm guessing.....hottie!
I'm thinking of going red, what do you think?
You can only get hotter, and now your hair will be on fire!
Strawberry or full blown red?
Strawberry, I think, but just a little more.
Kay.
Really, you don't need to change a darn thing.
poo poo poo poo poo
Goin' red tomorrow!
Burnstein: Thanks for answering my question, "What do you eat for breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, and holidays." Sounds rather monotonous.
Randy: How will we know?
Should I change my avatar to the back of my head?
No, no. Leave the avatar alone. Instant.
Terrific hub. Never knew there were so many famous redheads. As a 'not quite natural' redhead, I say Go Red!!
Lafenty: Thank you! Better red than a guy named Fred! I appreciate your taking the time to comment!
Great post, long live the redheads, they look beautiful and natural to look at. Some of the best actresses are redheads.
Thank you, cgull8m! Would you perhaps be a redhead? Not that I disagree. I appreciate your comment and the visit!
Hedirey: Thanks for stopping by and leaving the poem, Oh Who is That Young Sinner by A.E. Housman. Regrettably, I cannot leave your comment since your name is a link of questionable ownership. Feel free to leave the poem without the link.
Thanks.
Thanks for setting the record straight. I'm a natural green eyed redhead and me and my sibbling were teased alot as kids. I still get called red by strangers more times than I can count. I hated it as a kid but now as an adult I love being a redhead.
slavenm: Glad to do so. Thanks for coming by and the comment. It's an interesting thing about redheads: They are so often treated poorly as children (teased, etc.) but it then becomes a desirable trait. Thanks!
Thanks for sharing all this information.
eaasi3574: Thank you for reading and taking the time to leave a comment!
Hey Christoph...After reading your excerpt of "Bloodlust", I just had to check out your other hubs. I happened onto this one and as a nurse I can tell you that Redheads are a bear to care for post-op. They usually do need more pain meds and wake up from anesthesia wild. (Just to reinforce for your fan base that you did your research and are not blowin' smoke ;-).
I laughed out loud at many of your comments. I like your writing style and look forward to reading more.
The(vampire) chapter was interesting but your off the cuff, easy-going article writing skills make for interesting short reads.
Loved the pics too. I am writing a novel based, loosely, on a lead heroine charachter of a combination Grace O'Malley and Elizabeth I, both strong willed redheads. Found the history helpful for my research. thanks.
Adrianna
Adrianna: Thanks for the visit. Glad to get the "authentication" on redheads requiring more sedation. Your compliments are greatly appreciated! Thanks!
Loved the hub.... Maureen Ohara and Lucille Ball were definitely real beautiful red-heads!!!
LAmatadora: Thanks for stopping in. Lucille never did anything for me (that way) but Maureen OHara - Yowza! - what a woman! Thanks for your comment.
Interesting connotations and history.
Kushal: Thanks for tuning in!
I'm a redhead and I love your hub!
Disturbia: Thank you! How did I know you were a redhead? I just had a feeling. Thanks for saying "Hi!"
This hub is AWESOME! I've heard rumours about red heads (guilty, I have some too, haha!), but could never find anything worth reading on the net, then I found this!!! GREAT read, love the humor! Thanx!
platinumblue: Thanks for the generous comment. Welcome to HubPages! I'm sure you'll have fun here.
This is very interesting. I have very reddish-brown hair naturally and it takes red hair coloring very well, must be the Scots-Irish blood. I also find it intresting about the tremendous sexual appetite red heads have. My husband is a true red head. Sometimes I have to tell him to "go away." Very funny. I do have a firey temper though. I'm not sure about the anesthesia, as I never had a problem while "under." For those that are interested: Lucille Ball was not a real redhead. She was actually a brunette.
jilldini: Nice to hear from you. I'm not a redhead but based on the sexual appetite thing, maybe I have the recessive gene. I've heard the "go away" many times, often followed by "I can't do it anymore." No brag. Just fact.
I think Lucille was pretty open about not really having red hair, wasn't she? There certainly were enough jokes about it. Thank you for the comment!
If I could choose, I would want to be blond, but when it comes to the females of the species, I find red heads absolutely irresistible and they turn my head every time. After reading your article, it seems there is some validity to the red head rumors, it has been my experience that most red heads are usually more interesting and more passionate in their feelings. I don't know why men are afraid of red heads or why there is a stigma, I love 'em. Awesome hub, thank you.
Alexander: Red Heads certainly are interesting. Glad you liked the article. Thank you!
being a redhead i loved this hub, i loved the redhead quotes the best! all so true! haha :)
Andee: And a lovely redhead you are too. You're new here? Are you going to write? I'd love to read what a redhead writes! Thanks for the comment!
I am the oldest of seven and the only redhead. 3 of my siblings are the brunette epitome of my "black Irish" maternal grandfather and the other 3 are shining examples of my father's blonde German heritage. My hair color, inherited from a Scottish great-grandmother, stood out like hot flame. I once went to a salon to have it dyed either brunette or blonde but the stylist refused to do it. As he so elegantly put it, "Honey, not matter what color I put on your hair, you will never be mistaken for anybody but a redhead." That said, I had him punch the color up a few notches and now I have total strangers, men and women, comment on my hip length flaming red hair.
I am the oldest of seven and the only redhead. 3 of my siblings are the brunette epitome of my "black Irish" maternal grandfather and the other 3 are shining examples of my father's blonde German heritage. My hair color, inherited from a Scottish great-grandmother, stood out like hot flame. I once went to a salon to have it dyed either brunette or blonde but the stylist refused to do it. As he so elegantly put it, "Honey, not matter what color I put on your hair, you will never be mistaken for anybody but a redhead." That said, I had him punch the color up a few notches and now I have total strangers, men and women, comment on my hip length flaming red hair.
Irishreheadedgirl: I love that story! It's true. There should be a saying like that: You can take the red head OFF the girl, but you can never take the red head OUT of the girl! Thanks for commenting!
I'm in a long term relationship with a 50 year old redhead. she is an athlete and a lover beyond comparison. Absolutely amazing woman.
Keith: So, in your many years of experiments, you have concluded that redheads maintain a youthful exuberance longer than females with a different hair color? It wouldn't surprise me. Thanks for the comment!
Malcolm X had red hair, although many of the celebrities pictured here have theirs from a bottle. One natural redhead you don't mention is the lovely Scottish dancer Moira Shearer. The star of the famous ballet movie "The Red Shoes," she also starred in a 1950s movie called "The Man Who Loved Redheads," about an upper-class Englishman who struggles all his life with a fetish for redheads (all played by Shearer).
Victoria: Thanks for pointing out those oversights. I'm sure there are others I have forgotten as well. Thanks!
Ya redheads tend to keep there color longer and as i was reading and still am one of the stereotypes about us is that we can drink more than others or well Irish people can..either way if we need 20% more anesthetic i can see why we could hold are drinks better than others. Also the reason we have fewer hairs on or head is because we have thicker hair I tend to end up with a little dandruff when i let my hair grow out not to mention it grows straight up because the shampoo actually cant reach my scalp to moisturize it. lol just made account i want to know if u reply
Thats some serious thick hair! Thanks for the comment.
Wow Chris mmmmmmm after looking over these beauties with the sultry red hair I have to say they are coming pretty close to the dynamics of the blondes. However blonde is still slightly ahead and I aint biased, ROFL. xoxoxxo
Hi BP! Woo hoo! Of course your not biased. You speak based on personal experience. But I suggest you are an exceptional blond. That doesn't necessarily mean that other blonds are equal to you in charm, grace, adorability,and downright hugginess! (wolf whistle!) Love you, Babe!
What a fantastic page full of great content for us redhead fans....I'm bookmarking it now.
jhenry: Thanks for visiting and for the comment! I'll leave your link there.
'ADAM' was not the name of a man but the characterization of the race of Redheads. The Chaldean word 'Adam' (Aramaic and Hebrew 'Edom') and the Adamite-Ionian word 'Phoenix' are synonyms and mean 'Red' or 'Auburn-red'.
In ancient Armenian poetry, (Armenia is in the vicinity of Eden), the heroes, demigods and gods appearing in these epic sagas are mentioned as "of fair complexion, blue-eyed and Red-haired".
Blue-eyed Redheads are the only descendants of the Adamite race. The Genesis story that all races are descendants of Adam is a deception by Thoth-Hermes, in order to cover up the genocide of the Adamite race.
Read the facts about the origin of the various human races in "A Synoptic History of Mankind", (only 10 pages), a free download from my Website at http://jesusdzeus.com . Read from the same Site "Reappraisal of the role of Thoth-Hermes", (6 pages), which explains the deception and "ENDGAME UPDATES in progress", so that your heart will be filled with joy.
Please pass this information on
Be my guest
Jesus D Zeus
Your comment would be welcome
Jesus D. Zeus: I might find it interesting but my heart wouldn't be "filled with joy." Not that it would be sad or anything. People are entitled to believe whatever they want. I'm just stating a common belief because such things help to define our culture. I appreciate your comment.
I wish there had been more info on black red heads. Red hair runs in my family but we are black people so the whole fair skin red hair thing doesn't apply to us.
You have a legitimate observation. I didn't intend not to include information on redheaded blacks. In the many articles I read about redheads, I didn't come across any information about them, so it didn't even occur to me. You now have me wondering about it, and I wonder why it was not discussed in any of the scads of papers I read on the subject.
I wrote this a long time ago, but maybe someday I'll look into that and include a section here. Thanks for pointing it out.
All the best to you!
Hi Christoph, If you have a few spare mins, can you possibly pop over to Spryte's hub
http://hubpages.com/hub/Maginels-Mother---My-Memor
as some TROLL has been giving her a bit of a hard time and our gang used to be really good at sorting these kinds of people out, (it will be just like old times, as I have already asked Shadesbreath much the same favour).
Thanks
Misty: Thanks! Spryte told me about it, but I was late getting there. Thanks for the tip, though!
this was very interesting, im a junior in high school and i have auburn curly hair. some of the jokes on here like tampon top, ive never heard of before. they made me laugh cause i know someone is bout to call me that one of these days. but if i may ask, do you know why people find red heads so intimidating? besides the fact that there arent that many of us.
this web site was awesome. totally loved it!!
nicole lass: Hi! As long as you don't become offended by the stupid things people say, then they can never hurt you. Not only that, people will quit calling you names if you laugh at them instead of the reaction they want.
As for your question, "Why people find red heads so intimidating," all I can say is you are different from most people. True, it's just the color of your hair, but people (especially the young and stupid) fear what they don't know. You will find that this attitude holds them back in all parts of their life, and it will seriously stunt their emotional and educational growth. They should instead embrace redheads and the unknown, come to understand and befriend all things that are a challenge to them, and they will prosper, emotionally and intellectually, if not financially.
If things are rough for you sometimes (and you haven't said that they are), just be patient. The world will catch up as it grows older--and smarter.
Thanks for your kind words! A pleasure to hear from you!
this is great and oh so true.
true that red-heads will NOT grow gray either. it turns a beautiful white. there is no pigment to turn red-heads gray.
truecopper: Thanks for coming by and taking time to leave a comment. Thanks!
I'm a natural redhead, and I L O V E it!
And to all the other readheads : Don't worry, you seem special, because you are!
Henx Michele: And who can blame you? Thanks for leaving your comment. Thank you!
im a natural redhead and i luv it so much and it is true red heads luv sex and kissing :>
taby94: Glad to hear it. Thank you for leaving your titillating comment!
so is the vampire story true?
Taby: I don't know what vampire story you are referring to, but I suppose it depends on whether or not you believe in vampires. I have written two vampire stories. Not sure if that is what you are referring to. If you'd like to see them they are:
http://hubpages.com/hub/Captive-of-the-Night
http://hubpages.com/hub/The-Night-Captive-Blood-Lu
Thanks.
As a redhead (Auburn) I thank you for the great hub! I was especially excited to see the Scots Gaelic quote :Ruadh gu brath! Thanks again!
Kendall: Thank you for dropping by. Alway nice to have a redhead around! Thanks!
Hey there Awesome page really i used to hate my redhair and iv dyed it 4 times when i was 15 bwt now its growing back a dark red colour my nautual colours. its really short bwt im growing it :).its werid tho i dont have freckles bwt i have pale skin and green eyes:D
have some love .x.xox from ScottishLassie
Yes I'm a natural redhead and Yes I DO require more anesthesia than my dentist usually gives for someone my height and weight. I always wondered why it took longer to numb up and why I needed more to do so as well. Pheomelanin is the name of the "red" color and as a mutation, it impairs pain receptors in the brain. I also heard a rumor that redheads bleed longer and I'm currently researching as to why this could be. Possibly due to inhibition of vitamin K, needed for clotting, that our friend pheomelanin is responsible for. One last thing, red heads got their name before the word for the color "orange" was invented.
jennypenny: Thanks for your knowledgeable comment. Glad you stopped by and had a read. A pleasure! Thanks!
I am a natural redhead and really enjoyed this! I am actually red-haired, but brown-eyed, and find it even more rare to meet someone with this combination. Because of the combo, I frequently was asked if that was my natural hair color. Um, yes...:)
I have a wicked temper, but as most redheads learn, one must control that to exist in society. As a child, I was so bad that I fear the mother's curse (I hope you have one just like you). My sister, a blonde, definitely had a more subdued temper.
I have been fortunate to not need major anaesthesia yet, but have had minor surgeries (wisdom teeth, for example), to which I receive major pain medication, without request! I'll say..."oh I'll be fine" and then the doctor will proscribe me demerol for un-impacted, upper wisdom teeth removal.
I think the sensitivity infiltrates multiple areass of your life. Obviously the temper, pain, and sexuality (all accurately) have received a lot of attention, but I've personally been told I'm highly sensitive to others generally. Maybe the gene that carries this trait just makes us more naturally affected?
I am actually French, so shoutouts to the french redheads! :) Though apparently Northern France (my origin) was dominated by Scandinavians at one point.
The way I'm going, I doubt redheads are dying out this century. I hope I find myself another redhead to grow old with! :) The two redheads I've been in relationships with were my favorite ones by far :).
me197: Glad you enjoyed it. Red hair with brown eyes IS rare, and it seems you can report first hand that these "myths" are true, and not myths at all. My two red-haired cousins (I mean REALLY red) don't seen to have tempers at all, but are both pretty quiet, but then they were the last kids with two pretty dominant brothers ahead of them, so maybe they are the exception.
It's probably accurate to say that redheads are more sensitive all the way around. It would explain a lot. Prefer red headed men, huh? I'll bet you'd have some red headed offspring.
I appreciate your comment and I thank you for the visit!
The part about anesthesia is true .I have copper coloured hair and they need more anesthetic with me ,also i come round quickly too .Mosquitoes love me as well and will fly past others to get to me .I am Australian with English ,Irish and Scottish ancestory.
Annie Graham: All the best from each culture, I'm sure! All my favorites anyway. I'm trying to compute the reason mosquitoes prefer you. Your blood is more red? Richer? More full of nutrients? Hmmm. Curious. Thank you so much for your thoughtful comment!
I know the part about the anesthetic is true. I had an operation as a teen and I am a redhead... ps- I wont up on the operating table very much in shock and pain. I didn't know what I was doing and I tried to rip the breathing tube out of my throat, they had to increase my anesthetic and hold me down. Then recovery was very slow because my body didn't handle the anesthetic the way most bodies do. SO NOT FUN! But I love being a red head!
ashley32656: Hi. More evidence that the anesthesia requirements for redheads being greater proven! At least they got it right eventually. When will they learn? Thank you for your comment!
Don't Forget TV's Newest Radiant Red Head
The Doctor's Newest Companion for 2010 -- Karen Gillan
BBC Doctor Who
Luv Red: So noted. Thanks for the comment!
love being a red head! i love how people are jelous of me hair! i love being different!
Stephanie: I don't blame you. Thanks for your comment!
Really enjoyed reading this- I too always hated my red hair as a child, but now I realise how lucky I am to have something which is quite unique!
i am a redhead. iam 36 yrs old. right now, i have debra messing's pic for my profile(my lil sister said its the new thing!) any way............u can check out my photos...i too used to get picked on for redhair. but now people just love it!
i am a redhead,i heard that we free bleed alot easier,then any other color,,i always had to wear blood bands when i had my children,this what the doctor told me,we also have a higher pain tolarnces ,and when i was young the names i was called where so mean,but now the men wont stay away lol
Paula: Glad you got the Redheads revenge! Ostracized in childhood, revered as a grown woman Thanks for the comment!
Hi stranger - good to see you on pop in :)
Hi Shalini! Yes, I've been scarce around here and everywhere else, pretty much. "Not enough hours in the day," and all that rot. I hope you've been well and the dairy business is thriving.
Yes, it is, thank you! Miss seeing you around :)
I miss being around.
Stacyred: Debra Messing is a very attractive lady. Thanks for the comment!
Paula: I bet they wont stay away. Thanks for writing!
Ive entered this comp.. Im a ginger.and i think gingers are discriminated against...Please support me!
I Think we should get a Minority group started. LOL
I mean we are portrayed as the witch, the vampire the saloon girl, the hooker, the wild child etc... They portray the boys as milky white skinny or fat that are whiners. I have seen a lot of strong redheaded muscular men that don't fit the t.v. description. And the sayings the guy that is alone I am going to go pick me up a redhead as if we are all easy.
Any way after reading the history of our Persecution I think we need to have special rights,just like the gays. We are a minority. No more redhead bashing!!! LOL
SherylSam: I think you're right. I'm not a redhead, but I'll be happy to help. You need to protest against some things right away: No more Ginger! No more Carrot Top! Carry signs that say, "We're Hot, Easy Not!" I'll keep working on it. LOL
Thanks for the comment!
As another fellow redhead here, I must say that I found this to be a very good read!
Mel97,
You actually think that red hair with brown eyes are rare? That's a new one on me! I always thought that red hair with green eyes were rare. I have red hair but my eyes are green and whenever I see a fellow redhead, they either have blue or brown eyes, never green. Around here, if you come across a redhead, s/he will most likely have brown eyes. I have been asked if my red hair was natural but it wasn't because of my eyes. It's because of my eyebrows and eyelashes. They are a very light brown but at least it goes with the hair color unlike when blondes have jet black eyebrows. That just looks creepy.
As for anesthesia, I have had two surgeries and both of them never required that I need more anesthesia then anyone else. Not only that but I never had to take painkillers afterwards! The last surgery I had was to remove my gallbladder and the only painkillers I took was when they gave it to me about an hour after the surgery. They asked me how my pain was on a scale of 1 to 10(ten being the worst) and I said a two or three. The stupid fools gave me morphine! I just felt stiff and they gave me strong meds. Wtf?
I will admit that I don't have the temper that some people have. It takes me a lot to become very angry and I'm more shy and reserved then outgoing. I've heard of men calling us bitches because of our tempers. When I hear someone say this I just tell them that redheads have zero tolerance for stupidity so if you have ever come across a redhead that was bitchy towards you, it's not because they are bitches, it's just because you're stupid!
RedRose: Hi. Well, you're a bundle of contradictions. Do I write that about brown eyes? If I do, I got it from somewhere and has nothing to do with what I think. I must be citing some evidence because I haven't lined up all the red headed women to inspect them (though I'd surely like to.) As for anesthesia, there are always exceptions and others have said the same on this page, but more have confirmed.
Love your answer about bitchy redheads. Sounds like a blog: Redheads Aren't Bitches; You're Just Stupid. Thanks for your comment!
redhead is a very good
I love red hair..............
Hi Christoph. :)
The reason I mentioned that about brown eyes is because I've come across others who have said the same thing. I think it really depends on the area where you live. Here, redheads(natural ones!) with either blue or brown eyes are a dime a dozen yet in other areas, good luck trying to find them. For me, I've done a bit of traveling and all I ever tend to see is redheads with either blue or brown eyes.
As for the anesthesia, I've seen more studies that show that redheads then to have a stronger threshold for pain. Most of these studies were on TV which is why I found it odd that some think that we need more then most people. Personally, I can't see how pigment affects a person's pain tolerance. I think it's just more an individual thing rather then what a person's hair color is.
You know, if you ever did a blog on us "bitchy" redheads, it would be something I would definitely have to read! I think I would get quite the kick out of it!
Me again!
I forgot to add this in my last comment but here's a couple of more myths about us redheads that I found during a search that you might get a laugh out of.
We are the result of incest and we are also alien-human hybrids. I don't know where people come up with these things! lol
RedRose: Oh Lordy, I meant a blog for YOU to write. Ha, ha! For you see, I am not a redhead. Just an admirer, black Irish, but with some cousins with hair that lights as bright as a newly opened rose. Besides, I write for too many sites as it is.
I thought the alien hybrid thing was true.
Let me know when you get the blog up and running!
With affection, thank you again!
Wow. I thought you were a redhead! Normally when I read blogs that don't trash us, it's normally written by a redhead.
As for me, I don't write blogs, I just read them! Besides, if I did write blogs, they would end up with a fair amount of words that some people don't like to hear or read! lol I will admit that I have been tempted to start one up but I don't know if it's something I would go through with.
"I thought the alien hybrid thing was true."
LOL! You know, I think it would be damn cool if it was true!
If I ever do start up a blog, I'll send you the link to it!
Good day!
Hi Rose! If you do start one, I recommend wordpress, where I have TheCrustyCurmudgeon.com. Sometimes I think mine is "a fair amount of words that some people don't like to hear or read!" (Not really...it does pretty well.) In any case, you certainly don't seem to be at a loss for words, so yes, please send me the link if you ever do it.
It's been a pleasure!
Thanks!
Well, I did it. I just finished my first blog.
It may not be the greatest so don't hold that over on me. Just click on my name to go to it. Also, if you can offer any suggestions on maneuvering around that site, I'd really appreciate it.
Enjoy!
Damn! The link isn't working for me. Just look at the bottom for the URL and just type it in manually. It'll take you right to it.
I didn't post the link right in the comment because I wasn't sure if it would be deleted or not.
Great blog, Rose! I read it and commented (I'm the first! Yaay!) And yes, I can offer you lots of help. My own blog is on Wordpress and it can get confusing at first. It's good to have someone you can just ask questions because trying to get answers to a specific issue at wordpress is enough to make you go ballistic. Not that I know everything, but I do have some suggestions. It's so very new though--I understand that--and you probably haven't finished setting it up.
Funny about your linked name: It showed up and worked fine on my Comments Page. Anyway, I think my leaving a comment on your blog gave you my email address, or you can write me through this site (hit the "contact Christoph Reilly" button upper right) and we can email with a discussion about it.
Just when I wrote that the link in your name (one of them, anyway) started working. Go figure.
Fun hub, and I think you are right about the anesthesia - and redheads are said to be prone to bleed more during surgery...
I have a red-head daughter and grandson - both are bright and beautiful!
frogyfish: I think it's true. I don't think being bright and beautiful is from being redheads, probably more inherited from their parents. Thanks for the comment!
As a 45-year-old, natural redhead from the midwestern US, I remember being teased (actually taunted) with occasional refrains of, "I'd rather be dead than red on the head!", to which I created a rather apt reply, "I'd rather be red on the head than dead in the head!" Unfortunately the schoolyard taunts don't really ever go away, although they do become more an undercurrent of jealousy, fear and loathing, only rarely putrifying the air with their particular stench.
I'm sometimes taken aback when middle-aged, seemingly otherwise 'normal,' adults resort to such idiotic vitriol, and sadly it does still happen. It's a case of expectations gone awry I suppose ... I expect grown, otherwise sane, people not to exhibit nonsensical pejorative terms based simply on someone's hair color. What they expect is still a puzzle to me. These are not stupid people, for the most part, but those that cast aspersions and taunts at redheads definitely do have a blind spot of ignorance, or worse.
Most recently I've moved back north after 30+ years in Texas, and I have been quite surprised to see how much bias there is against redheads here. It was much more accepted in Texas … even admired! I suppose some people just don't realize what they're saying when they joke about the ill-fated "redheaded stepchild", etc, but they certainly do take notice when I cast a disapproving glance their way in response.
Yes, we redheads can laugh it off, and we should when it's not pejorative or abusive. However, in my opinion, we should also try to educate people who use stereotypes about why it's not so cool to do so. I also think true attacks against redheads should be punished via the legal system. Maybe that would deter some of this "modern day" vitriol against us. Sadly, some redheads, especially in the UK, have resorted to dying their hair a different color other than the gorgeous natural red they were born with. What are they to do with the freckles and green or blue eyes? It's ridiculous in this "modern age" for people to have to resort to such extremes in an attempt to escape abuse.
Oh, and I've been asked enough times if "the carpet matches the drapes" that I've chosen to post one of my baby pics in the chat program I use most. So far, that's eliminated the sleazy question, so feel free to use the idea if you wish. I guess most seem OK with the "positive" sexual stereotypes, but it does get tiring to hear the same idiotic questions time after time. For anecdotal evidence I submit that I've always enjoyed exploration, but my sister, who is also a redhead, is much more squeamish about the whole idea of sex. So much for stereotypes holding true, even within the same family!
The amount of tresses redheads have is probably anecdotal, or maybe my experience is, not sure which. Every hairstylist I've ever gone to has remarked about the ton of hair I have ... so much so that I have to keep it layered when I grow it longer to avoid the "mop" effect. It's ridiculously heavy longer, although gorgeous!
I have resorted to highlights and lowlights in the past few years, simply to ease into the lovely silver that comes with age. Some stray silver hairs against a backdrop of deep red is annoying to me, so my personal preference is to use highlights until there is enough silver to make it prettier to go natural.
I do wish I had darker eyebrows and eyelashes though! They're such a light shade of strawberry-blonde they're nearly non-existent.
When all is said and done, to those who admire redheads, thank you. But please remember we are more than a mere stereotype (no matter how enthralling or enticing). Just as you would want to be recognized and known for your own unique personhood, so do we. :-)
Yeah, I have not "orange" hair but almost an actual RED. There has not been a red-head in my family for 5 generations. My mom has brown hair and my dad black. I am the only living person in my family to have red-hair. Imagine that? I have been called practically every name out there. I have had, firecrotch(those were slapped) ginger, carrot-top, gingey,tomato head, and many more nicknames. I have even had people ask me if I am a vampire or a witch. (that's encouraging...) But truthfully, I dont't mind it all that much. I love being a red-head and wouldn't change it for the world. :D
Vintage Whine: I can honestly say that I have never heard anyone say anything derogatory about red heads. I'm sure it exists--I wrote this after all--but I've never witnessed it. In many ways, it's difficult for me to identify with, not being a redhead myself. Some of the things you mention I would not find offensive, like you're hot in bed. Of course, that has a different meaning for women than it does for men. Men would like that misconception.
I wonder if in some of the instances the things they say is simply an awkward attempt to get on a personal level with you; a means to get close to you. Sometimes I think the guys are flirting, clumsily, to be sure, but flirting just the same.
As for "do the carpets match the drapes," that is said often of blonds too, and maybe your answer should be, "You can see the drapes from outside; you're not invited in to see the drapes.
Thanks for your comment.
Lissa Sims: Are you British, per chance? I have never heard the term "ginger" here in the states, and "firecrotch" is a new one on me. Glad you don't mind all that silliness and love being a redhead. Thanks!
I watched an ep of that tv guide show where they make someone look like a celebrity (Look a Like, that's it) and they did a Debra Messing one. From the context of the I believe it was implied Debra Messing is NOT an actual readhead. (Something about her hair dying was mentioned) Unless I"m mistaken, I don't see why she's included here. IDK about some of the others.
And Lucille Ball is in there too, and she was a famous "dyer." I make no such claims that they are all natural redheads. In fact, the title says "Famous Red Hair," so it's hair and it's red.
well im a redhead nd i think tht this stuff is hlarious nd some of it is true, but some just seems really stupid...this person i knew for a while once told me it was said tht red heads were from satan....nd i was like see ya idiot!!!!! PEACE!!!!
Samantha: I'm on your side. Some of it is just hilarious (you little devil). Thanks for the comment!
Well I fucking FLAT OUT SUCK at putting together writing thingies so I'll just list what I wanted to say:
1. the thing about redheads having sexual beastality or whatever? So true. My boyfriend quotes that all the time.
2. red hair is actually from the Vikings, not Scottland and Ireland. The reason there's a big mass of redheads over there in Ireland and Scottland is because vikings settled there a long time ago. And if ANYONE IS GOING TO TELL ME I'M WRONG, SHUT THE FUCKING HELL UP. I KNOW I'M RIGHT. Besides, my mom is half Scandinavian, and you know that both parents have to have the red hair gene to pass it on, right? so therefore, that means that my Scandinavian grandpa had red hair, and if red hair is ONLY Irish and Scottish, than why the hell does a Norwegian/Swedish guy have it? And my cousin, Krestal, who is FROM NORWAY, has red hair. I don't know if that made sense exactly, but oh fucking well. Plus I read that the vikings found a group of people with red or flaxen hair out in Scandinavia when they first settled there.
3. the thing about red heads having tempers, true. I can't tell you how many times I've gone off on someone about the dumbest shit or I beat the living hell out of someone because I was so pissed. Anyways, redheads got anger issues.
4. Redhair is GORGEOUS, in my opinion. Plus it's rare, and that adds to its beauty.
5. Me and my siblings all have red hair.
6. awesome hub :D
Piss: Now listen to me, sweetie. I made no claims about where red hair originated, only which countries have the MOST red heads. So WATCH YOUR FRIGGIN LANGUAGE. Besides, the experts don't agree where red hair originated. Yes, Sweden does have redheads, as does Norway, as does Asia, as does Russia, etc. But percentage wise they are far down the list. You could look it up.
That being said, I'm sure you have lovely red hair and glad you liked the rest and thank you for the comment.
Being a redhead myself, I considered it a curse when I was young... now its my greatest asset... that and blue eyes lol
if my parents both have red hair, what are the chances that i wouldnt have red hair?
Clarrissa: I think many redheads feel the same as you do about it. Thanks for reading and commenting.
sho: I really have no idea, except a recessive red hair gene is common, only to surface later with your children or grand children. Thanks!
Christoph, I didn't say you said they were all natural. I did enjoy the article. I interpreted the article to be discussing red hair in history (such as the part about people getting burned at the stake for it). I would think these historical actions and myths originated at a time before hair dye (maybe I'm wrong), so that's why I am surprised to see photos of fauxe redheads. The only think about famous people were the photos and quotes.
That's just how I interpreted the article, to be more focused on natural redheads. I think it's great if people DO want to dye they're hair red-it's their hair and it's a great color.
E: I get your point and it's a valid one. Two years ago, when I wrote this, I accidentally included some redhead that I thought were natural (including Debra Messing) only to find out I was mistaken. At that time, I decided to include dyed redheads too. Didn't mean to sound aggressive.
For the record, henna as been used to dye hair and skin since 400 BC in Egypt, in Rome sometime around the year 0001AD,and elsewhere like Asia, and that's a mighty long time ago.
Thanks again, for your comment. Always a pleasure.
It's ok Christoph. I didn't mean to make you think I was accusing you of misinformation or anything. I guess it doesn't matter if it's natural or not, it's stil georgeous. And it's not like we know who was natural and who wasn't back in BC if henna was around. (That's a pretty cool fact.) I just feel kind of special having natural red hair-I don't have super high self esteem so I'm always grateful to compliments I get. So it's weird when I find out someone isn't natural. But yeah, Lucille Ball as you mentioned was totally known for her red hair, and she's awesome :)
I understand how you feel. You have something special and people can duplicate it with stuff in a box. Doesn't seen fair. Well, you are well-spoken and outgoing and you should feel great about yourself, so none of this "not the highest" self esteem. I hold you in high esteem, indeed. Thanks!
It was tough growing up as a ginger boy...then I started to like it because I found out some women like it...and then I started to lose it. Life can be so unfair ;)
Andy: Ain't it the truth. More like cruel. Thanks for the comment!
I love being a redhead now
Chelsea: Good. I think your name is perfect for a redhead.
Thanks for the comment.
i heard that if u pass 3 redheads in a row in poland u win the lottary! it was funny when walkin around with my mum and dad (me n dad are both redheads) everyone looking at my mum and looking like damn it!! thought we had 3 there for a minute!! loved reading this i feel empowered now!
kt: That's very funny. Never heard that about Poland. Glad you enjoyed the article. Thanks for the comment!
so am very.. nosy../ interested in some certain.. red. headed ladies..so need I run away.. or just be lol@ so.. give me some pointers. k? tanks all me b. k?? :)
bruce: Are you asking me how you can get a redheaded woman? What always works for me is a very large butterfly net, or if you don't have one, simply pursue them as you would a normal woman, only pursue them better than you usually do, but then, that goes for all women, doesn't it? Don't worry about being laughed at. Happens to everybody.
This was great. Ive always had bright red hair, and I used to hate it, but then I got to thinking, and it makes me feel edgy. Everything you said about redheads completely applies to me. =D Awesomeness!
Hi Ashley: Thank you so much for your kind words. You, my dear, are a lady with class, style, and verve! Thanks!
Would love to know your sources for this article.
I love this. Have redhair myself, and this was really beautiful written.
Ane: Thank you, Ane, for the lovely compliment. Thank you for writing!
Oh I love this website! It is so true :) I agree with Ane - this is wonderfully written and I love my red hair. Everyone always tells me how unique it is and I used to hate it but it really is a gift :]
Rednutranga: Thank you for reading and the compliment. I have never heard the term "ranga" before. You learn something new every day. Thanks!
This is wonderfully written! Thanks for this information! I'm a red-head myself, and it was really fascinating to learn all this stuff about myths and misconceptions. My father, being a doctor had always told me that we require more anesthesia, and the point was really driven home to me when I got my wisdom teeth taken out 2 years ago and it took about 2 hours to wake me up because of the extra anesthesia they had to give me. haha. Again, thanks for all this great information!!!
I'm glad you liked it and I appreciate you coming by to read it. Thanks for your kind words!
Red hair has so much boldness and attention in it. I think for anybody to change his or her hair color to red, you have to be able to own it and have the personality to match it as well.
adorababy: I can only agree with you...wholeheartedly. Thanks for reading and the comment!
Problems with Greeks? I have to tell that sore losers we aren't,maybe you the rest nations that were so far behind our arts and sciences are jealous...
Parhena: I have no problems with Greeks. I simply point out the Greeks view of redheads. Yes, I said Greeks were sore losers, not ARE. Perhaps this is not true. It is true that if they lost a battle, they figured out a different approach and came back at their enemies and bested them. The sore losers comments is an aside and for entertainment purposes, which is all this writing purports to be(though all facts are true and come from verifiable and authoritative sources. If offense was given, I heartily apologize and assure you it was not my intention. Truth is, I admire the Greeks and find Greek history fascinating.
Thank you for your comment and alerting me to your feelings.
I kind of like what The Boss has to say: "...you ain't lived til you've had your tires rotated by a red headed woman..."
BellaBella: Ha, ha! The Boss said that? He rules. Saw him in concert for the first time this year. I was very impressed. Anyway, how true. When I think back, uh, I mean, I would imagine so. Thanks for the comment!
the color matches the cuffs, keep this one in mind you posers! and also the burst blood vessals in my mates one eye can attest to my G force BABY!!!!!!
adrianna: You tell 'em, girl!
I am a redhead and this gave me quite an education. I do know what "not emotionally housebroken" means and in my case that appears to be true. Whether it has anything to do with red hair is anyone's guess. The scary part is the person who got stabbed for being redheaded. I had a street gang who tried to run me over on numerous occasions when I was pregnant! I screamed at them "I'm Irish you idiots, same as you!" from behind the tree I ran for. What, tell their parents? They stopped after they found out I was Irish. Maybe people just need to spread the word now that we're not all evil, violent, sex starved witches, descended from Cain... Only some of us are.
Faybe Bay: Hi. I'm wondering where your incident took place? Was in in Florida? And how did you know they were Irish? Thank you for your comment. That's exactly what I was trying to do: spread the word! Thanks!
Yeah, it was in Florida, and about 16 years ago. I knew they were Irish because I knew them before they shaved their heads. Skinheads, you know, are very prejudiced, but since I had red hair and they didn't they were really aiming the car for me, on at least three occasions. They had freckles! And I worked bingo, some of them, their moms or dads came in to play where I worked. The total of the gang was probably eight or twelve youths under 18, but when the window was down and the arm hanging out the window and them laughing, I hollered good and loud with my best Bingo Voice!
Faybe Bay: Oh, skinheads. Well, I'm certainly glad your quick thinking got them off your case. Bingo came in handy!
Cool Hub! That quote from Anne of Green Gables made me laugh. Anne was the perfect stereotypical, ill-tempered redhead. I loved that book (and the movie). One of my favourite parts was when the lady next door (whose name I totally forgot) called her carrots and Anne lost it! Haha, I think I'll watch that movie later.
Strangely, I don't personally know any redheads. Wow, I just noticed that. Interesting... Anyway, again, this Hub was entertaining - like they always are. Thank yuh! ;-)
K; Glad you read it. Actually, I knew very few redheads myself. Had a couple relatives, what with us being Irish...er...Irish/Trini. Glad you enjoyed it K! And I tank yuh, guhl!
growing up in Ireland having red hair was a curse. Here it was called 'foxy' and was associated with the tinkers or travelling people who are generally perceived as violent and dishonest.
But,having since spent fifty years of global travel I found my red hair to often be advantageous. I often had women throwing themselves at me, particularly in South or Central America, and begging me to 'give them a blue-eyed baby'! My response was often, 'I'll do the best I can!'
I was once jailed in Istanbul after one of my more outrageous drunken escapades and, untypically, was very well treated. Although they were desperate to discover how I breached security into a so-called impregnable fortress they never tortured me. They accepted that my amnesia was genuine and after only ten days of pleading interrogation I was released and driven back to my ship.
I was told this gentle treatment wwas for three reasons:
1. They thought I was mad, and in Islam madness is next to Godliness.
2. I had a big wild red beard and, even though only in my mid-twenties, they associated beards with wisemen and holymen.
Last but not least:
3. They reckoned the prophet Mohammed had red hair and this was a sacred sign.
So, if you come upon redheads with blue eyes in unexpected quarters of the world who are aged anywhere between 10 and 50 they might well be my children and carrying my feckless, if not crazy, genes.
Wish em well but run away ASAP - they'll only get you into trouble!
Wow, Tom. That is a totally cool story. Sounds like you led quite an adventurous (and amorous) life. Makes me wish I was a redhead in Central and South America. I think the big surprise for me is that red hair is looked down on in Ireland. I'll be on the lookout for any of your feckless offspring (between 10 and 50 - ha, ha!) and buy him/her a drink. I'm not afraid of trouble! Thanks for your great comment!
interesting article :D but it was a surprise for me to find out about the anesthesia think.I saw on TV that after some tests savants found out that red-head people feel less pain, especialy women.
Gabriel: Actually those two things fit together. Even if it takes more trauma for a redhead to feel the pain, they will eventually feel it. So, it then takes more anesthesia to alleviate that pain. Thanks for your comment.
My father and both sisters red hair as did both his parents. My mother's sister, Auntie Alice also had red hair, so I came by it naturally. I hated being called "carrot top" and being a sassy little kid, I would respond that carrot tops were green.
As an adult I'm always surprised when people ask me if it's natural. Never mind the fair skin, freckles and blue eyes but some people also ask me if I'm Irish. The reply is only on my mother and father's sides.
Red heads are treasured in my family and we're always excited when a new little once comes into the world.
Mary: Whenever I hear a redhead referred to as a carrot top, I always think of that "green" thing too. Glad to see your family is helping the redhead population to thrive! Thanks for the comment!
actually, somtimes i look at my orange hair then at my friends brown hair and think "that looks really wierd" not to be critisizing or anything but i have gotten so used to my hair that ever 1 elses looks wierd to me!
I know what you mean, Katelyn. You must be joking when you say your hair is "orange" though, unless you intentionally colored it orange...or had a bad accident with a bottle of hair coloring!
The hub is really interesting! I am a redhair and i say that nearly everything is truth. The fun thing is that i have brown eyes which is unusual for readhairs and i don't have close relatives with natural redhair,so it's fun :)
Alina: Glad you found it interesting and you find your red hair "fun," as well you should. When you say "nearly" everything is the truth, I assume you mean including people's opinions. The facts presented here are facts and are documented. Thanks for commenting.
Yes, it's very informative. And what inspired you to present these facts? (sorry,may be i missed it)
Alina: The site (HubPages) had a challenge where participants would write articles that had to do with hair. As I searched for a topic, I eventually settled on Redheads. It worked out, as this is one of my more popular articles.
im a redgead and im made fun of constintally wat should i do?please help!
Well, Samantha, the best thing to do is to laugh. Or you might try saying, "Got anything original? I've heard that one a hundred times." There are a lot of redheads who have sought this advice just as you are doing, so here's a few links to Comebacks for Redheads. You may find some useful.
http://www.advicenators.com/qview.php?q=574118
http://www.lemondrop.com/2009/02/13/10-things-you-
http://www.advicenators.com/qview.php?q=466728
The fact is you are unique, and that makes you special. when people make fun of you, it's because they aren't special, so you're ahead of them to start with. Don't ever respond to them with anger...that's what they want. Always look on them with pity for being the inferior beings that they are, and do it with a bit of a smile and a twinkle in your eye. There is nothing more effective to look at someone who has just insulted you in this way, just smiling and looking right into their eyes. Without speaking, just give them a "tsk tsk" move with your head. They'll feel about 2 ft. tall.
There is now some reasonably good scientific evidence to explain why redheads have a recognizably distinct demeanor.
There is more to redheadedness than just the MC1R Gene or belonging to the R1b1 Haplogroup. Redheadedness is correlated with a number of other distinctive characteristics that account for much of the legendary exploits and achievements of redheads in history, in academic pursuits, and in the creative arts.
Barry Kort: Interesting. I'm curious about one of the statements presented in your writing on the subject. You say Redheads - due to various factors - have a reduced fight or flight instinct. What does that mean in layman's terms? That redheads neither fight or run? Or is it simply that a lack of interest in activities that would result in those type of situations cause them instead to pursue academic and artistic pursuits? I'm not connecting the dots, not that I question your intelligent writing on the subject (or the others on your site, which everyone may read by clicking Mr. Kort's name preceding his comment), it's just that I'm not getting why one leads to the other. Could you clarify for those of us who are intellectually challenged? And thank you for the comment and information, which I have no doubt to be true.
That's a great pic of Geena Davis! Thanks for putting up all these great photos.
Mercredi: Thanks! Glad you like it and stopped by!
I'm in love with a Fuzzy Redhead girl with pale skin and freckles and she's the most wonderful girl I've ever met. She fills my life with happiness and adventure. Thru her green eyes I can see right thru her soul. Thank you God
Louis: That's very nice. Congrats on finding the girl who mystifies and enthralls you, and with red hair, no less. Thanks for the comment!
My hair color is a very dark red, i dont know exactly what you would call it, but i can relate to alot of thigs said on here about us red heads. I have a very bad temper but i dont show it often, i'm quiet most of them time but around people i'm close to i love to laugh, i'm adventerous, i've always had a high tolerance to narcotis and pretty much anything really, and i'm a very physical person and as it said above about a beast like sex drive, well lets just say i've been known to growl in the bedroom lol..all in all this site described me almost to a tee, great site!
Rowdy Red: Glad you enjoyed it. Maybe you should have an animal trainer "on call" when you're in the boudoir! Ha!
I have Red Hair Brown Eyes, and olive skin, pepole always ask me what colouring do I use on my hair...I always reply, Heather Elizabeth, thats was my Nanns name and where the redheadedness comes from. :)
Heather: That's a great answer! Thanks for the visit and the comment!
very interesting i am a redhead and everything on there is so true speaking from experience
kristal: Thanks for the confirmation and the comment. Appreciate your visit!
We redheads are rather insatiable in the boudoir and really do require more anesthesia (be it in the operating room or the local tavern)Seeing all of these HOT redheads has gotten me entirely aroused...
Eric the Red: Your message is received loud and clear...and completely understood. Thanks for weighing in on this vital subject!
LOVE the site, the more I read (or should that be red...) the more I was nodding in agreement - all true!
Being a redhead myself, I have to confess to not loving it, but getting used to it, finally!
Elgee: I'm sure it feels odd at times. Glad you're getting used to it, and hopefully some day you'll come to love it! Thanks!
I'm a red head, have been all my life. I've experienced the gaunlet of treatment from poking fun to being pawned over. When I was little old women used to love my curly locks and red hair. I of course hated and dreamed of very brown and straight hair. When I was a teenager and finding your individuality was so important I was able to use my hair. It set me apart from my friends, it made me soley unique (my brother was the only other red head in our community). Chicks secretly dug my red hair while they teased me in public. I was cool with that, actually "dug it" because I knew if she teased me in public she'd please me in private ;)
At 43 I'm still red headed. While my 30+ friends have started to grey and wash out I retain a very youthful look. The tides are turning now and we enter the middle of our lives I can see some resentment in the "red headed guy" surface with folks in my social circle. All I can say is it's great to be red head.
In case some of my fellow red heads didn't know this tid bid of info I wanted to share with you all another fun fact. Red Heads do not turn grey headed :) Our hair turns sandy colored then white, if we live that long. So I guess we get the last laugh in the end. While our young lives are filled wiht tribulations our adult and senior lives more than make up for it. So don't despair all my young red heads your bright days are ahead, and trust we'll have far more of those than our blonde and brunette brothers and sisters could ever dream of having! Celebrate your red hair, be proud of it, consider yourself to be in a very very elite club. The world does truly belong to us, what will you do with your share? I say paint it red!!
Ed
Edward: Thank for your thoughtful comment, and I'm sure many younger readers will find inspiration in your words. I didn't know about red hair not turning gray so thanks for sharing that. Have a great day!
hiya im actually a redhead myself, its inbetween strawberry blonde and auburn but is any of this stuff actually true, because in approximately 14 years i have not had a boyfriend, though i think their are a lot of flirters and a lot of jealous girls haha!
sorry me again, but edward 6967, i totally agree with you the same thing happened to me.
redhead: Yes, it's actually true, of course red hair in and of itself doesn't guarantee you anything. Depends on so many other things. I don't know how old you are so I can't say whether that's a factor. One thing I can say is feeling great about yourself and having a positive outlook works wonders for everybody (not saying you don't). Thanks!
Love the read; it has a little bit of everything and l absolutely love it. My hair is light brown but around the spring to fall time I tend to get tricolored red hair streaks natrually. Red hairs always been fascinatig to me because I have it but then I don't lmfao great read love the historical context;; I will become a fan and follow as soon as I get on my computer!!! I hope to read from you soon :P
Thanks NikkiLee. Nice of you to stop by with such kind words!
Great hub..New to this and came across this while looking up info on redheads.
As a redhead, I can relate to all the others. I was bullied as a child and in high school colored my hair blonde for years. As an adult, I let my natural hair grow out and then got even more attention and everyone asked where I got my hair done cause it was awesome. I told them it was all natural.
I think redheads are very strong people cause of what we had to deal with growing up and as children. We are strong willed and most are very calm and controlled temper till we had our fill, then you better watch out.
I have been asked all the stupid questions and was even asked, "What country is it the redheads are so rare the people flock around when they see one, and are sort of like worshipped". Like we know everything about redheads. Been asked if redheads had ESP to one another. OMG, I was so speechless, I couldn't even reply except to laugh so hard.
My husband says he has never met anyone so strong willed except with redheads. Maybe that's our appeal. lol
The medical and sexual myths are right though. My dentist can vouch for that one and surgeon too.
My husband can vouch for sexual cause we have four children and all were on birth control. Scary. huh
We also do look younger cause we are not in the sun much or we use lots of sunblock due to sunburns. I have a son in college and took him to Italy when he graduated from high school and everyone kept asking him if I was his sister or his girlfriend. He stated "EEWW that's my MOM"! I was loving it.
Your stories are wonderful. I'm so glad I came across this hub. Thanks for fun reading.
"Ewww, that's my mom." ha,ha! Funny! Thanks for stopping by and the comment. And the kind words!
do red heads (especially men) like dark complected women
?
suri: Probably doesn't have anything to do with whether or not a man has red hair. I would say there are men who like dark complected women, and maybe some who don't. As for myself, I do, and also light complected women, and I would like green women if there where any.
I'm married to an Irish redhead. What you say is quite true. However, I've heard mixed reviews about their pain threshholds and I can tell you my wifes is quite high.
Thank you for your comment. I supposed there are always exceptions to the rule no matter the rule. Thanks again!
I too am a redhead - I am one of 4 redheads out of 7 siblings in my family - both parents had very dark brown hair. Out of all my siblings, I am the only one that had a child with red hair. We have the red auburn hair -I am 57 and I am just starting to turn white in a few temple areas. Someone did say that redheads don't get gray hair - they are right, it is white.
The weirdest thing that I experienced being a redhead is my sisters and I joined the International Redheads Club. There was a huge party at a hotel for only redheads. Can you imagine!! It was really a trip and alot of fun - everyone checking out everyone's hair color.
Q. That party does sound like a trip. Thanks for commenting.
I didnt really know about all the medical stuff but now i understand from personal expeirience about anesthesia. I remember about how the anesthersiaologist was telling me he had to give me enough to kill a horse and wondered why it did not kill me.
Great article Christoph. I usually have the attention span of a feral pigeon, but with your writing, I enjoy it right to the end, and then want more. Dammit man, I have a life to live and books to read... and all I want to do is enjoy your craftsmanship. Thank you.
Nikki: I have had several people confirm that also, and just like you, based on personal experience. It must be largely true. Thanks for the comment.
Twilight: Well, I fear you're just exaggerating now...but keep it up! Ha! On that other thing, I'm glad I only had to read the first two paragraphs. I almost didn't even make it that far. I'll write you about the line that almost killed me!
I am a natural redhead, with 2 siblings and a mother who are also redheaded... I wanted to add that there is scientific evidence that not only are lots of other people attracted to us "mysterious" redheads, we redheads are very strongly drawn to each other, too. Perhaps it has something to do with some subconscious, evolutionary desire to make more redheads... I don't know :). However, I do know that out of the 389 people in my senior class in high school, there were 2 other natural redheads besides myself, and I ended up dating one of them, and the other one asked me out once XD. Talk about animal magnetism...
Also, whoever said that redheads are as addictive as drugs may have a point. A few of the guys I've dated have admitted an addiction to redheads... One of them (who told me that I was the 4th redhead he'd dated) said that he just loved redheads... He said that redheads are different from other girls in that we truly are more passionate about anything and everything we're into, and that in his experience, redheads are WAY better in bed than other women. It seems that there is a lot of truth in some of the stereotypes about us after all.
By the way, thanks for the great article! I really enjoyed reading it :).
Katie, thank you for the kind words and glad you enjoyed it. Maybe you prove the rule and the stereotypes are true! Thanks again!
the part about anesthesia is true. when i was ten i had to have surgery they didnt give me enough and i freaked beat the crap out the doctor and nurse.. it took 5 people to restrain me till they could give more.
Jewels. I guess that Doctor learned the hard way: Don't mess with a redhead! Thanks for the comment.
Apparently Elvis was a redhead!!!
Nathalie: No way? Really? My mother knew him as a young kid in Tupelo Mississippi, and she never said that. But that doesn't prove anything of course.
Caden Faught wrote:
Yeah, the part about being more attractive is true i had 3 guys come up to me today, they said they wanted to tap me! Im in 6th grade too! The ppl were perv's!
( the ppl were (deleted), (deleted), and (deleted)! For people who might kno these ppl)
I go to (deleted) Middle School in (deleted) alabama
Dear What's you name:
Now you know I can't allow that. Nice try, though!
I have to admit, being an NBR (natural born redhead) I find both the history of people with red hair, and the use of them in liturature quite interesting. Heck, in Robert Fagles translation of the "Iliad," Achilles was repeatedly called a redhead. As for myself, my bias has been so heavy that in most of the fiction I write, my lead females are all redheads.
I admit, I'm biased.
Both of my parents were redheads, though with my mother it was joked that she was "the milkman's daughter"; her father's Prussian/German family had dark hair, while her mother's Irish family had brown, so she got some ridicule because of it. With one other sibling, who is also a redhead, I grew up aware of how we would turn heads when we all went out in public together. I also grew up knowing that a true hairdresser was one who could look at my hair and say, "That is certainly NOT colored." Yes, I've been asked countless times, "Is that your real hair color?" I won't even go into the occasional lewn commentary, the lightest of which is, "Oh, fire down below!"
As other women have pointed out before, I've run into men who say, "I just love redheads," and, indeed, my husband is one of them. Sadly, though, with his parents being from Belize and South Korea, our son did not receive my red hair. Maybe his children will.
Anyhow, as others have said...this is quite an enjoyable article, please keep it up on the web.
Thank you!
Mary Lynn: Thanks so much for the comment and kind words. I am not surprised that your lead female characters are redheads. It's only right. Thanks again!
I always find redheads sexy and interesting but didn't know the medical stuff until I read this hub. Anyway they are still the sexiest for me! Thanks for such an informative hub!
Rated this hub and happy following you.
Check out my hubs too =)
I to am a Redhead from birth with a sister and lots of cousins with redhair and when we were out together people never forget. I remember being at the shore and 5 hours later and 100 miles away someone came up to me at a restaurant and said you were at the beach today. Now that says alot about being a redhead. But what I wanted to say to all those aging readhead like myself is yes, we do not gray we go platinum! Our hair is the best from start to finish. Thank you God!!!
Maryann: That's a great story about the power of red. Thank you very much for the story and the comment!
well im a teen doing a report on red hair and i think u are all nuts!!!!!haha i said nuts hehe...
Red hair is a mark of divinity.
I'm not a redhead, but stumbled across this page and couldn't resist reading it! Very interesting. Now, I don't know if a previous comment has mentioned this (i didn't read them all) but it's spelled KATHARINE HEPBURN. I should know, i was named after her. Thanks :)
Yes, it certainly is, and no, no one's mentioned it. Thanks.
This is one fantastic article/research! The only question I'd have would be: Are readheads good Tango dancers? Need to start paying attention to hair color :)
Of course. Redheads are passionate and the tango is a passionate dance.
I have three brothers and three sisters. Three are blondes, three are brunettes and I'm the only redhead in the bunch. Our father was a redhead, and Mom was a brunette. I always teased Mom by telling people she married a redhead, so I knew I was legal. It's the other six we're not sure about! I married a redhead and have a beautiful redheaded daughter and a handsome redheaded son. My second husband was Chinese, Filipino and Caucasian, so he had very dark hair. Our daughter is a brunette, but when she's out in the sun, you can see the red highlights. Not only is she beautiful, but she has freckles!!! Now I'm going gray, or platinum as Maryanne said, and I color my hair red. I'll keep coloring it red until it all goes platinum and just won't take the color anymore. I've never had a problem being a redhead. I've loved every minute of it, whether my hair was long or short.
Blondes may have more fun, but redheads are remembered!
How true, Sissy Gran. Thanks so much for your comment!
Hi, I'm a curly red haired, freckled male born and raised in the U.S. Although it sounds much worse in the U.K., there is a bit of stigma associated with redheads in the U.S. too, more so with males.
In grade school I was often teased and singled out because of my freckles and "bozo the clown" hair. That pretty much disappeared after high school, though, as people matured.
However, to this day, women seem to be polarized about me when it comes to romantic interest. Most women like me "as a friend", but politely-but-firmly shut me down whenever I try to take it any further than that. However, a few women get all freaky about redheads, as in I can't keep them off me, not that I'd want to! I guess the key is to just enjoy the people who appreciate you and let the rest slide!
JKredfreck: I think that's a great way of looking at it. When a feast is set before you, eat and enjoy.
thanks to this i feel sexy being a red head not on fire! LOL;)
sab: And so you should! Thanks for the comment.
This was great!
Thank you, Candi. Glad you enjoyed it.
As a redhead this article was very interesting to read, great job!
Thank you, Little Abby, for stopping by!
i have to agree with the article and as a teenage and that every one hates them butreally they are jeaous of them because i am bullied in school and always ignored and both of my parents have black hair and my siblings have like dirtybrown hair and i have aurbun redhair it really sucks having people call you names and having to do everything almost in the house just becuase of my hair and being tld that you cant do this or thatlike my sister can thanks alot for the help
Elizabeth: Those who bully and tease you are showing their immaturity and lack of class. Try not to let it bother you. Don't let them keep you in the house. Go out and have fun and don't let those idiots bother you.
Wow this is interesting or at least to me being a redhead an all. I get picked on at school cause of my hair. I just say "Screw you haters" which is kinda werid cause i never use the word haters. The guy I liked for 3 monthes wouldn't date me when I asked him out because of my red hair. It dosen't bother me now that I've read this so thank you for writing this because now I love my red hair. Sorry for any bad grammer.
Good for you, Heather. You should love your red hair. That makes you a truly special person, and that is secretly what makes the others treat you different. It's not that there's something wrong with you, but something wrong with them.
hi! im a redhead.... and im loving every moment of it!
As well you should. Thanks for writing!
It could sound psycho, but I have had a crush for redhead girls since I was 11 (i'm 23 now) and I think cuz it's not just their physical beauty (I love freckless and green eyes) but it also the spirit, love and joy they exude. I dunno why they would have been discrimination against redheads (females and males). Anyway, from my point of view; You can find blondes everywhere, but the fact that redheads women come are few just make them a tresure more precious to find :)
Exactly NachoNutria: The whole discrimination thing just doesn't make sense to me. To explain it away as simple jealousy or because redheads are different seems like an over simplification, but that may be all their is to it.
Thanks for the comment!
Sorry for all those horrible grammar and orthography mistakes, english is a kind of second language for me, and i'm english-spanish translator, but I was a bit sleepy when I wrote the previous post ^_^U
No problem, Nacho. I appreciate your commenting!
I loved the article! Thanks!
One of the best / funniest comments I ever received was from a hot young police officer on duty while waiting for the train. We were chatting and he said to me "Wow, redheads usually come in two types. Either drop dead gorgeous, or rather unattractive. You my dear are NOT unattractive" Too bad the train came right then.
Anya: You should have gotten his badge number! ha! What a great thing to say. Must have made your day. Thanks for sharing!
i am a red head well more auburn but still i love being a red head i do have wild mood swings but i am fun i also know there is a theory we r a dying breed
Ashley: Thanks for the comment. Yes, they predict that the more that cultures and races inter-breed, that red hair will eventually be bred out of society. I hope not.
Galileo Galilei, Charles Darwin, George Washington, King Henry II of England
I have been Married for 33 years to a redhead...Bright Auburn...I will say from years of experience, whatever they attempt. it is always full bore....no have measures...
also it has been proven red heads have a higher tolerance for pain and the anasthesia thing is pretty interesting i noticed the dentist has to pump me full of nitrous and novacaine and as a younger guy i partied all the time i can't speak for all red heads but my tolerance to any drug has always been higher than that of my friends
David and Red: Thanks for commenting. More first hand experience confirms the facts.
I read in wiki that readheads stand out in a crowd, but in Scotland (Where I come from) this is not true.
William Purvis: I have no doubt. Redheads aside, it has long been my dream to visit Scotland and Ireland, the land of my ancestors.
I've always been a sucker for a redhead. They can be natural or fake. I just love their fieriness!
I hear that! Thanks for the comment, DatChicLeeLee!
My son has auburn hair and he never has a problem getting girlfriends. There are almost always a following of girls who want to date him and those girls are nice looking. If he does get negative comments it is almost always from caucasian guys who I think must be jealous of the attention he gets or from caucasian girls who just aren't attractive.
I'll have to ask one of my red-headed cousins about that, but it doesn't surprise me. There will always be those who condemn those who are a little different, and those who celebrate them. I am happy to be of the latter. Thanks for the comment.
my little sisters a red head and well me an my friends cald her the devil.
he srry i didnt know what to do and u need to put down a password thing what watevr ur name is above mine.
Awesome. As a ginger, I loved this hub. Good read, my friend.
Glad you enjoyed it, Sarah. Thanks for commenting too!
I have really enjoyed this post and all the comments. I'm a natural strawberry blond and have shared many of the same experiences as I've read here. I was motivated by your hub, and wrote a short blog post of my own thoughts about redheadedness (the comment I was writing here got a bit long). Please remove the link if you like, just thought you might appreciate it!
Hi MrsNoGood. I read your piece and I liked it. Commented on it too, but when the site required accessing all my personal data, I declined. Here is the note I wrote to you on your blog:
Hi MrsNoGood! or is that, your redheadedness: Thanks so much for your kindness here, with your mentions of me. Such largess is rare. I enjoyed your post, and especially was interested in your comments regarding being someone's "fetish." Quite sensible on your part. I'm quite honored, and I will post your link more prominently on my article. Interesting that I know of three other redheads that were inspired to write about being a redhead from reading that hub (not sure I can explain the "hub" thing either) and it by far my most successful piece of all time, out of hundreds. Thanks again! Chris
To read the post discussed above, go here: http://din-and-a-movie.livejournal.com/1411.html
Wow, you do keep up with your comments! Thanks for reading:) Not only did you motivate me to write about my own experience, you also motivated me to read more of your posts. My husband and I just lost our german shepherd a few weeks ago, so your hub "Why Are Dogs Mans Best Friend" was particularly poignant. Unfortunately, you are helping me procrastinate far too much! Looking forward to whatever comes next.
MrsNoGood: Glad you read some more. The dog hub was written after I lost both of my dogs in rather short order. Not right away--too emotional--but later after I had settled a little. Hope the loss of yours didn't hit too hard. Thanks again!
Some of hte above are not natural red heads, i'll name one franka potente. Stop pretending
I didn't say they were, and yet, their hair is red, ergo, they are redheads.
I really enjoyed this hub Christoph! Lots of interesting information (particularly the anesthesia piece - which I know has been complimented a lot in the above comments, but I thought it was especially cool!)
While I'm not a full redhead (my hair is more strawberry blonde), I did try to dye my hair brown once and it pulled red and I ended up with a copper colour. Unfortunately this was right around St. Patricks Day and got asked if I was a leprechaun (weird I know).
Two things I thought I'd mention:
- Being a nursing student I can testify that according to several nurses I've talked to, red heads don't clot well (something about less platelets?)
- Have heard of "kick a ginger day" at several schools. News has actually reported on it (several schools suspended students who participated). I have several cousins who are redheads who skip school on that day.
Thank you again for the wonderful article!
Wow. I never heard of "kick a Ginger day." That is truly horrible. I just googled it. Apparently, it started from the cartoon, South Park. Being suspended is too lenient. Thanks for your comment, and glad you liked the article.
hello!
i'm a red hair too and i love it when people become envious on me. i do not get them in serious and i know how to ignore their "opinions" about me.
i think in a mature way and i prefer to spend my life in future near an older man than me!
in any way that's not a problem for me because i see how guys are looking to me when i go out for shopp,parties, etc!
we are really mystherious and "a bit or more" wicked persons but i do not care!
people have limitated minds and are stupid when they see someone proud, adamant, stubborn, beautiful, delicate, crazy, generous in a single word "superior"!
i'm loving it and i know what i want for me!
viva redheads!
glulya: Glad you wear your red hair with pride. You are obviously very confident. I hope some of the young people who are being taunted for their red hair (or anything that is "different and unique" about them read you words and find strength in them.
Hey im a Ginger too. Gotta say ive been every colour under the sun to try and hide it when i was youger, now i just embrace it and ive got more attention than ever before.
I had a son a year ago, not ginger though, but as his hair is becoming thicker there is a ginger tinge. Would love to pass down the ginger gene.
The world wouldn't be the same without gingers.
Loved the writing by the way very interesting read.
Mary.. :)
Mary; Thanks for the kind words and your thoughts. That's actually a theme I have heard in the comments here: that as adults, redheads embrace their hair and find the beauty there, and find the attention flattering.
I don't know where but there's a superstition that red hair brings good luck
K: I don't think any superstition concerning red hair would surprise me. Thanks for the comment.
hey, cool stuff, im a have redhair and freckles, as i read the comments it suprised me to see no twins :) i have a twin brother identical ( the look )
i dont mind the look but the fact that i cant stay outside when the sun is burning, and the globalwarming, im 17. joining the marines to do my part and forever young!
cris: I can see how the sun issue could be annoying. Best of luck in the military.
like Mary i tried to change my hair when i was younger and now embrace my inner red-head. My daughter though.. she's a blonde.. i'm hoping that since she is only 4 that her hair will change as she gets older much like mine did (i was born with strawberry blonde hair that turned bright red then to a dark auburn as i have gotten older) i no longer have to dye my hair because it changes by itself from summer to winter (i dont know if anyone else has the issue but i get a silver streak under my hair at the base of my neck) anyway i loved reading this...
Glad you enjoyed it, Teah. Thanks for taking the time to write!
I love this article! I'm a natural red-head, and this article basically described me. Thanks for writing!
Your welcome, Abbey. A pleasure to have you here!
thanks from Prague - Czech Republic
READHEAD OR GO HOME! I LOVE REDHEADS! MY GIRLFRIEND IS A REDHEAD! :D GREETINGS FROM CROATIA!
Greetings Jana in Prague!
Hello Josephus in Croatia!
Hello Cristoph! Hello all redheads, expecially one redhead! :)
Loved it and I have always had a thing for red haired women and they are always special and you can never forget one when you meet them
Yes, Carlos. The DO make an impression!
being ginger is so wonderful...being pretty ginger is just awsome :)))) great stuff i just love to read about myself ;pp
fever, And I'm sure the rest of us love to read about you reading about yourself. Glad you liked the article.
Go the rangas!!! yayar!! we're the baddest in bed :-)
Rebecca: Prove it!
I myself am a proud redhead. I get singled out alot for it though. But like I always tell people who single me out, take me or leave me cuz this ginger is here to stay.
Good for you, Rhonda. And the world is a better place for it!
Two words; "Hurt me". I absolutely adore redheads. I had sex with blondes, I married a brunette and if I had a mistress it would definitely be a redhead.
Over and out, Rafsta.
What about raven haired? Thanks for the comment.
I've heard about the prover "there has never been a saint with red hair " but imo these are just myths.
Great article
Yeah, that's just a Russian saying.
I just wanted to say that I loved the article, I've always had problems with men, they seem to really hate it up north :(. I'm a natural redhead, with brown eyes and so many freckles LOL. I envy those who have a bit of Irish, Scottish or British ancestory associated with their redhair...I'm a German redhead with no Irish or Scottish ancestory in me boo haha. Oh well I can pretend can't I? xD :D
Thanks for the article, makes me feel proud that I'm a ginger :)
Rene, Glad you feel proud about being a redhead. About freckles, and Irish mother I know always told her daughter that freckles were angel kisses--little marks left behind after angels had kissed the spot. So you don't have freckles; you have angel kisses.
as a red head i have to say the temper thing is true i am huge hot head but if you cant handle that then go get a boring brunette and plu s red heads can get away with the sunburned look like no other
I've naturally dark blonde hair that has been dyed (over and over) about 2 shades lighter. I have highlights also. I'm attempting to decrease the damage of my hair, but would like to go light brown (closer to natural) and still get highlights around the front to keep it from acquiring too boring. Any suggestions on deposit only hair color, and if I can keep my hair relatively healthy with out the "mousy brown" look. I was thinking like Lauren Conrad (The HIlls). Any ideas would be appriciated.
Hi Tyler, you're really asking the wrong person. I don't know a thing about coloring hair. Good luck.
I'm a "ginger" and proud of it!
Sure, I was teased as a young girl for my snow-white skin, the sprinkling of golden freckles on my face and arms, my shockingly clear blue eyes, and the mane of screaming orange that topped my head.
To look like everyone else, I fake-bake tanned and ended up looking like an Oompa Loompa. I tried using lemon juice on my freckles because I'd heard it "acid washes" them away. I was told you could put food coloring in your eyes and it would change the color; adding yellow food dye to try to make blue eyes turn green doesn't work, trust me. As for my hair, I hated it for a long time and even did the "Anne of Green Gables thing" and tried to dye my hair and it turned out horrible (not green, but it sure wasn't a rich chestnut like I'd been promised by my friends). I just wanted to not be a carrot, or a ginger.
When I reached high school, I noticed that the boys were noticing me. The attention increased when I went to college and it hasn't stopped for over a decade ... I even get old, /OLD/ men eyeballing me and I politely listen to their stories of how they knew this "little redhead" from some time before WWII or something like that.
The redhead is exotic. With so many brunettes out there who dye their hair blonde and so many blondes who bleach their hair or tint it dark, the redhead is almost like a slap in the face to the hair dye companies. No one can fake, red. No chemical in any box can ever make a non-red look like a true red no matter what other people tell them. A true red can recognize another true red and we can sniff out the fakes and we do so with disdain for the audacity they have for impersonating our "special" club.
Some oddities about being a red:
As a red, most anesthetics don't work on me. Neither do most pain meds -- unless in scarily high doses. This goes for most meds in general. Medicines that are to prevent me from, say, vomiting, will make me vomit. Meds that are supposed to make me stop coughing will make me cough more. No idea why and my doctors are annoyed by this.
I bleed when pricked more freely than most anyone else I know, and it's iron-rich dark red blood. It stops in a relatively timely manner, but a lot more comes out than I've seen with most people. I've been called a "bleeder."
If I get ink on me from anything, even a permanent marker, I can literally wash it off cleanly at any time. Nail polish peels off my nails and cuticles like stickers. Dyes, staining agents, even natural staining things like stomping grapes -- My feet stay white.
My hair won't hold curl or hair styling products and poofs! when I use a blow-dryer. I can brush my hair while it's wet and not suffer breakage or frizzing.
My hair grows really, really fast. I can have an inch cut off every three to four weeks and my hair will be the same length on December 31 as it was on January 1. Freaky, I know.
Since the fair skin in the sun thing was only lightly touched on, let me impress upon you how crazy this phenomena is. In ten minutes of direct sun exposure, my skin itches, fifteen minutes for indirect. Fifteen of direct and I've burnt, twenty for indirect. At twenty minutes in the direct sunlight without any sunscreen, I have blisters on all exposed skin. The blisters won't show up for about another half hour after I've gotten out of the sun, but the itching has become so bad at this point that I've retreated to shade. This has happened to me twice. It's not a sun allergy as I don't get the little bumps, it's just literally one step up from tossing an albino out into a desert. I keep aloe with Lidocaine in my fridge at all times and never leave the house without slathering up every square inch of my body with a sweat-proof, water-proof all-day SPF 60+ (have used SPF 90 on my face before but noticed little difference in the higher number) sunblock. I reapply twice daily and haven't suffered a serious burn since I was 22.
Oh, and just so you all know, we gingers DO have souls -- we just forget about them from time to time. Like when we get angry or feel naughty or think deviously or get naked. ^_~
This was a fun and informative post. I'm a natural redhead and for some reason about four people in my really small workplace are also redheads. It's freakishly strange for some people to see an office of redheads greeting them when they enter our establishment. Think of the Village of the Damned in full technicolor. Two of us are of Irish or Irish/German descent, one is Lithuanian, I'm not sure about the fourth person.
I tend to nurture animals with red hair. I have an affinity towards red or Queensland heelers, sable corgis, and all of my favorite cats have been ginger toms.
There is a great deal of teasing that most redheads go through when they are children. It's part of standing out, but as many of your readers have pointed out, it ends or you just learn to tune it out.
In my part of the US, there are a large number of people who settled here from Appalachia, thus a larger percentage of people are of Irish or Scottish descent, but many of the people from German, Scandinavian, and Eastern European have redheads in their families. I was definitely NOT the only redhead in my school, and for the most part didn't have to endure extreme teasing as some have.
Thanks so much for the insightful and inspiring writing. To paraphrase Kermit, it's not always easy being... red.
I am in fact, a redhead. and reading this was awesome 'cause no one gives us credit, y'know? everyone expects us to have a bad temper and for out pubic hair to look like we fucked a bag of cheetos. nuh uh. I am a ginga ninja, and I support this message. I LOVE THIS WEBSITE!
As you're such a very civilized fellow I hate to take issue but are you sure the bit about the Spanish Inquisition is accurate? It sounds to me suspiciously like religious or political black(!) propaganda that has since passed into pseudo-historical legend. As for red-haired saints I read somewhere that St Benedict was red-haired, ditto Mary Magdalen. In fact the poet Gerard Manley Hopkins wrote that tradition usually depicted Jesus Christ as auburn-haired. As regards prejudice against red-heads, my own theory is that a large part of modern British and Irish anti-redism is a form of displacement activity. Rightly it is no longer socially acceptable to publicly express racist sentiments towards blacks, Asians, etc and so people turn on a minority who are still regarded as fair(!)game, whilst deluding themselves that in doing so they are courageously rebelling against political correctness.
tambrathegreat: Tambra, thanks for your thoughtful comment. It was both intelligent and humorous (Village of the Damned..Ha!). A pleasure to read. Thank you.
shiny one: Loved your comment! Thanks!
Whitehaller: Well, no, I'm not sure since I wasn't there, however, if you Google "Spanish Inquisition Redheads," you will find many references that state that to the Inquisitors, red hair was a sign of the devil, etc. Thanks for your comment!
I'm doing a motivational speech at school and have decided to do it on gingerism :P. this article is so brilliant and helpful! :)
Well written and entertaining hub! As a red-head myself, well, strawberry blonde, I enjoyed the read and can relate to some of the stereotypes, although carrot tops are green :) It's no wonder you have a cult following - your writing creates the demand. MU
well im a natural bourn red head and a few of me and my friends tht a red heads too actualy have high pain thresh holds and also the group of 19 of uss dont feel the heat or the cold in weather so all year roiuund its like normal all the time but i do agree growing up with red hair is a curse u get outcasted and you feel like your a monster ppl shun u and conform aganst you ..
Being that i am a sexy redhead myself , i found this HUB to be true , funny , sexy & interesting to say the least ;-) ive alwaysss been very fond with my RED hair , 21 yrs strong !!
WOOOOOO!!!!! GO REDHEADS!!!!!! I AM PROUD TO SHOW MY 'GINGER' ROOTS!
AWESOME!! NOT ONLY ARE US RED HEADS UN-COMMEN AND UNIQUE BUT WE ARE ALSO SURPOSSED TO BE MAGICAL, UNLUCKY, A WITCH AND GREAT IN BED. AWESOME!
AWESOME!! NOT ONLY ARE US RED HEADS UN-COMMEN AND UNIQUE BUT WE ARE ALSO SURPOSSED TO BE MAGICAL, UNLUCKY, A WITCH AND GREAT IN BED. AWESOME!
Did you read the recent news about how a sperm back is rejecting redheaded donors? Read the full story here: http://www.dnatestingblog.com/gingers-out-sperm-ba
Hi i'm a red head and I've been called many names even minx.But as i'm getting older I'm going darker and darker red and am in fear of losing my beautiful red locks. And I don't wish to dye my hair because i'm all natural and thats how i've always been please help
Abigail, I really have no idea what you could do. You'll still have a "red" personality, though, if that helps. Thanks for commenting.
I've been a red-head all my life, had lots of fillings and I know the dentist always has to numb my gums twice cuz the first time it does nothing.
Also had a lot of blood work done and some of the women taking the blood have told me that red-heads bleed more easily, I don't know if there's any scientific proof behind that but I figure they would know right!
Great article very entertaining!
Ashley, Thanks for commenting and very glad you found it entertaining.
"No other single human trait has provoked such a dichotomy of emotions in such a large number of fellow humans."
Interesting claim. I'm assuming you haven't heard of how an entire race of people were systematically transplanted from their homes, enslaved, and brutalized based on the color of their skin. NOT on the color of their hair.
Point taken.
hey i just finished reading this hub and i was very flattered . i am a natural born redhead with brown eyes and no freckles so as u can imagine most of the sex and flattery parts were thrown at me especially as a teenager did i mention my real name is natasha and spelled backwards is "ah, satan" so u can imagine with the red hair satan in my name and the fact that im a scorpio born 3 days before halloween( that could been much worse) lol i did suffer my share of torture at the hands of many fools lol anyway i agree about the sex part being a redheaded woman and all i just cant get enough lol my fiance dont know how to keep up with me lol but i thought u would get a kick outta the whole satan and redheads are evil thing because i can be evil if i wanna be , but i have a question i would like u to do some research on "how many redheaded serial killers were/are there." that would give some insight on the whole we are evil thing dont ya think? lol anyways i am proud to say i am 28 i look damn sexy and my hair color brings me a lot of attention!!! which is great as long as its the right kind of attention right? lol anyways loved the hub and it gave me some insight on some things i always wanted to know !! thanks sweetie... p.s. the picture of the redheaded angel with her arms behind here back ( if u think blondes are better its because u never had a redhead) lol can u send that to my email i would love to get that as a tattoo on my thigh ( i have been lookin for a redheaded angel) shes perfect heres my facebook name natasha woods i live in ocala florida so u wont miss me im the redhead (sexy redhead lol) maybe u can post it on there for me and i can download it myself please =-) if not heres my email : tashiehorne@gmail.com thanks agian christoph!!! love lots firefly
hey i just wanted to say that i agree with some of the other hubbers about the bleeding thing i was having my baby girl and first off no pain medicine works for me, and after the baby was born i started really bleeding bad so they took me to the e.r. (doctor tryed to say i was on my period) called my obgyn and he was pissed with the hospital he said he knew right away what was wrong my uterus hadnt shrunk after giving birth back to its normal size and thus caused me to hemmorroge i was almost dead and he called me in 6 little pills to take and within hours i was ok but i did almost die from the blood loss so during my second childbirth process i told them and they said that i needed to make sure that didnt happen agian so the nurse (after i gave birth) kept comin in my room every hour on the hour pushing on my tummy ... remember i said no drugs work well the pain was horrible... another fact to relate to is my fingernails shed polish too.. and my hair grows like crazy...also if i prick myself my blood is super dark too... so i can probably agree on over half of whats been written here lol i also wanted to ask how come when you see those shampoos and stuff they always sale for blondes and brunettes but never redheads just like those fake hair ponytail holders i looked and u cant find them for us either ? just wondering why , what actually makes us so damn rare and i agree i can spot a natural a mile away right now i dyed mine 2 shades darker but i have been told that my color is one of the most unique reds that ppl have ever seen... its not orange it actually looks like well it looks like fire to be real..lol... thats how i got my nickname FIREFLY which i think is cool when it comes to my personality my fiance says that im hot and exotic ... that really makes ya feel good when u indured alot of teaseing as a kid and know all the boys want to know does the curtian match the drapes lol cheetos to funny but if i fucked a bag of chips it would probably be more like hmmmm... a bag of spicy fire doritos lol ... anyways shes or hes rite that yes carrot tops are actually green i never got that either as a kid lol... i can agree with one thing though ...red on the head means your a slave in my bed lol... oh yeah baby bring out the whips the cuffs the chains the paddles the tye down ropes the whole anchilada because this one is definatly a freak in the bed and i look hot doing it too lol=-) well another 3000 words from firefly peace love and flames see ya in hell everybody or who knows maybe we'll rule heaven one day ..it could go either way really acorrding to christoph lol...love firefly=-)
Redhair seems to take me over!! I see it an I'm at a loss for words it seems to put me in a trance! I love redheads! First girl I ever loved an kissed was redheaded! There jus amazing!!
Firefly: Thanks for your comments. You can just copy the picture from here. Rt. click on it, and choose "save picture as." That'll do it.
Mack: Thanks for the comment.
My wife is a redhead and has most of the stereotype features. She's highly resistant to pain killers, she's passionate, somewhat psychic, fiery temper, fiery jealousy, difficult, and high maintenance. But she's also always fun to be around, never a dull moment, exceptionally intelligent(IQ over 140), and she is extremely beautiful! Literally stunning! Many many people have told both her and myself that she is the most beautiful woman they're ever met, and certainly better than any Hollywood redhead. She has very prominent cheek bones, perfect skin, long gorgeous legs.
I wouldn't trade for anything in the world.
There are a few other bits of trivia regarding Red hair
First off while Red hair is most associated with Europe in ancient times it was relatively common in Asia as well as the Middle East
For example the Manchu ruling caste in old China were predominantly Red Haired...same is true of Genghis Kahn and many ancient mongols. There is the matter of very ancient graves in western China where the majority of the mummified remains are Red haired.
Moving to the Mid East besides the legends of David being Red haired later you have many of the earlest frescos and mosaics of Jesus depicting him as having Auburn hair but wait, it does get better!
Have you taken note of how the religious leaders of most conservative orthodox Islam dye their beards with Henna?
it is called the beard of the Prophet. The historical Mohammed is said to have been yes...a Red head. This was also the reason why Malcom X and other Black Moslem leader were working their hair with Lye to produce the "Coif" as it represented the Red hair of the Prophet.
Now lets jump the pond to the pre Columbian Americas...
The Inka, The Maya, The Aztec and a few other cultural groups all shared a belief in a Red haired God who came to educate their ancestors: Quetzcotal, Kukulkan, Viracoha...the myth of the Feathered Serpent. This played a major part in the Spainish Conquesta of old Mexico as guess what? Cortez was a Red head!
incidently many of the ruling caste of the Inka were fair skinned and Red haired.
In North America there are tribal legends of Red haired tribes in present day Texas, Utah and Neveda often described as Giants in the myths.
Something one needs to take in is how the view of Red hair changed shortly after the advent of the Christian era. Prior to Roman Christianity if a child was born with a difference it was seen as a gift of the Gods...post Christian era these differences were credited as Devils marks by the Clergy. Common examples were Red hair, Green eyes and the greatest stain of Lucifer...left handedness I would have been cremated at birth in the Dark Ages as I encompass all three traits...of course Witch burnings continued until the late 18th century
on the matter of Genetics it gets a bit foggier
some recent genetic studies seem to indicate the Neanderthal people were Red haired...
the Red hair gene is a recessive, one of the only ones that isn't a disease of some sort. Another point is that if two Red heads mate most if not all the resulting off spring will as well be Red haired.
This brings up another queer deal...I dated a couple Red haired ladies in my life...nothing but problems
not so much between the two of us but with society at large as most people automatically assumed we were brother and sister or at least closely related.
Go to a bar it was always drama as we were never seen as a Couple
stupid stupid people...
in closing while Red heads do get maltreatment in Western culture in my travels in South America, Asia and the Mid East it is very much revered
we are the stuff legends are made from
don't ever forget it.
RCH - Thanks.
Windigo - You don't have to tell me. Thanks for your insight into redhead history.
I'll be linking this to a Hub I write about blonde hair, if you don't mind. I do like red much better than the rest of colors, I've decided.
Thanks,Patty. Always good to see you.
There is much more of Red haired history & genetics
look through recorded history and you will discover that much of the Royal houses of the world had an rather abnormal level of Red hair, particularly in Europe however as noted this was true even among groups like the Inka in the Andes...heck the legends of ancient Easter Island were that the nobility had pale or burnt colored skin coupled with Red hair
remember too it was common practice among the elite of Ancient Egypt that were not blessed from birth with this mark from the Gods to dye their hair with Henna as well
You can travel the globe and find legends, indeed even physical remains of Ancient Red haired peoples
it's for this reason I don't place a great deal of weight in the recent scientific notion that the Red hair gene is a recent mutation...I simply think the gentic sample used was far too limited in global geography.
a couple other points on the genetics
did you know that a far greater number of Red heads are left handed contrasted to any other hair color?
if we were not damned enough being born with the Hair and often eyes we have a far greater liklihood of getting an even worse wammy of growing up Right brained in what is quite sadly a left brained world.
While the childhood taunts did get far out of hand at times what was worse was teachers who would tie my left hand to my chair in an effort to force me to become right handed
When that failed it was the steel edged ruler across the knuckles of my left hand
this was common up through the 1970s
by the time I reached high school the die was cast and set as far as my personality was concerned
you beat a dog long enough and it either has it's soul and will broken or it becomes a skillfull and vicious predator
this is where the crap about our firey dispositions orginates
Bear well in mind some of the greatest of Conquors were Red heads
I mentioned Ghengis Khan and then there is of course Ramases the Great but many historians belive Alexander the Great was a Red head as was Napolean!
think thats something?
Washington was a Red head as was Jefferson And Andrew Jackson...even the french savour of the Revolution, Lafyette was a "ginger"
who else?
Stalin and Lenin were both Red heads!...gives a new meaning to Red Square in Moscow eh'?
Henry the VIII, his daughter Elizabeth the 1st, Winston Churchill, Maggie Thatcher
the list goes on and on and on
oh and Da Vinci was a left handed Red head as well
lots more too, these are just off the top of my head
for the tiny precentage of the population our people...(yes I did say people) make up we have played a huge part in leading the rest far outside our puny numbers
closing remark...many theologans belive Adam was a Red head as was his first wife per Hebrew traditions Lilith, a member of the heavenly host that was given to Adam by the creator but refused to bed down with him.
I went through all the BS most of our people have gone through...we are truly the neglected minority but I care not
as I have often stated one can't forge Steel without the Hammer. What others see as a volitile disposition in our nature is the Steel in our souls. It can make us difficult to deal with when compared to others who have but a lump of soft Iron for a heart.
I am a Redhead. I look at children with Redhair and know that they have a difficult road ahead.
I would have to agree. The best time of my life was with a redhead. have been maddly in love with one with green eyes that I first when I was a child in cumberland gap tn
I was fourtunate enough to find her 20 years later and be her lover for a spring unfortunatly she did not love me as much as I did her for heart was given to another he had cheated on her which allowed me to meet her losing her afection was such a blow. I don't think ill ever feel that passionatly about anyone. I normaly have a wall up to protect my emotions but with but one kiss electricity made my defenses hit the ground and I found out what it was like to love passionatly and comppletly.
sheesh! I can't believe you didn't mention the redhead social network: http://redhedd.com.
My husband is a red head. I have an auburn color. We are born firey in temperament. My husband is rather firey in the bedroom too. He does require more anesthesia for surgery and wakes up wildly. This article was interesting.
I am a redhead. One thing that gets my "hot temper" going is saying redheads have a hot temper. Or that my hair is orange.
There is so much sterotyping for us. There were only two redheads in my school. I had lots of freckles and wore glasses. On top of that had religion most people tend to make fun of in the first place.And the only memeber of that religion in school.
Elementary is a tough place for redheads. By high school things do change. The kids start to realize the uniqueness of a redhead. You begin to love your hair. You realize all the crap you went through as a redhead and only becaure you are a redhead benefits you in a way only a redhead can understand.
I do have to say polish never sticks to my fingernails. (Didn't know this was a redhead trait.)
I do feel I feel pain differently then others.
Dentist office visits are not a nightmare because I have a great dentist. But I do require LOTS of pain killer.
Medications in general do not work for me. Most Drs don't believe me. Just tell me I didn't take it long enough. Or "here try this brand" Still doesn't work :(
My blood is dark red - something I didn't notice until reading this.
I have several redhead cousins - the only people that really understand me.
I couldn't wait to have children. I figured they would be the only small people not to make fun of me or wonder why I looked the way I did. Then one day my todler looked at me and said "mommy, why do you have spots on your face?" Go figure everyone wonders about those "spots". :) I say if it weren't for the freckles I'd have no color at all.
I love being a redhead. My husband loves me being a redhead. I am hoping for redhead grandchildren as my children were not.
Keep others informed - Redheads are NOT hot tempered - some people are just stupid and they need to be informed of their stupidness. We have charming attitude. That why ya like us now.
hey I'm a redhead. and I absolutely love being one. I stand out i'm different. I think it is weird, however for someone to like me because of my genetics. However I don't have those pretty blue or green eyes:(. I am stuck wit reddish brown eyes that sometimes turn a honey brown color. can you explain how that happened? because I know that the light eye colors are linked to the red hair gene.Oh and i'm the only redhead in my family on both my mom and dad's side. so go figure.
A fun and informative read ... thanks?
CHeck this out: SH*T GINGERS SAY! http://youtu.be/pNQ2tGJPg8A
I have red hair with natural blonde and brown highlights and brown eyes. I have a bad temper and am at times violent but I have my nice side 2. I think all those who hate redheads can go burn, and there is NOTHING I hate more than a snob. And its true about the pain-killers. 1 experience with them and 1 I hope 2 never have again. I think its weird though tht my mom EVERYONE on my mom AND dads side of the family has brown hair (or white/gray) except my great-grandma on my moms side. who actually was a nurse in response to one of those qoutes lol. I only know 2 other red heads but they both dyed their hair brown :(... well I know this- IM A READHEAD AND IM D*** PROUD OF IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!
i am a redhead with also some a little brown and blonde (but mostly red) but i don't have have fair freckled skin. i find these myths very interesting-i never realized how much history there is to my hair color! not to mention how many leaders had red hair! but i'm kinda confused by the thing about having less hair because i have thick hair. and about the arthritis thing-well that kinda confuses me too.
According to some research we redheads have different Stemcells and therefore a different immune system. Most Red heads I know very rarely get sick with colds or flus, but we pay dearly for that in the summer needing SPF 2006 sunblock. I loved this article as I am a redhead. Oh btw did anyone else mention we have a higher pain tollerance?
Keith Rosenberg: Thanks for the input. Don't remember exactly whether higher pain tolerance has been mentioned, but it sounds familiar.
Especially being naturally red-haired myself, I found your article quite interesting. I actually can't take most medications because they have crazy, unexpected results, and I rarely if ever get a cold or flu. I am a very slow bleeder, and my blood is quite dark, and actually do have a high pain tolerance. I once had foot surgery without a local as I was tired of getting jabbed and the meds weren't working. I just told them to go ahead and do the cutting.
I am an especially rare type of redhead because my ancestry is primarily Native American, though my great-grandfather was Welsh and a redhead, but no one else but me (thus far) has inherited it. So being otherwise Native American looking with tan skin, I am conspicuous with red hair, and I actually do still have some freckles and though my skin isn't fair, I burn and peel quick in summer. Temper-wise, I'm a very mellow person and it often takes me a long time to get mad, but if I ever do get mad, I'm totally off the chain...but that's more from my Indian blood.
My whole life I've gotten plenty of odd looks and/or people have asked if I dyed my hair to get it red, though of course, you can't often get this hue from products. I hated my hair when I was younger, tired of attention regarding it and also tried several other colors, but they just didn't "take". My color always came back through fairly quickly.
Now I accept my hair uniqueness and find it exciting in others. Since I admire it, as a writer, many of the characters in my work have had red hair and actually in one vampire series, it is the main character's trademark.
Red Haircrow: That is very interesting. I am pretty sure I have never met a red haired American Indian, and I spent many years in Oklahoma as a kid with many Indian friends.
shawna.wilson 3 years ago
I was really surprised when you mentioned the part about anesthesia. This is actually true from my experience. It's well known in the operating room that red heads require more drugs and they often wake up from anesthesia very wildly. Very interesting hub!