How Are Redheads Unique and Different?

Author:
C E Clark
Updated:
Dec 31, 2023 8:58 PM EST

Prince Harry of England
Seruu.com, CC-BY, via Flickr

I Am a Redhead

I was born a redhead, and of course, to be a real and true redhead, you must be born that way. Bottled red hair just does not count here. Sorry.

For a long time, I have said red hair is not just a color but also a chemistry. We redheads usually have pale skin to go with our hair color, and that paleness can be either creamy white or more ruddy, accompanied by a gazillion freckles. Thankfully, my freckles were limited to a charming dusting across my upper cheeks and nose when I was a child, and I got the coveted creamy white complexion for life.

Yes, I know I do not look like a redhead in my photo, but for some reason, when I got into adulthood, my skin started tanning more easily. It still burned initially and pretty badly, but then it turned a nice golden tan. Having grown up in the north where tans are appreciated, I was ecstatic when I found I could get a lovely tan at last instead of being pale as a ghost.

So now you know why I chose to research the unique biology and chemistry of redheads. I knew I would have to dig deeply through the folklore to find the facts, and I was quite surprised at what I found!

Nicole Kidman, award winning actress
My Photos

Unique Biology of Redheads

Low Threshold for Pain? It seems that redheads are more sensitive to pain and require more anesthesia for surgeries. Many studies support this idea, and I have listed one website where you can find their names in the reference section below.

While I personally have a high threshold for pain, I realize that one person who is different does not disprove a finding. A handful of people who do not conform to research findings is quite normal. The percentage of redheads in the study that had a lower threshold for pain was in the 90 percentile range, but that is not 100 percent. Apparently, I place in the 10 percent who did not have a lower pain threshold. Even so, I do wake up from anesthesia more easily and quicker than most people.

Predisposed to Skin Cancer? Something that is a negative is that redheads are more predisposed to develop skin cancer than people with other hair colors, but that is not really news, is it? Pale skin has been known for a long time to be more susceptible to damage from the sun.

Prone to Allergies? It is thought, but not proven, that redheads are more prone to allergies because of their proven extremely sensitive nature. Well, I am allergic to everything in the world, except maybe myself, so maybe there is some proof in that, but I have relatives with allergies, even though they are not as bad as my own, who do not have red hair or even a tint of red in their hair. So maybe it is simply genetic without the requirement of red hair. Or maybe my allergies are far worse because of my sensitive nature?

Eye Color? Some authentic redheads are born with turquoise eyes, and this is said to be scientifically proven, though no proof was offered at the site where I found this information. My own eyes are hazel and usually present as green. Light or medium blue eyes would seem to be the most rare among redheads, while brown eyes are said to be the most common. I have never known a brown-eyed redhead.

Recessive Genes? The redhead gene is recessive, so lots of people may carry that gene, but not exhibit the red hair or accompanying traits. They may pass that gene on to offspring and it may be a dominant gene in that individual.

Redheads Are Heavily Represented In Math, Science, Philosophy, and Comedy

Next, I came across a guy, Dr. Barry Kort, a redhead himself, who had gathered all kinds of interesting statistics. According to Kort, a renowned scientist, redheads are “way overrepresented” in” the areas of math, logic, science, philosophy, and comedy.” Who knew?

Dr. Kort lists a few famous redheads:

Socrates
Galileo
Darwin
King David
Vincent van Gogh
Mark Twain
Thomas Jefferson
Queen Elizabeth I
Sir Winston Churchill
King Arthur
JK Rowling
Jane Goodall

Redheads Are Underrepresented In Sports and the Military

Kort’s research results show that redheads have lower levels of adrenalin, meaning (in his interpretation) that they tend to be less physical, not making good soldiers or athletes. Kort believes the low levels of adrenalin account for them being more cerebral (logical, mathematically inclined, philosophical) and less physical.

In fact Dr. Kort says the only “notable redheaded general in American history . . . was one of the worst generals the U.S. Cavalry ever had. His name was George Custer.” I guess Dr. Kort is not aware that former general and President of the United States Dwight D. Eisenhower was a redhead also. Yes, and do not forget the father of our country, George Washington, a great general if ever there was one. Also, John Glenn – former marine fighter pilot and astronaut, never a general, but a great American hero just the same.

Dr. Kort seems to be of the opinion that adrenalin is necessary to be good at soldiering and sports, and perhaps that is where his interpretation of the findings of his study goes awry. Why could a ‘cool head’ not be an advantage in sports or soldiering? I think it could be, because it means a person is less likely to shoot from the hip, more likely to think things through, and as a result, be more effective, not less.

An Abbreviated List of Famous Redheaded Sports Stars

John Mayock: middle-distance runner from Great Britain
Chuck Norris: 6-time World Black Belt Karate Champion, and yes, also a famous actor
Shaun White: Olympic gold medalist in snowboarding
Bill Walton: American professional basketball player
Boris Becker: Olympic gold medalist in tennis, from Germany
Cameron Ling: footballer from Australia
Clara Hughes: Olympic speed skater and cyclist from Canada
Johnny O’Connell: American race car driver who has broken many records

The list goes on and on. To be sure, sports are not an area where redheads rule, but they are represented and many seem to do quite well in spite of their low adrenalin.

Redheads Smell Better

Erin La Rosa says redheads exude more pleasant pheromones and so they attract more mates because they are simply more sexually desirable. La Rosa says, “Our pheromone effect and our delicious scent has been scientifically proven!”

Stephen Douglas (author of The Redhead Encyclopedia) writes that the skin of redheads has a naturally sweet and musk-like scent. Douglas claims that the redheads' scent changes with their emotions.

In the Erotic Review, Rowan Pelling says that redheads have a “strong natural scent,” and also, “redheads famously have a distinctive civet scent that drives admirers wild.” The scent of a civet (wild cat) is said to have aphrodisiacal qualities that are, and have been highly prized, for centuries.

Some other men have described the redhead scent as smelling like “amber and violets,” saying redheads have the strongest scent of any women.

Needless to say, redheads are known for their fiery tempers and great passion in intimate matters. There is nothing like a redhead when it comes to certain things!

It is observed that the redhaired of both sexes are more libidinous and mischievous than the rest.

— Jonathan Swift,

Will Redheads Be Extinct In 100 Years?

Cort Cass (Redhead Handbook) said, “the continued presence of redheads was one of the issues that 'haunted' Charles Darwin because he could not fit redheads into his Survival of the Fittest theory.”

Cass compares redheads to peacocks, which he calls “predator magnets” because of their heavy tails that would, in turn, seem to mark peacocks for extinction. Instead, it is the peacock with the biggest, brightest tail that draws the most peahens.

Likewise, Cass believes prospective mates instinctively know that redheaded women are tough and intelligent, which is desirable in the continuation of the species. Indeed, I have had a few guys tell me my allure is my intelligence. Since they were correct in their assessment of my intelligence, I did not believe them! ;)

Man, you ain’t lived till you’ve had your tires rotated by a redheaded woman.

— Bruce Springsteen

Other Interesting Tidbits About Redheads

For some reason, redheads seem to have contributed disproportionately to history, stories, and folklore. Maybe because they are unusual (natural redheads that is), and so we stand out? Grab your attention? Well, before bottled redheads were invented we did that anyway.

Do They Have Hot Tempers? We have all heard how redheads have short tempers. Pagans used to believe that they had an “aura of magnetism and mystic power.” Ancient Egyptians used to bury redheaded men alive as a sacrifice to their God Osiris.

What About Sex? Here is something that is proven by Dr. Werner Habermehl, a leading sex researcher in Hamburg, Germany. Habermehl did a study about sex habits involving hundreds of German women in which he compared the women by hair color. Habermehl determined that redheads were clearly more sexually active, having more sex and having it with more partners than other women. So the moral of the story (or research project) according to Habermehl is that while blondes have more fun, redheads have more sex!

In History? The Spanish Inquisition singled redheads out for persecution, believing their hair to be a sure sign that they had stolen the fires of hell. In medieval times, redheads were regarded as witches, werewolves, and vampires, and thousands of redheads were burned at the stake because of the general pervasive ignorance that existed at that time.

Discrimination Today? Even today, redheads are discriminated against. Sympatico News is reporting that Cyros International, the world’s leading sperm bank, is turning away redheaded donors because the demand for redheaded children is so low. Since my research suggests that redheads are the smartest and most attractive of our species, the most charismatic, and the sexiest, why would redheaded children not be desirable?

So now you have a better idea of why redheads are special. Natural redheads are very uncommon, and we have a certain body chemistry that sets us apart from everyone else. While seemingly the weakest of our species in some respects, we make up for that in some interesting ways. ;)

In the best of all possible worlds, all children would be a blessing, and it would not matter what color their hair might be (or how they were conceived).

— Christopher Peterson

Why Don’t Sperm Banks Want Red Headed Donors?

Let me remind you that natural redheads are less than 2% of the world’s population, and so they are extremely rare. They are not rare in Ireland or Scotland, and that could lead people in those countries to believe they are common, but in other parts of the world, they are not at all common.

Another thing that might give the impression that redheads are not so rare is that lots of women dye their hair some shade of red. In this article I am only referring to people born as redheads because the characteristics that are unique to redheads cannot be bought or obtained from a container or kit.

Christopher Peterson, Ph.D. in Psychology and recognized around the world for his many accomplishments, particularly in the field of positive psychology, decided to investigate why sperm banks do not encourage redheads to be sperm donors.

What Peterson discovered was that Cyros International, located in Scandinavia, is the only sperm bank that does not seek more sperm from redheads. The reason is that redheads are plentiful in the Cyros International location and that ‘bank’ already has some 140,000 “doses” available, which more than meets the demand.

Writing for Psychology Today, Peterson says, “Apparently, sperm from red-headed donors is in demand in Ireland and to some degree in the United States. Why? People want their children to look like them . . .”

Peterson thinks there are many reasons why parents prefer that their children resemble themselves, among them a desire to avoid unsolicited questions and comments, some of which may be insensitive or downright rude.

Resembling other family members physically can help children to feel more like they belong. That is also true when it comes to physically resembling the majority of people in the community where one lives -- looking similar can prevent prejudice and teasing.

Research indicates that there are certain advantages to being a redhead, so maybe when the word gets out about those advantages more people will appreciate them.

Tall donors are always in demand, regardless of their hair color or eye color.

— Christopher Peterson in "Psychology Today"

Why I Wrote This Article

I made the decision to write this article on redheads just for the fun of it, and mainly for entertainment purposes – my reader’s entertainment. I started out by researching “the chemistry of redheads,” having no idea what I would find, and really, expecting to find nothing.

My hair went from obvious red (not carrot top or copper) when I was born, to blonde as a toddler and preschooler, to a dark red that was barely noticeable except in certain light as a teenager and adult. No matter. Redhead chemistry doesn’t change even if hair color does modify to some extent.

Red hair can be a recessive trait and may only show up in every second, third, or fourth generation, coming as a surprise to new parents who may have been expecting a blonde or a brunette.

— C. E. Clark

Sources:

* Sympatico.ca

http://news.sympatico.ca/oped/coffee-talk/redheaded_donors_not_wanted_at_worlds_largest_sperm_bank/a7e8836e

* Facts, folklore, and musings about redheads

http://itsjules.com/portfolios/print/writing/seeingred.htm

* What’s Wrong with having Red Hair (Christopher Peterson)

http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-good-life/201203/whats-wrong-red-hair

* Interesting redhead ‘facts.’

http://www.freewebs.com/redheadfacts/

* Famous Redheaded Athletes

http://www.raising-redheads.com/famous-athletes.html

* Redheads Smell Better

http://larosaknows.com/post/1161905699/ever-noticed-how-redheads-just-smell-better-than

* Smithsonian Magazine on history of redheads

http://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/The-Last-Page-Requiem-for-the-Redhead.html

* Redheads are more prevalent in groups of philosophers, scientists, mathematicians, logicians, and comedians, etc.

http://knol.google.com/k/all-about-redheads#

* Redheads require 19% more drugs for anesthesia purposes

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1362956/

* Statistics on redheads

http://www.cosmopolitan.co.uk/beauty-hair/hair/a32357/redhead-facts/

Questions & Answers

Question: Did you come across anything on weight or obesity in redheads?

Answer: I did not find anything about weight specifically relating to redheads. I think redheads are as prone to weight gain as people generally, depending on their other genes. I know several redheads who are overweight and some are definitely obese, so that proves that redheads are not immune to being overweight and even obese.

Question: If I was born with red hair and it changed to Auburn on top, but remained red underneath, am I still considered a redhead? My aunts have Tissot red hair.

Answer: Yes you are still a redhead. There are many shades of red hair. Carrot top is more orange, ginger is much like the color of the ginger spice. Tissot is more like a shade of brown with a redish tint or red highlights, some people with more red than others.

Question: How rare are redheads with tan skin and blue eyes?

Answer: I would expect tan skinned redheads to be very rare or non-existant. Blue-eyed redheads are said to be rare, but I have known lots of them myself, so while they may be rarer than brown-eyed redheads overall, blue-eyed redheads are quite common in the places I have lived around the U.S.

Question: I am a dark red-head with brown eyes. I've always burnt then turned a golden tan. Both of my parents had blackish brownish hair. During her pregnancy with me, my mother's hair developed into Auburn highlights that went away when I was born. I have a picture of me younger with red hair and brown eyes if you are interested?

Answer: I think I mentioned in this article that I too that when I reached my 30s, could tan my skin as you describe. When I was young, I merely burned in the sun, but for reasons I don't know, in my 30s the burn would turn to a golden tan after a few days. I, too, had dark red hair after I was around 10 or so. My hair was bright red, as my mother described it, when I was born, but then it turned blonde for a few short years, and leveled off a dark red. Brown eyes and red hair, according to my research, is actually more common than blue eyes and red hair. Or green eyes and red hair, but thank you for the offer of a photo.

Question: I was born very early, with no hair. Then I grew dirty blonde with lots of strawberry blonde wisps. Then, it became a soft brown with more red than brown in it. I have brown eyes, and I relate to many redheads qualities except for having multiple sex partners, because I love sex with my husband. Am I considered a natural red head?

Answer: If you have always had more red than any other color in your hair, and you have the pale creamy or ruddy freckly complexion and skin color, I would say you are a redhead.

Question: I read that it is a scientific fact that redheads have smaller veins and now I can't find that info again. Do we?

Answer: It sounds like an urban legend to me. I know phlebotomists love my veins because they don't roll and they're easy to locate. I have never been told my veins are smaller than normal or average. I have been told also that I have thicker skin than average, but it doesn't make locating my veins any more difficult. I don't believe either of these characteristics are related to my being a redhead. I think they are just part of my genetic makeup. There are certain characteristics that seem to be more common among redheads, but I'm not sure they are all limited to redheads. My search for information on redheads having smaller than normal sized veins brought up nothing. I suspect that if such a condition exists in anyone, it is not likely related specifically to redheads.

Question: Do redheads turn gray?

Answer: There seems to be controversy regarding what happens to natural red hair as it ages. Some say red hair never turns gray or white, but only fades with age, retaining some of the red to the very end. Others say red hair doesn't turn gray or white, but a yellowish white.

My personal experience is that my hair has turned both gray in the back, silvery in places, white in places, but most of the white (not all) is a yellowish white. I have a friend whose red hair turned all yellowish white. I also know people whose red hair turned a mixture of gray and white, no yellow. I have never personally known any redhead whose hair remained red and merely faded with time, but that doesn't mean they don't exist. Red hair is the rarest hair color on our planet (only 2% of the population has it) and usually goes hand-in-hand with other rare physical characteristics.

Comments

C E Clark (author) from North Texas on July 02, 2020:

Zoe Jane Hulton, thank you for stopping by and sharing!

Zoe Jane Hulton on June 29, 2020:

I am a natural born red head with super dark brown eyes

C E Clark (author) from North Texas on January 04, 2020:

Mallie, thank you for stopping by and leaving a comment!

Mallie on January 04, 2020:

Lol I am a redhead myself.

C E Clark (author) from North Texas on December 03, 2019:

Shannon Henry, thank you for sharing your thoughts and experiences with redheads. :)

I have never seen a brown-eyed redhead, yet my research says they are the most common. Not sure where they are hiding . . . :)

So now you have seen a brown-eyed redhead -- your own daughter. I think she is fortunate to have the beautiful red hair you describe AND beautiful brown eyes to go along with it.

Not sure the fiery temperment goes with the red hair as I know plenty of people who are not redheads, but have horrific tempers.

Shannon Henry from Texas on December 01, 2019:

I was trying to add that I thought blue was the most common eye color for redheads or maybe green, but my phone somehow submitted the comment as I was trying to edit. Sorry! LOL

Shannon Henry from Texas on December 01, 2019:

How interesting. Had to stop and read because my daughter is a redhead. She has beautiful brown eyes, which I'd never seen on a redhead before. I thiu

It's funny because I wanted a little girl with jet black hair like my husband's used to be. She had very dark hair when she was born, but it all fell out and came back red. But it's stunningly beautiful and she gets compliments on it all the time that one day she'll hopefully appreciate. And my cousin has a little girl with almost the same color red as my daughter's. They named her Scarlet before she was born and they had a chance to see her scarlet hair.

As for the fiery temper, I'd have to agree 100%! Of course, she's about to be a full fledged teen next month so that might have something to do with it.

C E Clark (author) from North Texas on November 30, 2019:

Paula, thank you for your good wishes. The same to you!

Suzie from Carson City on November 26, 2019:

Hey Redhead,,,,,Want to wish you a "Happy Thanksgiving!!" Here's to the start of another Holiday Season. Be safe, Happy & Healthy always! Paula

C E Clark (author) from North Texas on November 25, 2019:

Diogenes, good to hear from you. Been a while.

I'm not aware of redheaded women -- or men, having any particular obsession with carrots. Why would they?

In fact, carrots have a lot of natural sugar in them, so they're not good for diabetics. So far as I can tell, there's nothing a diabetic can eat that's good for them, and not eating is lethal too . . .

Stay well. xx

Diogenes on November 21, 2019:

Is it true that red headed women like carrots excessively?

B x

C E Clark (author) from North Texas on November 21, 2019:

Kat, thank you for reading and commenting on this article. Fewer than 2% of all the people in the world have red hair. We are very rare overall, so you are indeed special just because you're a redhead, in addition to other characteristics you may have that also make you special.

I have never heard that red heads bleed more, or more easily, and I do not have that characteristic myself. I suspect you inherited that characteristic separate from being a redhead.

Nowadays a marriage that lasts even 10 years is considered a success because the divorce rate has been so high in the recent past. The divorce rate has lowered in the last few years, possibly because fewer people are getting married in the first place. People who have been married 3 or more times are getting more and more common. Not saying that's a good or a bad thing, it's just reality.

Thank you again for reading and commenting. I'm so glad you enjoyed this article. :)

Kat on November 15, 2019:

Hello from a fellow redhead. Green eyes here. Strawbwrry blonde body hair. But redhead on top. I lived your reading an aooreciate all the research you have done. Have you ever been told redheads bleed more? I had 7 children an everytime was told i needed soecial attention after childbirth. I never understood that. I love bring a redhead. None of my children are redheads. I have been told how special i am and exciting cause if my hair color. Havent done well in the relationship department. Divorced after 20 years. I just cant tind the right one. Too much too handle i guess. Keep up the great work. I look forward to more of your writing

C E Clark (author) from North Texas on May 17, 2019:

Kathleen, thank you for your inquiry. I endured a battery of allergy tests when I was 20. The tests themselves gave me allergies I hadn't had before the tests.

I'm pretty much allergic to most things, but I must confess I have never heard of the diseases you mention. I found nothing in my research regarding allergies as relate to redheads, but since we are more sensitive to everything compared to other natural hair colors, it wouldn't surprise me if redheads were effected more by the diseases you mention.

I generally avoid those things I know I'm allergic to. Sometimes I can't avoid them, but I give it my best effort. Life is much better as a result. I stopped taking allergy meds back in 2004 except for really severe reactions. I all but never take the meds since then and I can't remember the last time I took them it's been so long.

I stay out of other people's houses because most people have at least one pet. Yes, that limits friendship possibilities, but allergy attacks are so horrible and meds can only do so much anyway.

Sorry I can't be more help in answering your question. You might try Googling redheads and allergies to see if there's anything about it 'out there.'

Thanks again for reading.

C E Clark (author) from North Texas on May 17, 2019:

Harold, thank you for sharing your experiences with redheads. As I stated in this article, I was born a redhead. I do not fit your description and I did indeed have red hair beyond my head. Yes, even THERE. :) I'm wondering if the redheads you encountered might have had a bit of help from the bottle, for blondes have very little in common with us. Red hair is a total chemistry, not just a color. The science I have found in my research make clear that no other hair color carries with it such a unique chemistry that effects the entire body. I know, it seems odd to me too, but that's what I learned in my research.

Kathleen on May 16, 2019:

Hi, I'm curious about your allergies. I have allergic diseases. Mast cell activation disorder and POTS to name a couple. I'm wondeing if this could be your problem as well? I've been so curious if more redheads are mcas or mastocytosis patients.

Harold on May 14, 2019:

Redheads are platinum blonde underneath

They got the very fair pink skin tone and platinum blonde body hairs everywhere. The only think red about them is whats on their head. However next to ash and brown its still naturaly much brighter then ash blonde. So in reality there bodies Re blonde more so then any other hair color. Anyone can change their hair on their head. Its a lot harder to die body hair but guess what redheads got the platinum body hair naturally thats how they are different then other hair colors. The only other hair color that naturally comes close is the white blonde hair without any ash in it.

C E Clark (author) from North Texas on April 02, 2019:

Ajax, apparently it's normal for you, and that's really all that matters. I also have a high threshold for pain, and I was fairly good at sports when I was young.

Ajax on March 30, 2019:

I'm a red head very athletic and don't feel much pain is this normal

Nate on December 21, 2018:

Well the redhead thst I know is very sweet and she has very pale platinum everywhere more then any other girl but then this exotic bold red hair on top of her head. So yes to me redheas are most exotic cause of their most drastic color blends more then an other girl cause they can have more eye color differences from blue to terquise and some brown but also have the most palest of all skin colors with rge drastic of everything else more then any other hair color. They can have the most pink undertones, but be most mysterious.

C E Clark (author) from North Texas on November 06, 2018:

D. J. Williams, thank you for your comment. That is a cute response. However technically red heads are different from all other hair colors, because it's not just a color but a body chemistry that effects a person their entire lives, even when their hair no longer sets them apart.

People with different natural hair colors may have similar body chemistry, but only redheads have redhead chemistry that is different from all people with other natural hair colors.

Indeed, my own hair is now mostly white and it's a yellowish white because I am a redhead. I actually prefer shocking white. I thought for a long time my hair was absorbing tobacco smoke from the smokers around me causing my hair to be yellowish, but I have since learned that often times redheads have a pale yellow tint to their hair when it turns white.

D J Williams on November 03, 2018:

My sister was a red head as was I - now we both have white hair. So what I tell people is - that I am a RETIRED Red Head.

C E Clark (author) from North Texas on October 19, 2018:

Job Winters, thank you for sharing your thoughts!

Job Winters on October 18, 2018:

Indeed, I have much agreement with your presentations about Red Heads. I was lucky to have a Red Head as girl friend in college, natural of course. I was for her but she not for me. My great sadness. But I hope for her great happiness.

C E Clark (author) from North Texas on September 18, 2018:

Brigantes, thank you for sharing your thoughts. The things you mention about yourself and your daughter are interesting and certainly part of the variety included among some redheads, but by themselves the things you mention are anecdotal. All redheads are not like you. I hope that isn't too shocking to learn.

As for allergies, I personally am allergic to everything in the world and I have been a redhead since birth. Not a ginger, however, as I explained in this text. Finding one or two redheads who don't share in a particular trait doesn't mean that no redheads have them. In fact most of the traits I mention here are shared by a majority of redheads even if you aren't one of them.

I noted that someone has seen fit to edit my sources section and removed most of my sources to their own liking. My advice to them is that if they dislike something I have written then perhaps they should write their own article rather than messing mine up. I have corrected it and I invite you, Brigantes, to learn more about redheads by checking out my sources for this article. While some things I have written here are about myself, the vast majority of what I share here is from my sources, including studies that included dozens if not hundreds of redheaded participants.

There is a lot of variety among redheads even though we may share certain traits. Never assume all redheads are exactly like you or that all members of any group are exact carbon copies of each other. As I stated, I’m allergic to the world and everything in it, or so it sometimes seems. That doesn’t make you a liar because you have had a different experience. It only points to the fact that all redheads are not exactly the same.

Brigantes on September 15, 2018:

I'm rustic ginger blue eyes my daughter pure ginger blue eyes but your views on allergies are not factual as I'm not allergic to anything and have a very powerful immune system as does my daughter our kind was a dying breed 20 years ago now we are on the rise the reason we are vilified is because majority of us are RH- blood which clearly means no rhesus monkey gene can be found hence we destroy the evolution theory.

C E Clark (author) from North Texas on September 01, 2018:

Kristy, thank you for your comment. Agree with you totally!!

Kristy_me@msn.com on August 30, 2018:

Natural redhead here and proud of it I can go brown and blon any day but why would I do that when theres so few of us!!

C E Clark (author) from North Texas on August 16, 2018:

Diogenes, what a surprise to see you after such a long time!

What have ginger colored cats to do with female humans? Seems you are comparing apples and peaches.

Personally, having been born a redhead among many others in my extended family, I prefer calm and peace. If someone is inclined to create a lot of drama in my life, I tend to find reasons to wash my hair a lot more often than usual, even on Saturday nights.

Hope all is well with you and that you spent your time away doing things you love. Life is too short to dwell on unpleasantries. xx

diogenes on August 14, 2018:

Ginger male cats like fighting...is the female of the human species any different?

Hiya sweetie, long time no...

R x

C E Clark (author) from North Texas on August 14, 2018:

Elly Bubbles, thank you for stopping by!

elly bubbles not real name on August 09, 2018:

Im a ginge

C E Clark (author) from North Texas on May 29, 2018:

Erin, thank you for commenting and for sharing the information about your Redhead Appreciation Society. Sounds like a fun group. Maybe some of my readers would like to join.

Have never heard about the blood type issue as it relates to redheads before, and it didn't turn up in my research. I have blood type A positive myself and no one in the many redheads in my family has the Rhesus negative blood type issue My late husband was a redhead, too, and no blood type as you describe with him either. Does sound like something to look into.

Erin on May 24, 2018:

I am a 3rd Generation redhead and out of over 40 grandchildren in my family (i'm the oldest) I was the only redhead until about 5 years ago. I have hazel eyes, my Mum is a brunette with brown eyes and my father has red hair and blue eyes. Another intersting fact that I have found is that most of the redheads i speak to have O- blood types. This is also very common in my facebook group I started about 10 years ago called the Redhead Appreciation Society. With over 14,000 members it's quite baffling how many members share the Rhesus negative blood type. Something to look into a bit more i think.

C E Clark (author) from North Texas on April 16, 2018:

Here is a recent reader's question and my response: " If I was born with red hair and it changed to auburn on top, but remained red underneath, am I atill considered a red head? My aunts have tissot red hair!!!"

Yes you are still a redhead. There are many shades of red hair. Carrot top is more orange, ginger is much like the color of the ginger spice. Tissot is more like a shade of brown with a redish tint or red highlights, some people with more red than others.

C E Clark (author) from North Texas on February 22, 2018:

Priscilla, thank you for sharing your thoughts and experiences. Other than the references I provided, I would say you will have to do what I did when I decided to research this issue. Just put a variety of different ideas as they relate to redheads in the Google search box and see what comes up. Here are a few examples. Hope they help.

redheads and fertility

redheads and common diseases

redheads and characteristic weaknesses

redheads and typical health issues

Priscilla on February 20, 2018:

I have had some crazy reactions to dental numbing. It doesn't work. Surgery and Vicodin make me deathly ill. Food allergy, especially night shade family of food. I am blond ish with red undertones but through DNA test have realized my many redhead ancestors. I think chemically I respond like a red head. I seem however to have a high pain tolerance, and do tan after a good burn. My eyes are brown/ green. Family members eyes change from brown to green to blue as they age. I am especially interested in this drug interaction. and food allergy. My Scottish family seems more susceptible than my Irish family. And How about fertility and diseases other than the skin cancer thing. Is there a good site for this? Some people look at me like I'm crazy but I have read research somewhere about these issues.

C E Clark (author) from North Texas on February 14, 2018:

Kikey Olvera, thank you for stopping by!

Kikey Olvera on February 11, 2018:

Hello I am a natural redhead with brown eyes. Nice to meet you :)

C E Clark (author) from North Texas on February 01, 2018:

Stuart, thank you for reading this article and taking the time to share your thoughts and experiences relating to this issue.

Stuart on January 30, 2018:

I am a natural red head and a former soldier in the British army. I do agree with your comments about the very low numbers of us red heads in the forces. But I have found in my 22 years service an unusual anomaly. Over my many years of service ive worked alongside the British special forces (SAS) and there is a very high amount of red heads in their ranks. At a guess maybe as high as 30 to 40% in some cases. Wether that has anything to do with being British. Having Scotland and Ireland with their higher count of red heads may be a contributing factor or as stated in your article, a higher intelligence and as you say less likely to shoot from the hip. I couldn't say but I think it is an interesting side note.

C E Clark (author) from North Texas on January 24, 2018:

Frankie Saupp, thank you for commenting!

C E Clark (author) from North Texas on January 10, 2018:

Jader, thank you for taking time to leave such a thoughtful comment.

Frankie Saupp on January 08, 2018:

I'm a fellow red head myself, and im distantly related to General George Custard. But I'm also very athletic ( mainly distance running), and I have and IQ of 148. So I guess most of that is true.

Jader on January 02, 2018:

I think Ginger women are the most beautufull thing Gid has ever made. I had a real redhead girlfriend about 25 years ago. She still haunting my thouhts. She was gorgeous, smart, sweet, funny and sexy.

C E Clark (author) from North Texas on October 30, 2017:

Paula, I know you had other things on your mind. Believe me, if the worst thing I ever must endure is someone forgetting my name I will have a charmed life. As you might imagine, I have been called many things over time, and I've survived it all. :) Check your mail for Aug. 24 and you will find it at the bottom of my message. :))

Suzie from Carson City on October 30, 2017:

OH Yes! Yes, you did, as a matter of fact! I recall now. HA! I recall you signed it but OF COURSE, I forgot the name. Never feel badly about that. I am famous for calling my grandchildren another grandchild's name. They no longer bother to correct me~they just answer.

Off to my old mail I go!

C E Clark (author) from North Texas on October 30, 2017:

Paula, you are too generous and kind with your praise, but I thank you because one can't have too much of that can they?

Here is the definition I based my 'handle' on: https://www.macmillandictionary.com/us/dictionary/...

"adjective /ˌəʊ ˈfeɪ/ informed of the most recent facts or information about something. be au fait with something: I'm not really au fait with the latest computer technology. Knowing and knowing about something:knowing, knowledgeable, informed..."

I'm not so sure about socially competent. People like me tend to put more emphasis on learning concepts and details while keeping to ourselves and thus do not develop many of the social graces the "people-people" have. Or should I call them people persons? :)

I'm sure I signed my name to an email message to you a while back, around August 26. You may have missed it. :)

Thank you again for your high praise, and for taking time to stop by and leave such generous words.

Suzie from Carson City on October 28, 2017:

Au fait (O-fay).....OK, O-fay. For however long I've been connected with you via our HP site~~approximately 6 years, in the back of my mind, I have continually reminded myself to look up that profile name of yours! (I did not study French....only Latin & Spanish)

Well, this should tell you the long distance between the back of my mind to the front of my mind! Good Grief!

I finally did it today!! So, it means: "to the point~well-informed` & socially competent!"

Silly me...I could have easily guessed this because you actually are all those things!! Sheesh! Maybe I'll call you, "2 the Pt.!" I like that. :)

C E Clark (author) from North Texas on October 28, 2017:

Red Hilton, thank you for sharing your thoughts about, and experiences as, a red head. As I stated here, I was born a redhead also. I was able to tan once I reached my 30s, but prior to that, my skin just burned, sometimes horribly, in the sun.

I, too, generally have a high (not low) threshold for pain, so clearly all redheads are not carbon copies of each other.

I am one of those redheads who, as a young person under 45, had such thick hair I couldn't even put it into a ponytail because there were no holders large enough in diameter.

Redheads are very much in the minority and so no, half the "anglo race" is not made up of redheads.

Can't say that sex has ever been at the top of my list and IMHO it's more than a little overrated. One must remember that there are always exceptions, so that most does not mean all. Most means 51% or more. Even redheads are not all the same. Considering all the research I have done over time, I would suggest your voracious sexual appetite relates more to your being a male than to your being a redhead. Check out my article: Do Men Really Think About Sex Every 7 Seconds?

Nevertheless, I very much appreciate your comments as you and I are both proof that there is variation with redheads. Thank you again for taking time to share your thoughts, etc.

Red Hilton on October 24, 2017:

The "Pain Tolerance" debate is "debatable", lol... I'm a true redhead and have an extremely high tooth pain tolerance.. I don't freckle, and I do tan.. (My legs, especially, turn VERY dark if they see much sun).. The part about red hair being thick is bs, most redheads that I know, and I know many, have average to thinner hair.. Hitler did NOT condemn or discourage redheads marrying each other or others, half of the Anglo race had red hair, good grief! The skin cancer thing is only because red heads "do" tend to burn a bit easier, and it is a well-known fact that "anyone" that suffers from extreme sunburn is at risk for later skin cancer.. The Adrenalin factor, I have been hooked on Adrenalin for most of my life, believe me, I have enough to share with several other folks, and I use it regularly.. One of my sisters has brown eyes, the other has green eyes,, I have greenish blue eyes that change to more green or more blue.. .. Redheads "do" have a voracious sexual appetite, and, obviously, unknown to many, are more discrete with the many relationships they have... lol I can tell you this much, I have NEVER been without "opportunity" to date or have sex... EVER, since youth... I don't have to hunt it, they have always hunted me... A boy at grade school used to pick on me for having red hair, I learned, later, that his mother had fiery red hair.. I mention this fact to him, and he never picked on me again.. Any idiot that says red heads make poor soldiers, obviously, never heard of Joe Hooper.. He was the most highly decorated soldier of the Vietnam War.. Too much ignorance surrounds the unique red head, a lot of it is out of envy, or plane jealousy... RH