I Have Red Hair – Get Over It!
National Geographic Study: Redheads Set for Extinction.
I know at 40 I should just get over it, but my entire life I’ve endured comments almost daily. All because of my red hair. Why is it okay to tease and make hurtful remarks to red heads, but it’s politically incorrect to do this about someone’s race or sex? There has even been a word invented for this… “reddism,” akin to “sexism or racism” I was teased and taunted through out my life, more so during child hood.
Some of the comments I’ve endured:
I’ve been called: • redheaded woodpecker • Ginger top • Fire-crotch (I’m glad at 13 I was naive enough not to know what they were talking about) • Big Red (daily, by my teacher in front of whole 9th grade class, (I skipped this class often.) • carrot top • Ginger (yep, from gilligans island) • Krusty (as in the clown)
Don’t believe all the stereo types of red heads!
• I personally don’t have a temper… It takes a lot for me to finally get mad.
• I do burn but I can tan. Not like a deep dark tan but not a sunburn. I suppose there are different types of red heads – I don’t have milky white skin and freckles ( I do have a few freckles that come out if I’ve been in the sun or they might be age spots.) : )
• Red heads are told they should never wear pink…screw that, I look great in rose and soft pink.
A comment I recently read when a baby is born with red hair: “Don’t worry, she could grow out of it.” what the hell does it mean when a person says… “like a redheaded step child. “
Another comment I heard on TV “Red heads are not the freshest fruit at the market.”
Honestly, I no longer hate my red hair in some ways it has been a gift as a adult. I have landed modeling work because of it. I’ve also met many nice strangers because they come up to me and compliment my hair. With both men and women it has been an icebreaker. It really has been a big part of who I’ve become.
But, yes I’m fishing for some approval and respect. 
Miscellaneous info about redheads:
• According to scientists at the independent institute in England, which studies all sorts of hair problems. The foundation’s findings is red hair will either be extremely rare or extinct by the end of the century.
• A 2002 study found that redhead are harder to sedate than any other people requiring twenty percent more anesthesia. Inadequate doses cause people to wake up during surgery and have increased recall of procedures.
• Redheads don’t turn grey. Red hair turned sandy, then white. They are also found to loose their color later in life than people carrying other hair colors.
• Bees are thought to sting redheads more than others.
-Elizabeth Johsnsen
• Only an estimated 2 percent to 5 percent of the U.S. population is born with red hair, due to the recessive nature of the gene that produces it.
• Redheads have thick hair, but the least number of hairs per head, at an average of 90,000. The overall average is 100,000.
• Ancient Greeks died their hair red to show courage.
• The highest percentage of natural redheads in the world is in Scotland (13%), followed closely by Ireland with 10%. In the US, about 2% of the population are natural redheads
Of course I did not include any of the extremely negative information and believe me there was plenty of that!
[...] healthcaremagic wrote an interesting post today onHere’s a quick excerptAll because of my red hair. Why is it okay to tease and make hurtful remarks to red heads, but it’s politically incorrect to do this about someone’s race or sex? There has even been a word invented for this… “reddism,” akin to “sexism … [...]
I love red hair. The one hair color I will never be is blonde!!!! I don’t get it why the wold likes blondes. My hair is dark brown with many natural red highlights in it. If I want to add color to my hair I use the reds all the time. I had two aunts that were flame red heads, I loved their hair!!!! Glad to hear you do like your hair color too!!!!!
I agree with Theresa, I love red hair and find it beautiful. To be honest, I don’t even know what color my hair is anymore. I started “highlighting” it 10 years ago because I didn’t like the texure of the gray hair that I earned raising two boys, so I started playing with it. I could live with the gray if it was the same texure as the rest but man, it grew in like a brillo pad!! Those buggers had a life of their own!!
Isn’t it to bad that we have the need as society, to make fun of others? I was very skinny and had all those jokes. They do really sting and you can pretend it doesn’t bother you but man, it does. Do you think people make fun out of insecurtiy or are there just that many jerks??
Here’s to you! Cheers on your gorgeous hair.
Thanks for the nods of approval. I think anything that makes a person a little different-others will tease about. Again, human nature. So my thoughts are if we all celebrate what makes each of us unique, healthy self esteem will follow.
There is a 12 year old girl in my neighborhood with very red, thick gorgeous hair. She loves her hair and is very confident. She has always been told how beautiful it is and with her personality I don’t’ think anyone would get away with teasing her. For me I was not that spunky. She has won a red head contest 3 years straight in her hometown in Tennessee. You go Kaelyn!
You are gorgeous! Both my nephews are red heads and my husband’s beard grows in red. I’m hoping for red-headed babies someday. I always wanted to be red! It’s seriously the best color. Don’t listen to all the haters!
man oh man ur fine- i know thats not what your looking 4 on this but no disrespect at all- i love red heads over my 32 years on this plant i have dated 5 they each had their own speciel look but all had the best tude to them- stay red stay true your very very pretty-
I’m forty six now and have waist length curly dark red hair.
I have suffered negative comments about my hair all my life, usually by dark brunettes who say they would ‘die’ if their hair had red in it!!! So, I know what you mean………..
My opinion? With red hair you are noticed more often – you walk into a room and everyone sees you, remembers you and everyone else hates the attention you get. I tan too, not like a brunette, but good for me – I dont have freckles either but boy was I made to feel like a freak at school. My ‘friends’ used to use me as a measure to their tans and make me feel awful. What was worse at times were the people who stated their opinion ‘they would never date a ‘ginger’, like it was a disease?
As I have grown older, I became more comfortable with it and I love my hair and you are right, its because you are different.
You have stunning hair, and its because people see you as a threat, that they make negative comments about it. I now see that in anyone who comments and I smile to myself instead, because you know what? You are blessed to have beautiful hair, they know it and you should know it and everytime you hear negative comment? Smile, because you know the reason why they behave the way they do.
You are a beautiful girl and you should embrace that and be confident. Besides, real men love redheads and if they dont, they missing alot more than they know!!!!!!!…………….
haha i love this site lol i found it randomly haha
fire-crotch!! lmaoooo
before i continue i am also redheaded, and at 17 i have only just outlived the worst years of abuse lol, i loved it, im not arsed, i love that these people take their time out to TRY and insult me for something im frankly proud of
My red hair came with a second arsenal of names though, i mean come on … i have red hair and my name is ‘Sonny’
pronounced ‘Sunny’ for anyone that doesn’t know
i love this website and glad i found it for a quik read!
thankyou!
Sonny xxx
Love this site! I am a natural redhead as well and have not been teased very much at all. Maybe it’s because we live in a new generation where it is more beautiful to have red hair. I love all the comments i get about my red hair and frankly ignore the few negative comments i do get.
Your hair is absolutely gorgeous!! I have wished since I was 13 that I were born a natural red head – I think it’s such a beautiful colour. I do dye my hair red, but it looks so unnatural; I’d rather have natural red!! I hate it when people are cruel about natural red’s, it’s such a stupid and immature thing to insult some one about. When I dye my hair red, I flaunt it, I wear green to contrast and make the red more noticeable – I think it’s the most beautiful hair colour to have and I often envy women with red hair – envy in a good way!! I have had one or two comments about my hair, in fact some body told me I was attention seeking!! But I just ignore them. They would never be bold enough to have such a strikingly gorgeous hair colour. In fact, a friend of mine used to insult people with red hair – so when they saw me with red hair they were speechless!! And I called them a “gingerist” which was the term I used
. My natural colour is dark brown, and I don’t like it, mostly because it usually looked greasy because of how dark it was. So when I went red, I loved it – and I intend on keeping it!!
im 13 and i ALWAYS get teased about my red hair. it sucks. at one stage i was almost going to kill myself. but now i just laugh and “keep trying”.
anyways cYa’s
Am I the only redhead who hasn’t been teased about their hair? Only girls have said negative things about it ( and always brunettes for some reason :/ )
if we had 50% population.. omg, i think we would be to cocky ^^
I am a red head and wouldnt change it for anything.
But I have noticed that redheaded woman do not
like redheaded men. Ever see a red headed couple?
Keep the faith!
Tim
I dont have all red hair but you can certainly see it to the point that all my friends call me that horrible name “Redhead”. When I was little I had bleach blond hair and as I got older the red started coming out. When I look at myself today it seems like my hair is getting darker like a reddish brown. Anyway I hate being called a red head when I clearly am not 100% RED.
People Suck and thats the truth but you are very pretty
this page explains a lot about my life
i love having redhair and i did get crap for it
im only 16 but man do i love it
it depresses me to kno that redheads might be extinct
i think having redhair alone has made me who i am
i love it cuz it is so unique
any one can dye there hair blonde or brown or raven
but not red it is nearly impossible to dye ur hair natural red
ive seen it a couple times
and u can always tell
but you are very beautiful
and its nice to see people out there standing up for themselves
there is only one thing that i dont like bout having redhair
and thats have u ever tried to hide or blend in with a crowd
doesnt happen
ur running from security in the mall
yuh cant hide
and everyone remembers you
hahahah
its fine tho
i love my hair
[IMG]http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b328/criplet/hair.jpg[/IMG]
oops =]
wrong one
gay wont let me put a picture
=[
ne ways yuh wanna see it heres the link
i hope
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b328/criplet/hair.jpg
I found this site by accident. haha! Red hair has always been something i’m proud of and i am thankful that at a young age i knew that it set me apart for the better. I used to be really shy but now i am more self confident. At thirteen i know that i get more attention from many people because of it. i get comments, positive ones, about my red hair all the time when i go places to travel and just out. i love it. it makes me feel more self confident, and the boys, well even though i have never actually “dated” anyone for any length of time, but the boys tend to pay just a little more attention the “redhead” girl. There are three other people in my grade alone with red hair. two are girls and their hair is light and looks dyed. (?) and the third is a guy, but his is kind of red-brown. i dont know if he counts, sine they say red heads dont like redheads, but he’s not so bad. hehe. but a lot of people are always saying, i wish i had your hair, or i love your hair. it makes me smile inside. i have fair skin but i tan and freckle like crazy in summertime! But the thing is, when people make fun of my freckles or red hair, i think, or say, as i am, like many redheads, very feisty, why would i be ashamed of that? it makes me unique and beautiful and i stand out. i GLOW. I FEEL beautiful, because i am. I don’t have to prove it. Do you do that when you walk in a room? There are so many positive things about being a rare redhead i can count them. but if you are, just know, that no matter what anyone says, you are beautiful BECAUSE you are unique and BECAUSE you are rare. Be Proud! I know i wouldn’t change it for anything!
Thanks for the quick read! and positive red head comments! lol.
I have always wanted red hair, I did die it red once and everyone said it looked good on me, I wish I was a natural red head, I have dark brown hair with some gray in it and was thinking of dying it medium reddish brown, my husband does not want me to die it red, but I love red.
iv got red hair and iv hidden it for most of my teeenage years wiv a hood and a hat..im 19 now and i just die it alot to keep the colour hidden =[, most of my friends dont evan no wot my real hair colour is. i duno wot to dooo wiv my self. iv never had a girlfriend i think mainly because of my insecrurety about my haiir =[ im siik of hidding it. i duno wot to do. any suggestions?
iv got red hair and iv hidden it for most of my teeenage years wiv a hood and a hat..im 19 now and i just die it alot to keep the colour hidden =[, most of my friends dont evan no wot my real hair colour is. i duno wot to dooo wiv my self. iv never had a girlfriend i think mainly because of my insecrurety about my haiir =[ im siik of hidding it. i duno wot to do. any suggestions?
iv re wrote the comment because my email was wrong.
can someone plzz write bakk this is really important for me.
Dave please see
http://pupluv.wordpress.com/2009/02/13/i-have-red-hair-get-over-it-part-two-seeing-red/
Be proud and if you ever need to talk or encouragement – contact me
i just duno wot to dooo wiv myselfff, i really want a girlfriend but i dont really let anyone close to mee coz of my hairr. i duno wot to do i cant really come out one day wiv my reall hair colour, people would be likeeeee wot the fukk u freakkkkkkkk you been hidinng it all this timeeeee. finkinnn bakk now i would never of coverd my hairr, its put me in a awkward positionn.
i woul love to contact you but i dont no how =[ xx
You have to accept yourself just as you are. If the right girl comes along she will love everything about you. If she does not than she’s not the one. Having red hair is not the end of the world. You should feel special and unique. There are worse things that could be wrong with you. Be thankful. Good luck.
As a 40 something year old, with bright copper hair, i have had the issues and the criticisms, once i realized the comments were coming from blondes…ha! i love the fact that i can walk into a room and be the only one in it…everyone looks…redheads are fiery, we have a “life” in us…we are smart!!!! you never hear a dumb redhead joke.
to dave…my son has red hair, he too goes through the same struggles…my advice,,,own it! there is power in red hair. redhaired men are hot!
To the person who said you never see two redheads in a couple…my first husband was red, and we have gorgeous redhaired kids.
redheads rock…once a man has been with a redhaired women, the spell is cast, he will always desire one…hmmm..
I have red hair and I fucking hate it. It is definitely the worst hair color of them all.
You might feel differently someday. I know I hated it too and now I’m okay with it
i myself am a red head and wouldn’t trade it for the world every girl I have gone out with has completely adored it because its so unique. I myself have an auburn color. It will inevitably one day be extinct unless more redheads reproduce. lol or have a recessive gene. Rock on red heads.
Don’t be ashamed; as a brunette who has long admired redheads (some of my favorite characters are red-haired), I support you all the way. Flaunt it at every opportunity and be proud!
i was looking up if red heads can get tan and i found this well i have auburn hair, and i never get teased its just because people are tanner then me, and everyone tells me that they would die to have my hair. The blondes and burnettes can just get ova them selves cuz there jealous. my name and my hair is unique my hair isn’t a bright red but in the summer its a bright kinda auburn looks a lil reddish, but yea. and plus i have freckles, and i can get a tan but it takes 4 EVA AND TONS TONS OF SUNBURNS AND PAIN! so thats pretty much what i wanted to say, so don’t hate ur hair just love it