Many superlatives apply to people with red hair - they are supposed to be temperamental, smart, passionate, attractive, fun-loving, loyal, stubborn, fiery... And what do scientific findings say about them?
Red hair color is supposed to be considered the rarest hair color in the world - only about two percent of people have two copies of the recessive gene at chromosome 16, which causes a mutation to ti the pigment pheomelanin. This results in red hair in various shades, but also brings characteristic freckles and lighter skin and eye color. Gene mutation also causes different hair aging – instead of gray, they become blond or white over the years.
Red-haired people have always been considered mysterious. They have been attracting people's attention since the middle ages, when society at the time perceived them as devils and vampires. And if they once represented a danger, today everyone admires them witharadi their fiery hair color ... and unique personalities.
If you are one of the people with red hair, be proud that you don't realize how you are special!
People with red hair: why are they so rare and unique?
… THEY ARE MUTANTS.
They are born with red hair because of a gene MC₁R, which controls melanin - if it is inhibited, the body starts producing more melanin, which is responsible for reddish tones. It should also affect the formation of freckles.
… THEY PRODUCE MORE VITAMIN D.
Because they have a pale skin color, they are also supposed to absorb greater amounts of sunlight, which is then responsible for greater vitamin D production.
… THEY BEAR PAIN EASIER.
Author of The Big Redhead Book: Inside the Secret Society of Red Hair, Erin La Rosa, who is also a redhead, reports the results research, which was carried out 14 years ago at McGill University. Red-haired women are said to tolerate pain by 25 percent better than other women.
… THEY HAVE LESS HAIR.
Although redheads' hair can be quite thick, they are said to have an average of 90,000 strands - this amount of hair is not small, but it is much less compared to brunettes (110,000) and blondes (150,000).
… THEY ARE LEFTISTS.
Red-haired people are said to be left-handed on average - it's a recessive trait, similar to hair color.
… THEY ARE MORE SENSITIVE TO THE COLD.
Gen MC1R, which is responsible for hair color, also plays a role in temperature regulation, namely by over-activating a temperature-sensing gene. Therefore, they should feel the cold faster.
Interesting facts about people with red hair:
- Most redheads live on Scotland. 30 % populations are said to have red hair color, even if there is an assumption that these come from southwestern Norway.
- Some countries celebrate Redhead Day. In Germany it is in September, in the Netherlands in August, in Italy in May.
- Gingerphobia is fear of people with red hair. This probably stems from the belief that redheads they have no soul.
