Red hair is associated with the gene MC1R, a recessive and somewhat rare gene that occurs in only about 2 percent of the world's population, according to the National Institutes of Health. Red hair is caused by a mutation in the MC1R gene. Since that gene is a recessive trait that means both parents must pass on the mutated copy of the gene to produce a red-haired child and often the trait can skip a generation.
Staying true to its stubborn stereotype, ginger hair retains its natural pigment a lot longer than other shades. So there's no need to panic about going grey - red hair simply fades with age through a glorious spectrum of faded copper to rosy-blonde colors, then to silvery-white.
Redheads can't absorb sufficient Vitamin D due to low concentrations of melanin in their body. This may sound like bad news, but this lower melanin-concentration means that gingers can cleverly produce their own Vitamin D within their body when exposed to low light conditions.
Fun Facts
- Not all gingers have blue eyes, the actual most common eye color for redheads is brown, whereas the blue and red combination is actually rather rare.
- Redheads actually have less hair, on average, than brunettes or blondes. Brunettes average 140,000 strands of hair, blondes average 110,000 and redheads average about 90,000. Though, often redheads have thicker and coarser strands of hair that make it seem more full.
- The MC1R gene releases a chemical called phenylalanine, which blocks the brain's receptivity to pain. This means redheads have a higher pain threshold.
- If you’re a redhead, you are more likely to be left handed.
- According to several studies, bees are more attracted to redheads. Maybe it’s because they look like tasty flowers.
- Studies published in the British Journal of Cancer suggest that men with red hair are 54% less likely to develop prostate cancer.