Life As A Redhead - Living with Red Hair
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Fantastic Famous Redheads!!
I am a Redhead
One wouldn’t typically think his or her hair color would determine many aspects of his or her life. However, if you are born with red hair it is the norm. Though red hair is much more accepted by today’s standards, that has not always been the case. I am still considered young in many circles, except to my kids, and in my short time I have seen redheads move from undesirable to mildly desirable to modeling in Victoria’s Secret catalogs! As the general redhead has moved steadily towards popularity, I have grown to love my own hair color and even to accept the stereotypes that come with having red hair. As you read further you will learn how my Mother dealt with red hair in the 1950’s, how I’ve come to appreciate my appearance as a carrot-top, the questions my hair color has produced, and other neat tidbits of information about redheads. I will also include some of my favorite redhead celebrities that kept me going through the redheaded-stepchild phase of my life (more on that later).
Family History
Before I go any further, I want to describe my family a little more to explain my fascination with red hair. My Mother, born in the late 1940’s, arrived with a head full of curly red hair. Nobody could explain from where the hue had originated since both parents and all four grandparents sported chestnut locks. Still, here was this baby with flames for hair and the bluest eyes you’ve ever seen. My Mother was often taunted unmercifully about her red hair. On one occasion, she was riding in the back of the family pickup truck when a group of teenagers pulled alongside her. The driver, who was a stranger to my Mother, yelled that he would rather be dead than have hair of red. I can only imagine the embarrassment and upset such a statement would cause a child. Especially when that child already felt as though she didn’t fit into her family, because she looked nothing like the rest of them. A scenario that proves that point occurred when my Mother was 4 or 5 years old and a stranger asked her where she got her beautiful red hair. My Mom had heard it so often that she believed it when she replied, “From the Milkman.” I bet my grandparents were mortified to hear such a response! Lesson learned there – be careful what you tell your children. Red hair was so uncommon when my Mom was growing up that she was the only kid in her school to have it, out of roughly 500 other students.
Myself on the other hand, well, I knew exactly who to blame for my red hair. I look just like my Mom, except for the blue eyes bit. My eyes are very much green. For the longest time I didn’t even realize how redheads were viewed by the general public. I took red hair as a common trait since my Mom and I both had it. It was not until about 3rd or 4th grade that I realized I was not in the majority. For some reason or another, close to the end of 3rdgrade, my school principal took a real liking to me. He thought it was cute to call me carrot-top any time he saw me. “Hey, carrot-top, having a good day?” “Hey, carrot-top, how’s your brother?” I hated it because it made me feel singled out and it made my friends laugh. That was when I started searching for other redheads in my school, to no avail. I realized I was the only redhead in my elementary school and started to feel like a misfit. Add to it that I was in the minority with freckles and my self-esteem took a real hit. In my mind, I was the ugly duckling. I started wearing my big brother’s ball caps to hide my hair and I stayed out of the sun as much as possible, to minimize freckling. When I look back at old photographs, I realize it must have driven my Mom crazy because I was such a cute kid and I dressed so funny! On the other hand though, maybe the minimal sun exposure is why I look younger than my age. In junior high I was a little jealous of the blondes and brunettes but finally got a little peace of mind when I found – wonder of all wonders – more redheads! Heck, I even became best friends with one of them. And for some reason, I found her red hair and freckles adorable. Then I had an epiphany – maybe mine were cute too! I was slowly becoming more confident in my appearance but still longed for anything other than red hair. I was incredibly shy and tried to blend into the background as much as possible, but that red hair was like a beacon in the night just begging for attention. Plus I was now being subjected to the stereotypes and myths that come with having red hair. If I got angry my feelings were trivialized and blamed on my hair, I was asked at an early age about my sexual habits, and was even lumped into a category seen as taboo – ‘the redheads’ – as if I were from another planet. For instance, I was told by one of my best friends (at the time) that her cousin said, and I quote, “I feel sorry for your friend even though I haven’t met her yet. All redheads are ugly.” Ouch! Some friend she was to tell me that, huh? Even after all these years, that comment stings a little. Another time when I was 12 I was asked by a complete stranger, and he was a grown man no less, if the curtains matched the carpet. I had no idea what he meant and just watched him walk off laughing. Man did I get sick of hearing that one over the years. I still hear it today and my reply is, “If you really want to know, you’ll have to visit my website at www.getalife.edu. Not only did complete strangers request odd information, but older boys started making comments about the stereotypical nymphomaniac redhead. They always wanted to know if I was as wild in bed as they had heard most redheads are. I never answered that question. To be honest, I didn’t know how to answer it way back when and I still don’t know how to answer it today. It wasn’t until after high school that I truly appreciated my red hair. I realized that I liked looking different, that all the attention wasn’t really all that bad, that all of a sudden people were choosing to color their hair red, and that beautiful redheads were popping up all over the place in the media. I know, I know. I gave my hair way too much power and consideration. But I was painfully shy and I didn’t like the attention my hair drew to me and I didn’t like being defined by my hair. Today, I love being defined by my hair and I appreciate being different. I now have three daughters and not one of them has my red hair. That is both a disappointment and a relief to me. It is a relief because I won’t have boys propositioning my daughters with statements like, “I heard all redheads are wild in the sack, can I test that theory?” It is a disappointment because I hoped to pass on my legacy. But hey, there is always the hope of grandchildren, right?
Redheads Finally Get the Recognition They Deserve!
Today, redheads are seen as attractive, alluring, seductive, and a little mysterious to more people. Their beauty is gracing the pages of magazines for Target ads, the pages of Victoria’s Secret catalogs, and other media outlets as celebrities. Don’t get my wrong; redhead celebrities have been aplenty for quite some time now. My Mom’s favorite redhead celebrity is Dorothy Fuldheim and my all-time favorite redhead actress is Ann Margaret, who is as beautiful today as she was back when. Don’t believe me? Just watch Grumpy Old Men and you will see what I mean. Another favorite of mine is Tori Amos, a truly talented and beautiful artist. For more popular redheads through the ages, visit Redheads: Myths, Legends, and Famous Red Hairby Cristoph Reilly. The page is a very well written collection of the various myths and urban legends surrounding redheads. Need more motivation to visit the page? It also contains numerous photographs depicting sultry, beautiful redheads throughout the ages who have been loved by many. But before you go, read further for humorous tales and redhead inspiration and woe.
Did You Really Just Ask Me That?!
I try to keep a sense of humor about all the odd questions I get asked that are in reference to my red hair. Below are just a few examples of what I hear.
- The infamous “Does the carpet match the drapes?” Come on mush-brain, try to be a little more creative than that!
- The alienating, “What’s wrong with your hair? Does it hurt?” This was asked by a little boy in the library one day. It didn’t bother me one bit but man was his Mom embarrassed!
- The haunting, “My Mom told me only witches have red hair and green eyes. Are you a witch?” This one was actually asked by someone I considered a friend. I simply told her yes and walked away.
- The blood-boiling, “You have red hair, do you also have the famous redhead temper?” I always answer no and that I am very even-tempered unless you mess with my children. And to be honest, I don’t think that’s a redhead thing – it’s a Mom thing.
Fun Stories
The Welcome Wagon
I was born and raised in Ohio and still live in Ohio today. During the summer months, my Mom always took my brother and me to Lake Erie for camping, fishing, and swimming. Since I was very small, my Mom always claimed her red hair made a perfect bull’s-eye for the seagulls and ducked for cover whenever they flew over. One summer, while swimming off Kelly’s Island, a friendly neighborhood seagull decided to welcome my Mom to the island with a perfectly placed poo. Bulls-eye!
South Park’s Soul Insight
If you are like my husband, you enjoy the adult cartoons such as South Park and The Family Guy. My husband likes to watch South Park on Comedy Central, and yes, sometimes I get to watch it with him. The last episode I saw involved the main characters hunting down redheads in the town to save the townsfolk. On the show, all freckle-faced, redheads were referred to as ‘ginger kids’ who have no soul because of their appearance. Of course my husband found this episode hilarious. Now anytime I’m being ornery my husband tells me I have no soul.
Blondes DO NOT Have More Fun
I know because I tested the theory! A few months back I decided to try adding highlights to my hair. I’ve never colored my hair before and my close approaching 30th birthday prompted the need for change. I went to a nearby day spa courtesy of my husband and I loved the end result. My hair was still red with a few light blonde highlights. When my roots started to grow out I went to get the highlights redone. Except this time I cheap’ed out and went to a smaller chain salon. I just didn’t feel right spending so much money on my hair again. BAD mistake because the girl fried and bleached my hair. Then she had to cut almost all of it off to try and make it look better! I instantly became a bleached blonde with a horrible haircut…ugh. My hair grows very fast so the cut didn’t take long to grow out. But I was still left with very blonde hair for quite some time. Personally, I had more fun as a redhead than as a blonde. Now that my red is finally growing back in I am never, ever going to highlight my hair again. I would much rather be seen as a carrot-top than as just another dumb blonde. I mean no offense to the blondes. All three of my daughters have blonde, blonde hair. It’s just that now I realize how often blondes get teased about being dumb.
Foot In Mouth for Dinner Anyone?
My parents are divorced. My Mom remarried later to the man who is now my stepdad. Therefore I am indeed a redheaded-stepchild. Whenever people use the phrase about beating someone like a redheaded-stepchild, I explain my situation and pretend to be very offended. Then I watch as the other person tries to explain his or her statement, usually making it sound worse in the end. I don’t really get bothered by the statement; I just amuse myself with the reactions. Eventually I come clean and explain that I am joking.
Battle of the Exes
My favorite story of them all was when my ex-husband told me he’d never date another redhead again and that I had ruined him because I was so mean. Yah, as if all the problems with the marriage stemmed from my hair! I can see the court documents on that one now. Picture it with me now:
Judge: What is the basis of this divorce – irreconcilable differences?
Ex-husband: No, Your Honor, red hair.
Oh, well. Maybe it made him feel better to place the blame somewhere other than on himself. My fellow redheads of the world, you can all thank me for that one later. My hair and I agree that the misplaced blame is well worth saving all of you.
Now, don’t forget to check out that web page with all the hot pictures of redheads at Redheads: Myths, Legends, and Famous Red Hair - and thank you for reading.
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Hey Ardie
Glad to see you back! We've been missing the sweetest redhead in HP.
Anyways, this was a great read, informative, with funnies, too! Thanks for sharing! And one more thing, it's not in the color of the hair, or skin or eyes, it's what's inside the heart :D
Thank you Lgali
Thank you Cris! Im glad you stopped in. Im glad to be back, now I have a lot of reading and catching up to do. You are right, it IS what's in the heart that matters. I saw a sign in front of a church yesterday that said "Show what's in your heart". I think its a good idea!
Ardie, that's some good work, ironically the red head discussion came up last night and its the first thing I read today, I always thought red heads to be sexy, I never thought anything else until I saw Carrot top. I think he gives redheads a bad name. And good to see you back we were going to put you on the missing in action list.
Agh! Please dont put me on that list! I've just been busy with the kids :) And I totally agree, Carrot Top is the scariest thing ever. Yes, I said thing. Every time I was pregnanct Id have nightmares that I was going to have a boy and that he would look like Carrot Top. I dont know how I would have survived... By the way, good to see you!
Lovely hub! I must have a thing for red heads :-) Now, that kiddie there who you say is a close resemblance is a major CUTIE!! I guess you really got all these funky questions, eh? #2 is delicious, you gotta love kids! Laugh!
Great hub Ardie. I never knew that Dorothy looked that good. She was something else, very smart too. My wife loved her. I love red heads too and my eldest sister is one with freckles and blue eyes
I loved reading this!!!! We are truely kindred spirits!!! I have had a lot of the same feelings about being a redhead, and at one time, wanted to dye my hair. I now love my hair!!! Great Hub!!!!
Hi Elena, I think she is cute too! She actually makes me think more of how my Mom must have looked as a little girl...cute little round face and all :) # 2 question didnt bother me, I felt bad for the kid's mom and kept telling her it was ok because she kept saying sorry....I thought it was kinda cute! A lot of babies seem to be scared or fascinated with my hair too. They either just stare at it or stare at it and cry :D
Hi C.C., It took a while to find a nice pic of Dorothy. Most of them were when she was 100 :) I enjoyed looking for the pic though, because I never knew who she was. I got to do a lot of great research and reading. She was indeed an awesome woman. (Im jealous of your sister's blue eyes...I always wanted blue!)
Hi Anna, Thank you very much :) Im glad to know that I am not alone in my feelings and that I have portrayed the redhead accurately. I now love my hair too, and I am waiting for the rest of this bad dye job to grow out...I want my red back!
Hi Ardie!
Nice, fun, well written hub - thanks for sharing! I think red hair is gorgeous and think those who have it are blessed in a unique way! My hair has some natural red highlights but I'm more of a sandy blonde....I wish I was more of a carrot top (and I think that label is cute btw!) I dyed my hair a beautiful red once a decade or so ago when I lived in Hawaii...and it washed out REALLY fast. One person, who commented it was pretty, said my hair was pink - NOT! in Hawaii, when a person is trying to reference someone they can't remember the name of and they have red hair, one may say something along the lines of "da one wit da ehu colored hair."
Red heads I've thought were pretty and entertaining include the actress in Spiderman and the one in TAXI (not recalling any names at the moment - too much on the mind - it's impairing my memory!)... as well as Lucille Ball (and I know most of when she was in show biz, pictures were in black and white). Ginger from Gilligans Island...I've known a few red heads in my life personally and only one had a cranky disposition but I think that was due to the drugs she was using.
Oh, and green eyes too boot? I do have those but what a great (and natural!) combo you've got! So are you Irish? My grandpa was a handsome carrot top in his younger day, before his hair turned grey and has Irish ancestry.
Ardie, if you haven't done so already, take a look at the redheads in my story of the Flying Walrus and the other of the City of Lesbos Revisited. You may find those redheads interesting.
Hi Christinekv! Its good to see you :) It took me some time, but I also find red hair beautiful now, but Im not too sure about pink! That is too funny. The redhead in Spiderman is Kirsten Dunst and although not natural it still looks fab on her. And the redhead from Taxi...I cant think of her name either, but I know my husband loved her! ;)
I am a whole lot Irish and a whole lot Scot...not much more other than those two. I'll never forget the first time I met a family visiting the US from Ireland. They had the most beautiful accent and I fell in love with the older son because of it. And they all had black hair and freckles...not a redhead in any of them!
Hi CC, I went and read them before I responded to the comment. Only one thing to say about the women represented in the stories... "Now THOSE are my type of girls!"
Hey RGraf -
I didn't read Christop's hub until after I came back and read your response to my comment - some interesting things on his as well as lots of great pics! I didn't realize Scots were #1 and the Irish are #2 in terms of redhead populations. I am both Scot and Irish as well as French and English.
I also forgot to say earlier, I now kids can be cruel but I didn't realize how redheads growing up must have some additional insecurities due to their hair making them more obviously unique and how kids can be....hopefully it must mean a lot to kids (or else they think I'm a liar) since whenever I see redheaded children (whether I know them or not) I always comment on how beautiful their hair is and how I wish I had red hair like theirs.
Christinekv, I loved Christoph's hub on redheads. I even asked his permission before I did this, because I didnt want him to think I was copying! :) He did such a great job. And kids will be kids...if they cant make fun of one thing, they'll find another! I used to be insecure about it, but now I embrace being different. I also comment on little kids with red hair too. They are sooo stinkin' cute to me. I saw a mom at the school yesterday who had 3 little red haired boys and everyone just ooh'ed and ah'ed over them :D
Gosh Ardie! I am so unbelievably flattered. Wasn't it about a year ago you asked me about it? I do recall saying to let me know when you had done it so I could link to you. Hmmm? But no! I had to be informed by my newly recruited spy, Christinekv. I'll take care of that right away!
So, the rumors aren't true then? Darn! I can't believe I forgot Anne Margaret! Lord, I had a huge crush on her for many, many years. I still think she is gorgeous! I must add her to mine - with your permission.
I love this hub, by the way, even if my hub wasn't spoken so highly of. You really made me understand the effect these things could have on a young person. I felt for you. You sort of reminded me of my young and beautiful cousin who was 10 years younger than I. She thought she was ugly in high school. I told her to wait till next year when she went to college - that the tables would turn. And they did! She is stunningly beautiful to this day. I have always been particularly enamored of you as well.
You mentioned hearing the lovely voices of your Irish relatives... This link was given to me by sheenarobins who listed it on my Blarney hub. It's a young Irish girl (about 7 or 8 years old?) who makes prank phone calls on a radio show in Dublin. She's as sharp as a tack and it is absolutely hysterical. Listen to the first recording of her calling the demolition company. I guarantee you'll laugh.
Thank you so much. You're a livin Saint, ye are!
Here's the link to Becky, the Irish prankster:
My bride told me about the harrassment she suffered as a child. And the young age that "curtains and carpet" crap started.
But, in any event, I found my RedHead! And have managed to keep her interested for sixty years!
http://hubpages.com/hub/Forget-Not-the-Bride-of-th
I enjoyed your Hub!
ARRGGGG ARDIE! I'm so sorry...I misaddressed you as Rgraf here on your hub too! I hate that and although I used the excuse of not having had enough coffee/being awake enough on Christoph's hub...I think part of it is I hadn't been around for a while to participate in the hub community...I read three excellent hubs last night, this one, one by Blessedmommy and one by Rgraf and although I know you are all different and the content of the hubs is all different, I found them all to be very good w/ new things to think about impressed upon me! Anyway, I'll try not to let it happen again! I responded to a hub request once and named the wrong person initially as the person making the request...at least with my own hubs, I can go back and edit without there being a time limit!
Agh! Hi Christoph :) Sorry I didnt keep you in the loop, I was trying to think of a nice way to email and say "Hey, promote my hub and let me ride your fame!" Plus, it did truly take for-e-ver to get this thing going. The kids have been keeping me very busy. Please do add Ann M to your site, she is a great woman and devilishly beautiful...even now!
As for your cousin, it always seems that the some-what shy/goofy adolescents grow up to be beautiful women with phenom personalities and grit. Im glad she got her time to shine. I think every girl deserves to feel pretty. And you made me blush with all your compliments, thank you :D
Im off to listen to that little girl's calls. If its clean enough, I'll let my 8 year old listen to it when she gets home from school...thanks for the link.
Bohica, thanks for stopping in - and sixty years! Wow and congratulations :) Isnt it amazing how young the perversions can start? Im thankful my kids wont have to hear it all...I'd like to keep them innocent forever.
Christinekv, its ok! I figured as long as you were commenting about the right hub - I'd let it slide :) You are right, there are so many great hubs out there! I also havent been as active in the community as I'd like to be. I got lost in kid's homework, fevers, and house cleaning. But Im making a true attempt to be better at it. And as long as you keep visiting, I dont mind what you call me :D
Redheads do have more fun, well I believe so look at the color of my hair and what is interesting is that all of my siblings came out different shades of blonde. I envied them , however I love being unique and different. My hair color comes from my grandmother on my father's side. Thums up on this hub as it speak for itself!!:)
Hi AEvans, I guess we prove the theory that redheads may be extinct one day. I have red hair and all three of my little girls are blonde while you have it and all your siblings were blonde too! Thanks for the great compliments :)
I have a number of redheads my family. My 19 year old niece is one. People are always fascinated by her hair and, often don't think it's real, which is very annoying. She recently had it cut very, short. I think she wanted to throw their attention elsewhere, just for a while!!
Hi mulberry, I can understand where your niece was coming from when she cut her hair very short. In an attempt to do the same, I went very blonde :) It looked so bad!
Nice job! I never realized that people actually acted that way over hair colour! My ex was a redhead who was always dying her hair, which I never understood. She never said anything but that she hated her hair. Wow! Good insight for me, I guess I'm clueless about somethings. Hope all has been well. I've been away doing work that has completely left me tied up and exhausted. I blame the kids...lol. Unfortunately I was hit by a car during a bike ride so I've got plenty of time now to work on hubs as well as doing my writing. Hope to get some things out soon. Got some good science stuff I've been really wanting to whore out for hub hits and I hope you and your daughter will enjoy. Have fun.
Hi Ande and thanks! Your ex was a redhead, huh? Do you take the stance my ex takes and swear off all redheads now?
Its good to see you back. I've been real busy lately too. Sports, yard work and the like. Im sorry you were injured but glad you are getting back to working order. Shoot me an email when you hub something. Im sure my daughter would love the stimulating reading over summer vacation :) I dont get here other than to answer comments and to check up on my fave authors. I figure I'll write more once it gets cooler outside again.
I love my red hair and celebrate it. When I was very young, and very stupid, I hated it. All I could relate it to was a boy I had a serious crush on in the 7th grade who called me a carrot-top and threw me over for a tall, skinny, blonde girl. In my 20s I even colored it. But very quickly I came to realize it was special to be rare and better to be the only redhead in the room then to be just another bottle blonde.
Amen, Mrs Stoor! It is beginning to sound like many redheads go through just the same realizations :) Isnt it great to come into your own at an age when you can appreciate being different? (And I mean different in a very good way.) I too celebrate my red hair and will never, ever dye it again....at least not until I go gray and want it back!
Why do we have to single people out based on their characteristics. I think redheads are beautiful. I was one as a baby but the blonde conquered all before age 5.
I am too a redhead, and still feel uncomfortable with it. i get question number one all the time but i also get other questions not mentioned, such as, 1.) are you related to this person (no, just because i'm a redhead does not mean i know all redheads around the world)and 2.) you must be irish. i think that one makes annoyed the most. i am mostly german and polish with just a tiny percent of irish. the funny thing is one of my best friends is nearly 100% irish and she has curly black hair but everyone would bet on me being more irish. i would like to be proud of my irish ancestry but its hard when evryone just assumes i am striaght out of ireland. I also have tried to dyr my hair ( it always looks hideous) and i'm still in my 20's so there are days when i love my hair color and others when i wish i were a brunette.its nice to know others go through the same thing too.
to be against redheads is to be rascist and communist, red hair shows pure breeding in people who have the (native) western european y-chromosome or mitochondrial dna types, only rascists hate strong features of ethnicity and only communists promote outbreeding/mixbreeding in their efforts to destroy all ethnic culture.
my mother is a redhead, i am not, many is the time i have knocked some f*ckers teeth in for insulting redheaded women, obviously you can tell i prefer it red ;)
"My favorite story of them all was when my ex-husband told me he’d never date another redhead again and that I had ruined him because I was so mean. Yah, as if all the problems with the marriage stemmed from my hair!"
i didn't fully read your hub before i made my last comment but now i can see that i should have! if you believe the most ephemeral part of your physical appearance is ALL he is basing his views on then i can't really support YOUR views in any positive way, i am being POLITE.
do you know what that says about you that you think that?
dljc_79
In case you missed it, the undertone of this hub is humor.
Although my ex-husband did indeed make the above mentioned comments to me during our divorce, I in no way believe 'the hair' to be the entire basis of our issues. Also, I do not require one to be "POLITE" here and I DO NOT know what that says about me that I 'think' that. Please, explain - and recognize the sarcasm in the statement "Yah, as if all the problems with the marriage stemmed from my hair!"
Have a good day!
fair enough.
First off Amy Adams = SMOKING HOT!
Second, do redheads really feel less pain?
Great Hub, Isn't it funny how people view hair color and texture. Those that are born with a certain color may or may not desire that particular color and those with curly hair may desire straight hair and so on and so forth.
I'm not a natural born redhead, but that's what I aspire to be; thank goodness for Lady Clairol, I can become a nice shade of auburn :) Thanks for sharing your story in such a unique way!
Hey Ardie,
Thanks for the article, it was great and I can certainly identify with it. People can be crude and stupid in their comments to redheaded women. I have been astounded at the comments men have made to me.
I am a natural redhead with brown eyes, and I was tortured as a child and wished I had any other color hair but red. Children at school were cruel with their taunts. Names like redheaded peckerwood, carrottop, freckle face were hurtful. I was a shy child and was miserable most of my life. I never considered my self to be pretty,since I had been treated so badly. I didn't get asked out like the other girls in school and I couldn't figure out what was wrong with me. It wasn't until I became an adult that I found out other redheads had the same problems.
Now I am 52 and have an incredible sex life. It just seems to keep getting better as the years go by. My husband and I have sex 5-6 times a week and it's never boring. I don't know if it has anything to do with hair color, but we're not complaining.
I had a terrible temper for years, but I've learned to control it as I've gotten older. I do resent the crude remarks about my temper though. Sometimes circumstances can create situations that bring it on. My ex could make my blood boil at the drop of his hat. My children would ask me to promise not to get mad when they needed to tell me something, so I guess it must have been pretty bad.
Another thing I have noticed through the years is that I require more anesthesia and pain killers than other members of the family. I had a surgeon ask if I was a natural redhead and commented that he would have to do things differently than usual since redheads "ooze". That was a first for me.
So are all redheads the same, of course not. I'm sure that Ann Margaret got asked out when she was a teenager.
Hi Ardie!
Great hub on redheads. I was born with bright red curly hair but my hair color has changed to brown. I still like to dye it with shades of red as I think it is a beautiful color! I am a fan :)
I too came from depths of genetics... my mum is a brunette my dad a blond and my grandparents are all brunettes... my red hair comes from my paternal great grandfather.
I had to chuckle with the comment 'does the carpet match the drapes' as this is all I copped in high school.. at first I was embarresed as all 13 yr olds would be but now I laugh thinking how stupid a comment it was..
I attempted to dye my hair at 17 - dark brown - it turned a yucky green/brown colour and I had to dye it cherry red to hide it the next day.. now I am the only person I know who doesn't dye their hair and I an PROUD to say it!
Unfortunately I have 3 red headed friends who all dye their hair a brownish colour - I am attempting to change that.
I am very lucky that my red hair has been passed to my 2 children, my daughter has been blessed with strawberry blonde hair and my son has the bright red hair that I posses... and I'm affraid to admit the temper to go with it that I had as a child - as an adult I have learnt to control this temper but I was known to throw a tantrum or two in my younger years.
Thanks for a great website.... sorry for the long post, I just get excited when I see or meet fellow redheads!
I never realized redheads got teased so much! I have black hair, so the most I've ever got is that I'm too brainy for my own good...
I am currently doing some research for a graphic novel I am making about people with red hair (as I have it myself). I have been through so many of the same things you have and this really reminded me of some of them!
Hi Ardie, Great Hub!!
Just hitting the GREAT realisation point!
Took a while to see being different is quiet great! I wonder if its alot worse in the UK to be a redhead than anywhere else.
Just pointing out a time that happened, I was walking down the road just minding my own buisness when a car full of lads pulled up started cursing at me and drove away. Obviously im thinking why did they have to speed away, Pussies! :D
If it wasent for all the attention we get throughout the years, we wouldent have formed the great, rare personality we acustom to!
Love you Redheads!
Scotty !
I too am a redhead and completely relate. My mom, grandmother and two daughters have red hair. They too were tortured and thought of themselves as ugly. My granddaughter is a beautiful redhead and has been tortured. I show her pictures of Juliann Moore etc. and tell her she is right there. She looks like she could be her daughter or sister. One of my daughters is a model for shampoo using her beautiful red hair. But I don't really see an end to making life miserable for the younger generation of redheaded children.
i love my redhair and have to say i got the odd comment but was never bullied and i always get told how beautiful my hair is by people x i get a little down heartened when i see redheads who try and hide it by bleaching their locks you should always be your true self!! i love my sexy red locks
This is brilliant, Ardie, I am also a redhead from Ohio, Austintown! Now I know why everyone wanted me to stop saying I got my red hair from my grandpa, lol. Anyway, it skips a generation in my family, so you can imagine when my son turned up with red hair I was concerned. It turns out his Grandpa on his father's side was a red head as well. Skips a generation in his family too.
I have finally come to terms with my red hair, it was also curly so that was a problem. When I was pregnant I prayed my girls would have straight blonde hair. I said no such prayer with my son, as his dad was blonde and I now knew there was no chance of another curly freckled redhead... Oh well, there I went thinking again. He has the curls too.
I loved this hub, and I have to book mark it. This was fun. I feel like I am not alone, lol.
I'm a redhead too. I was shy when I was little and I remember hating it when people would point out my hair and ask me questions about it (even though they were being complimentary, I still hated it!) It caused a lot of attention to be directed my way and I didn't like being the center of attention. However I came to appreciate all that attention later in life, especially from men, LOL. Being a redhead has definintely shaped my self image to a large degree. Seems silly, but it is true.
Heyy:D Its about time some one stood up and said something about all the nasty things we red-heads go through. I don't have red hair, it's more strawberry blond but i still get the same questions that most red-heads do. the one i get the most is if I am wild in bed or not. As i am a virgin i can honestly tell them that I don't know and that they will not find out any time soon. It is hard to be a red-head when you're going through high school but I'm a serior this year and have more true friends than i can handle. And none of them have ever ostrisized me becuase of my hair.
What a great article! I am the only redhead in my family. I went through most of high school wanting different hair, dying it, straightening it, but these days I just take the red mane out (and it IS a mane, I mean it's huge!), and I have learned to love it. It certainly helps that red hair has become fashionable in magazines and such. I love walking down the street when the sun is shining, I feel like everyone is looking and it's such an ego booster. I have had very low self esteem all my life, and things have changed the day I accepted myself and my red hair completely.
It takes one to know one...thank you!!!
I totally agree with all the points you made! I am a teenage girl and am a rehead and embrace all the great qualities that come along with it! Reaheads UNITE!
Love this article. Everyone in my family has red hair. Thats 7 of us. Everywhere we go we get stared at. Its kind of fun though. One woman even asked if she could take our picture. The only downside is that the guys in my grade do hit on me a lot. But its always makes my day to see their faces when i snap at them. When i was in eighth grade we had to do a section in english on stereotypes. Course, one was red hair. Being the only red head in the class, all attention is directed at me. I ruined the teachers lesson. She asked me if i had a temper. Told her i did. She asked if all red heads had tempers. Well, all red heads i knew did so thats what i told her. There went that lesson. On the 7 red heads. Thats my mom, dad, older brother, 3 younger sisters, n myself. O and my aunt. On my dads side we get it from his grandparents. Moms not sure. She didnt want to have redheaded kids bc she was always teased about it. When i was in first a sixth grader started to call my bro and i carrot top. Turning around i about slugged him. I would have too. But the bus stopped at our stop so i didnt get the chance. I have my dads hair from when he was younger though his has darkened considerbly. I know im rambling but im bored. Another thing about school. My other english teacher found something else to tease me about. I had a class with only other girl in it. She was a brunnuette. There was also a boy named Charles. The teacher told that we needed a blonde then we could almost be charlies angels. It was a good thing he was one of my favorite teachers. Espically after he almost witnessed me backing the driver ed car up into my instrucers truck while he was next to me still have not lived that down. Yeah but even though some might considor it to be a derogitory term, i love being a ginger.
I am 41 and male. I have always felt as if my red hair has caused people not to take me seriously. I know people provoke me a lot with snide remarks to test the theory if red heads have bad tempers. I have learned to bite my tongue and not give them the reaction they are looking for. Not easy though. A shame that I am not allowed to show irritation or anger like other people do....
funny and cool hub
We had a lot of the same experiences. I always believed I didn't have a boyfriend because of my red hair. I have grown to LOVE my redhair, stand out, NOT be the norm.
Redheads have to stick together!! Thanks for sharing.
Truth be told I adore red heads! One of my good friends is a red head and she is the sweetest, funniest, most interesting girls you will ever meet! I also have an embarassingly large crush on a red headed actor who I won't name. And one more thing, I think it's so great you mentioned you went to kelly's island because I have been there before on a trip with my family! It was so fun! My parents refused to pay the money to have the boat carry our car so we walked the whole island! No joke! We walked from the dock all the way back to where the glacier carvings were. It was exhausting but I will never forget how fun it was!
I hated my hair when i was little b/c of all the compliments and ppl touching my hair with out asking, and apparently my mom getting asked by respected older women (less than a week after i was born)"aw she's so cute, does she have 'The' temper yet?" My mom was so mad but i love my hair now but found out it will eventualy turn blonde then white... =( oh well its a big thick pain in the neck(no pun intended)with no shape. Did any one else hear about what happened at a school in California to red heads? Some ppl are really lacking in sense these days
Nice hub. I'm a natural red head (More of a auburn blond at this point, when I was 4 years old I have smoking red hair), and I was reading red hair stereotypes...
Angry...
Sharp tongued...
Sexually wild...
Are too true. Some things just to cut us down like 'untrustworthy' are rediculous and the bastards should shut their damn mouths. :)
Test? This new pic should look better... Im guessing the comment system updates when you add a new comment?
Hi :) I want to say that it's a very nice post and I, as a "ginger" don't actually get offended of all the stupid jokes (mostly in the UK, when they try to light up a fag on my hair and stuff like that..) It's actually quite funny sometimes... but all the other things that you wrote are true... And I think that the hate to us must be known as racism.. Because there are even people getting stabbed and killed, because of being "gingers"........................
I have always loved my red hair, and in 58 years have never coloured it (and never will) even though I now have the older thing "salt and pepper" look, which I still love. Better than a brunette going grey, lol. When I was a young child (6 or 7) my Nan's friend said to me "What a lovely colour, you'd never get that out of a bottle" How true, and how proud am I, to be a redhead :-)
Thank you for sharing Sue R :) You make me proud to be a red head. It IS an exclusive club, isnt it? One day I will have to add on to this artice with all the great stories I've gotten in these comments. Im glad you never coloured your hair and Im even more glad that you never will. Stay true to yourself!
As you go though your like, it's not like your problems disappear, but that you so evolve that they don't constitute a problem any more. - I don't know who said this, but it stuck in my head, because I thought it was so true. I have to agree with gt in saying that I never thought redheads were anything other than gorgeous. Thanks for this beautiful insight into your life. :)
Hi Haunty
Thats a very nice saying - maybe one I will have to post on the fridge for the kids to see too. I love seeing red hair and freckles on anyone! I think my daughters get jealous because I gush all over the redhead kids I see. Its not that my daughters arent beautiful - but I want the other kids to KNOW they're beautiful too. Thanks for stopping in.
2 of my 4 children are redheads. The youngest also had beautiful red curls and 2 different color eyes. Boy, did he turn heads! For his amazing coloration as well as his incredible looks. My mother was also a redhead. I could always pick her out in a crowd. I have suggested to all my kids that they marry someone with a redheaded parent or grandparent. We want to keep this fabulous gene going!
Hello Dolores! I'm so jealous you have redhead kids. And curls too? I'd love to see a picture of your son - I bet he's a real sight. We had a redhead boy in my graduating class and all the girls ooh'ed and aah'ed over him - such a cutie.
I used to hate standing out in the crowd (like your mom) but now I love it. People rarely forget me ;) I love your idea and I will encourage my three girls to marry redheads too! Long live redheads!!
What an interesting topic! I really enjoyed reading this, especially the funny stories. Obviously, redheads have more fun ;-)
Thanks iZeko! I like to think redheads DO have more fun - but its also all in the personality and how you feel about yourself. I love to have fun, therefore I seek it out, therefore I tend to have more fun than some 30-something parents around me :)
Enjoyed reading your page! I have a 7 year old redhead, and we all love her hair! I stopped taking her out shopping with me when she was younger, I kept getting stopped by people asking,"where did she get it from?" like these people knew my family or something!
I have noticed though if were in the mall and we pass another redhead(and there do seem to be alot around here)she'll stop and stare! LOL!
Hi Lori! Im so jealous your daughter has red hair. All three of my daughters are beautiful but they are all blondes :) I figured at least ONE would have red hair. I have noticed more and more redheads lately. Its amazing that scientists try to say we will be extinct soon - I just dont see it! Thanks for stopping in and reading :)
Ardie
I loved reading this hub because it talks about how people have perceptions and assumptions about a person from the color of their hair. The section "Did you just ask me that" was funny. In fact, some of them were too funny to be true!
Princesswithapen
You are so lucky! I have to dye my hair red. I am pale and freckly, but without the beautiful red hair. I just dye it that way sometimes, and people think it is natural. Nice hub and voted up!
Welcome Princesswithapen! I wish some of the questions in the "Did you just ask me that" were fake. It was rough answering some of them :)
Jeannie - I bet people cant tell you dye it! Some of the hair colors are great now. And my hair is a dark red - some people argue with me that its brown - weirdos hahah
I am marrying a redhead this year. I need to ask her what the worst questions she has been asked abou being a red head after reading yours.
Joshua, thats funny! And were her experiences anything like mine?!
WOW what an AWESOME shout-out to redheads!!! My mom was a redhead and her nickname was Red:) I had other family members who were also redheads and freckle-faced. I was tempted to go red but wimped out. Redheads rock!
Thanks Sunshine! I've had that before too and I dont mind if people call me Red - I've been called worse hahah You are so naturally beautiful that any color would look great :) Can you believe that out of my three daughters not a one has red hair? Oh, well. Thanks for reading.
Apparantly people ask her if she has bad eyesite. They seem to think that a recessive gene causes red hair and poor vision I guess.
No one in her family has red hair either.
Joshua! Seriously? That's NOT one I've ever heard...but I DO have bad eyesight, does your fiance? I dont know if she has kids or not yet - but make sure she talks to the doc about pain tolerance if she ever gets pregnant. Redheads feel pain amplified and are known to bleed more...not to be all TMI and whatever :) Just trying to help another redhead!
From one redhead to another, great hub! Thanks for sharing!
Just want to say I am also Redhead, grew up in Ohio, only redheaded girl out of my family of five and I can totally relate to everything you said! You missed one that I have heard time and time again:
A redhead is cool on the outside, hot on the inside.
I am looking for my next redheaded exwife.
My two favorites...hahaha
Hi Cookwarebliss! Thank you very much for reading :)
Hello KristineS :) Oh my goodness - I've NEVER heard that one hahah where do people come up with these sayings?!
Great article. I love redheads. I liked a little redhead girl named Bridgette in the the 1st grade and we played the Wizard of Oz in school together and my favorite movie was Peter Pan so I guess the thought of them got implanted into my mind. Good news you are the rarest types of woman on the earth but I guess that can be good and bad at the same time. And fyi Ireland does not have more redheads than other places. They have less. Most Irish woman have dark hair with blue eyes or they are blonde.
Hi Newyork204 :) I love redheads too hahah You have come to the right Hub if you really do love them because the comments section is full of stunning red-haired hotties! Interesting you mention the Ireland stat - the first person I ever met from Ireland (loved his accent and he was the most adorable boy I'd ever seen) had black hair and blue eyes. Thanks for reading and taking the time to comment!
Red-headed woodpecker, carrot top, Fred, Ugly duckling - yep I've heard them all!
Born a red-head in the 70's it was still a rare and undesirable hair color. My mother told me she prayed for a baby with any other hair color than red. Ha! I've got red hair and she does not. She did when she was little, which is the only basis I can see for her hoping I did not.
Perhaps she was afraid for me.
In the late 80's I heard my first real compliment but in the 90's I dyed it! Blonde. I never thought there would be a day I would go back since the reason for dying it had been a phrase that made me want to throw up.
Red on the head like the .... on a dog! What?
Well needless to say I went through my share of red-head nightmares.
Today, I proudly wear my red hair with curls and all. 2 of my children are red-heads and both of them receive countless compliments.
I too am a red-headed step child. It is a quite annoying statement, but I have fun acting offended also.
Interesting how the view changed.
Awesome hub!
Oh Tams! You are my sister in the Hub then :) Isnt it amazing how something so trivial can have such an influence on your entire life? I was lucky enough to grow up in a time when red hair was becoming more acceptable. But my GOODNESS that comment you heard was beyond disgusting. Some people have NO manners. Im glad you have come into your own and now love the curls and the red hair :) I love it too. I went to see Celtic Woman last night and one of the three leads was a redhead - and the crowd LOVED her. When she got on stage the men went nuts. So :P on all those who say anything bad about us.
It is sad when people make fun of you simply for the color of your hair. I've never understood the stereotypes because I really liked it. I am glad that red hair is so popular now that you can really see the swan that you really are. In fact, sometimes I add red highlights to my hair.
Hi Millionaire Tips! I dont understand why people make fun of anything to do with another person's appearance. Its just so...lame. Thanks for reading and I would love to see your red highlights!!!
I'm not a redhead myself, but I am the daughter of one, and the sister of another. It makes me wild when people say nasty/stupid things about redhair, it's such a beautiful colour! When we were children in the 70s Mum searched high and low for a redheaded doll for Mary (and one with brown eyes for me,I might add!), and found exactly one. Little cheap plastic doll,but it meant the world to her! So glad things have changed now!
Hi Jenny, thanks for coming in to read :) Even though you arent a redhead you have been around several redheads enough to know what they have to deal with. It isnt so bad anymore but when I was a child it was pure torture at times. I love how your mom found your sister a doll that looked like her so she could love it. My mom did the same thing and I still have it!!
I love being a red head and I did not appreciate it as a kid. Thanks for this hub!
Hi cabmgmnt, I didn't appreciate it right away either but now I am glad to stand out! Redheads unite :)
Lgali 3 years ago
nice hub