Fascinating facts, stats and myths about Redheads

A book that looks ‘inside the secret society of red hair’ reveals several fascinating facts and figures about redheads. The Big Redhead Book by Erin La Rosa describes red haired people as ‘one of the most elite societies in the world―the real two percent’.

While one in ten Irish people are redheaded – and Scotland has an even higher percentage (13%) – only 2% of the world’s population have red hair.

La Rosa’s book gives plenty of facts about those with the ‘ginger gene’ and how they differ from the ‘norms’. It also looks at how redheads are depicted in popular culture and gives advice in the form of dos and don’ts for redheads.

The book reveals the origins of red hair – not in Ireland – and also reveals the benefits of a ginger mane. For example, redheads are 20% more resistant to anaesthesia than those with other hair colours.

Among the many interesting and surprising facts contained in the book were the following:

• The association between redheads and humour came from redheaded slaves in ancient Greece
• There are over 30 leading or recurring redhead characters in Disney and Pixar films
• Redhead women allegedly have more sex and more threesomes than other women.
• Some Egyptian rulers dyed their hair red to assert their power
• Redheads need more anaesthesia at the dentist.

Redheads are more vulnerable to extreme temperatures either – hot or cold – due to the ‘ginger gene’ (MC1R).

However, their immune system is also thought to be slightly better than normal as they are more efficient in producing Vitamin D.

Parents don’t necessarily have to be ginger themselves to have a redheaded child – but both must carry the gene.

A redhead can’t have a ginger child if their partner doesn’t carry the gene. However, if two redheads have a child together, the child will always have red hair.

Redheads have so many unique characteristics that La Rosa has nicknamed them the ‘unicorns of the world’.

Written by Michael Kehoe @michaelcalling

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