Redheads feel more PAIN!
(especially when you call them gingernuts)
AuBuRn, titian, copper, carrot, ginger, russet, strawberry-blonde: call it what you will, if you are born with red hair, it’s likely to be your most striking physical characteristic (especially if your parents hammer the point home by naming you amber . . .).
You will be expected to have a fiery temper and, when you grow up, be a passionate lover. In your spare time, if the adverts are to be believed, you will probably enjoy striding across the heath, your red hair streaming behind you, looking sultry in an ethereal way.
unless you are a man, of course, in which case you have two options: you can channel your inner Viking thug, or you can be a weedy milksop. Essentially, you’re destined to be either animal or Beaker from the Muppets.
In her engagingly informative book, art historian and professional redhead Jacky Colliss harvey sets out to explore this genetic quirk and, in many cases, debunk the numerous myths associated with it. no, redheads are not facing extinction. and no, we don’t all have Celtic blood.
In fact, the gene for red hair comes from africa and probably made i ts first appearance 50,000 years ago.
Red hair is rare. Only 2 per cent of the world’s population have it, although in Scotland that rises to 13 per cent.
This relative prevalence the further north you go has less to do with the colour of your hair than the accompanying paleness of your skin. Very white skin is better adapted to absorbing what little vitamin D it can from a not very sunny Scottish winter — and the vitamin is vital to ensure the healthy development of bones.
Of course, pale skin has also long been associated with a reclusive interior life, which probably explains why redheaded men suffer accusations of weediness to do with shunning ‘ manly’ outdoor pursuits. There’s nothing very sexy about sunblock, after all (or peeling, reddened skin for that matter).
Many of our modern associations with red hair can be blamed on the ancient Greeks and Romans, who were keenly aware that some members of the most blood-thirsty ‘barbarian’ tribes they encountered had distinctive red hair.
England’s own violent history with Scotland and Ireland later led to red hair becoming a useful visual shorthand to signify (and damn) an entire race of people — yet more redheaded barbarians.
MEanwhIlE, there’s the unpleasant matter of anti- semitism. as Colliss harvey puts it: ‘There are many, many redheaded Jews, and as these communities moved into western Europe, it was a mighty cultural mischance that they brought with them a characteristic already aligned in European culture with bad character at best and barbarity at worst.’
Suffice it to say that Judas is often portrayed as a redhead in medieval paintings.
while redheaded men came to be tainted by association with Christ’s killers, Colliss harvey suggests that red-haired women can thank Mary Magdalene for our more nuanced treatment. Mary, the repentant sinner and most human of saints, is often depicted from medieval times onwards with flowing red hair: intriguingly seductive, desirable and unattainable, the original flame-haired temptress.
In fact, artists tend to like a redhead. whatever the merits of their art, redheads have a lot to thank the Pre-Raphaelites for; while over in France, artists like Toulouse lautrec, Degas and Renoir did their bit to mythologise the bohemian, artistic lifestyle that red hair came to stand for.
Interestingly, when it comes to the science bit, many old wives’ tales turn out to be true.
Redheads do f eel pain more acutely: it takes on average 20 per cent more anaesthetic to knock us out. we have 90,000 fewer hairs on our heads t han blondes and brunettes, although each individual hair is thicker; we’re more likely to be stung by bees; and perfume smells different on us, thanks to our unusually acidic s kin. Meanwhile, because the gene for red hair is connected to the gene r esponsible f or adrenaline production, it seems that there may actually be some truth in our reputation for being swift to get angry.
now that hair dyes are so prevalent you no longer have to be born a redhead, of course, you can choose to be one. and with red the most popular shade sold, it seems more and more of us are doing so.
Pleasingly, it appears that the tide is turning for red-haired men, too, thanks to the success of actors like Damian lewis.
no longer relegated to the role of comic ginger sidekick (yes, Ron weasley, I’m looking at you), perhaps redheaded men will finally start to get more leading roles.
In a way, t hough, you wouldn’t want red hair to become too ubiquitous. what makes it so interesting is its rarity: we stand out.
Being redheaded is special and that suits me fine.
Just don’t call me a gingernut — unless you want to experience the full force of my legendary fiery temper.