The first thing that will come to mind for many people when thinking about women with red hair is ginger. Ginger is a term that most likely hasn’t crossed your mind at all until now, but it’s okay, you can admit it. What you might not know is that is a derivative of the word “ginger.” Some may think this is the dumbest question on the planet, but there are actually many who are wondering.
The Ancient Celts Believed That Redheads Were Extra Powerful.
Redheads are rare, comprising about 2 percent of the world’s population. But they’re not as rare as you might think — especially if you live in Scotland or Ireland. These two countries have the highest proportion of redheads in the world, with 13 percent and 10 percent respectively.
The ancient Celts believed that redheads were extra powerful. The story goes that a goddess named Morrigan took on the form of a red-haired woman to convince a warrior to fight for her mortal lover. This warrior soon became known as Cuchulainn, or “the hound of Culann,” who was said to be unbeatable in battle because of his bravery and strength.
Throughout time many cultures have been fascinated by redheads: In medieval Europe, red hair was associated with witchcraft and devilry; in Asia it was thought to be an indication of good health; in Africa it was considered lucky; and in Germany it was believed that redheaded women had strong sexual appetites!
Red Hair Is on The Rise In The U.K. And Ireland, But Not Everywhere Else.
The U.K. has the highest proportion of redheads in Europe, according to data compiled by the International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery (ISHRS). But while they make up just 2% of the population in the U.S., they account for 10% of those living in Ireland (compared with 3% in Scotland).
Redheads have been around since at least 1 million years ago, according to research published this week in Nature Communications. The findings suggest that a gene mutation that causes red hair may have helped early humans survive extreme cold during ice ages by allowing them to retain heat better than those with other hair colors did.
- Why are so many people attracted to women with red hair?
Women with red hair are considered more attractive than brunettes or blondes, according to a study from 2014 published in Evolution and Human Behavior. The researchers asked men and women to rate photographs of faces with different hair colors, finding that both sexes found women with red hair more attractive than other shades.
A Study Showed That Men with Ginger Beards Are More Attractive To Women.
A study showed that men with ginger beards are more attractive to women.
According to the researchers, men with red hair and beards were found to have higher levels of testosterone than their darker-haired counterparts.
The study was conducted by a team of Australian researchers who examined the relationship between facial hair growth and attractiveness in men. They used photos of male models with different kinds of facial hair (clean shaven, light stubble, heavy stubble and full beards) to see how women reacted to each look.
The results showed that women rated bearded faces as more attractive on average than clean-shaven ones — but only when they were presented with two versions of the same model: one with a full beard and one without. When only one version was presented at a time, there was no significant difference in how attractive they found the man’s face compared with how attractive he looked without any facial hair at all.
Low Levels of Melanin Means More Pheomelanin (Red Pigment) And Less Eumelanin (Brown Pigment).
Redheads are rare. It’s estimated that less than 2% of the world’s population has red hair, making it one of the least common natural hair colors.
So why do we keep seeing them everywhere?
Redheads have a higher risk for skin cancer, but this is largely due to the fact that they burn more easily. In fact, studies show that redheads actually have fewer sunburns and skin cancers than people with other hair colors.
- So what’s the deal with all the attention?
The answer lies in our evolutionary history: Humans evolved to pay attention to red.
Low levels of melanin means more pheomelanin (red pigment) and less eumelanin (brown pigment). This creates an unusual combination of traits — pale skin with dark hair — that isn’t found in any other mammal. So, when we see someone with these features, our brains think “important” or “powerful.”
Redheads Have a Different Sensitivity to Pain, Different Reaction To Anesthesia, And Different Temperature Regulation Than Blondes Or Brunettes.
Redheads have a different sensitivity to pain, different reaction to anesthesia, and different temperature regulation than blondes or brunettes.
The most obvious difference between redheads and other hair colors is the pigmentation: Redheads have less melanin in their hair follicles than people with other hair colors. While it’s true that there are also fewer redheads than people with other hair colors (about 2% of the global population), it still makes up an interesting phenomenon when you consider that there are more redheads in Ireland than anywhere else in the world.
Redhead genetics is actually a bit complicated. There are two main types of MC1R genes that can lead to red hair: MC1R(R151C) and MC1R(D294H). The R151C variant is dominant over the D294H variant, so if you have one copy of either gene and one copy of another type of MC1R gene (e.g., R151C/D294H), then your hair will likely be red. However, if both copies of your MC1R gene are D294H variants then your skin will likely be pale — even though your hair could still be red!
Conclusion
There is a connection between red hair and attraction for many people, but the reasons for this are unclear. Evolutionary theories have not been completely explained, but partially-substantiated hypotheses have been proposed for the cause behind the attractiveness of redheads. There does not appear to be any negative effects from letting your hair turn red or embracing it as a part of your appearance. Whether you have natural red hair or you decide to go platinum blonde, there is no reason not to embrace the options!
