What percentage of the UK has ginger hair?
In Western Europe
The Irish red-hair population beats that at about 10% of the people living there. That establishes Ireland as the most red-haired country in Western Europe. England also has a significant number of people in it with red hair: 4% of its total inhabitants.
Great Britain also has a high percentage of people with red hair. In Scotland around 6% of the population has red hair, with the highest concentration of red head carriers in the world found in Edinburgh, making it the red head capital of the world.
According to Rees, the figure for the UK is about 10%. If that was the case in Scotland, that would suggest that the country with its population of 5.3 million was home to just over half a million redheads - less than 1% of the global total.
Less than 2 percent of the world's population has red hair, making it the rarest hair color in the world. It's the result of the mutated MC1R gene. If both parents carry that gene, their child has a 25% chance of getting lovely, red locks, even if the parents don't have red hair themselves.
Prince Harry and Archie are not the only royals who happen to have ginger hair. Sarah Ferguson, 62, and her eldest daughter Princess Beatrice, 33, both have ginger hair also.
The Duchess of York's fiery red hair has solidified her place as one of the most famous redheads amongst the modern royal family. Mother to two other gorgeous royal redheads, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, it is clear where the Princesses get their similar stunning colour and complexion.
REDHEADS are significantly less likely to age badly.
According to their findings, those who carry a variation of the MC1R gene responsible for red hair, look around two years younger than they actually are.
Redheads probably won't go grey. That's because the pigment just fades over time. So they will probably go blonde and even white, but not grey.
Less than 2% of the world's population have red hair
That's approximately 140 million people. Scotland boasts the highest percentage of natural redheads, with 13% (40% might carry the gene there) while Ireland comes in second with 10%.
Previous studies had shown that redheads inherit two versions of the MC1R gene that leads to red hair – one from their mum and one from their dad. Although almost everyone with red hair has two copies of the red-haired version of MC1R, not everyone carrying two red-haired versions is a redhead.
How long do redheads live for?
Lifespan: up to 20 years in captivity, 5-10 years in the wild. Special Adaptations: Males have an elaborate courtship dance where they throw back their heads, almost touching their tail!
We also confirmed earlier findings that red hair is naturally more frequent in women than in men. Of the 'new' hair and eye colors, red hair diverges the most from the ancestral state of black hair and brown eyes, being the most sexually dimorphic variant not only in population frequency but also in health status.

To sum all that science up, red heads have a faulty MC1R receptor which doesn't switch on in response to the sun's UV rays. This means the yellow-red pheomelanin in their melanocytes cannot be converted into the brown-black eumelanin which creates a sun tan.
The skin of a redhead is thinner compared to others and is derived from the ectoderm. Teeth enamel is also derived from the ectoderm and thus is thinner than usual. Since the enamel coating is thin, the inner layer of tooth-dentin is more visible and offers a yellowish appearance.
Recessive traits like red hair can skip generations because they can hide out in a carrier behind a dominant trait. The recessive trait needs another carrier and a bit of luck to be seen. This means that it can sometimes take a few generations to finally make its presence known.
Elizabeth's red hair was no accident. For most of her life, Elizabeth wore wigs, so she might have chosen hair of any colour she liked, but she chose red; she was so committed to the shade that she is even supposed to have dyed the tails of her horses to match. (Who says redheads don't have a sense of humour?)
In order for parents to have a redhead child, both parents must carry the MC1R gene (redhead gene). This must mean Meghan carries the redhead gene herself. And since Meghan doesn't have red hair, this means there was a 50% chance for their children to have red hair and it looks like they struck gold twice!
While it may seem that only Caucasians have red hair, people from all races and ethnicities have ginger locks. It is more common in areas such as Northern Europe and specific parts of Russia. However, the genetic mutation has also spread throughout parts of South America, Asia, and Africa.
Prince Dimitri of Yugoslavia says Queen Elizabeth II won't dye her white hair back to her natural brown color because she is "not vain."
The late Diana, Princess of Wales was known for her beautiful head of blonde hair which was always coiffed and preened to perfection.
What nationality have ginger hair?
Red hair is relatively common in England, Iceland and Norway, too, while Germany, Sweden, Finland, The Netherlands and northern France are all ahead of the global average. Travel south through Europe and red hair becomes very rare. Just 0.57 per cent of Italians have it, for example, according to one study.
Increased sensitivity to thermal pain and reduced subcutaneous lidocaine efficacy in redheads. Melanocortin-1 receptor gene variants affect pain and mu-opioid analgesia in mice and humans.
We found that redheads were significantly more sensitive to cold pain perception, cold pain tolerance, and heat pain tolerance.
Researchers think that the ginger gene, known as MC1R, may cause the temperature-detecting gene to become over-activated, making redheads more sensitive to the cold.
gingerphobia (uncountable) (UK, informal) Fear, dislike, or hatred of people with red hair.
Rarest kind of redhead
Having red hair and blue eyes is the rarest hair/eye color combination possible. The odds of a person having both of those recessive traits is around 0.17%. Instead, most redheads have brown, hazel or green eyes, according to Medical Daily.
- Less than 2 percent of the world's population has red hair, making it the rarest hair color in the world. ...
- Red hair will never turn grey. ...
- Redheads have less hair on their heads. ...
- Being a man with red hair though could mean a lower risk for prostate cancer.
And when you meet a red head with blue eyes, you are looking at the rarest colour combination of all for human beings. Around 17 per cent of people have blue eyes, and when combined with 1-2 per cent having red hair, the odds of having both traits are around 0.17 per cent.
If both parents are ginger, their offspring would be ginger. Reason: We inherit half our chromosomes for our father (23) and half from out mother (23), 46 in total. If both parents passed on a ginger 'infected' hair colour chromosome, the child would be ginger.
Naturally Produce More Vitamin D
Per a study published in 2020 in Experimental Dermatology, redheads are more efficient at synthesizing vitamin D. The vitamin is crucial for bone health and may protect against depression and fight off colds.
What are the benefits of being ginger?
- Only 2% of the world's population has red hair. ...
- You have your own festival. ...
- You can produce your own vitamin D. ...
- You may not need as much pain medication. ...
- Redheads don't go grey. ...
- People with red hair are more likely to be left-handed. ...
- You may have more fun between the sheets.
About 1–2% of people of European origin have red hair. Especially female redheads are known to suffer higher pain sensitivity and higher incidence of some disorders, including skin cancer, Parkinson's disease and endometriosis.
Research has shown that people with red hair perceive pain differently than others. They may be more sensitive to certain types of pain and can require higher doses of some pain-killing medications. However, studies suggest that their general pain tolerance may be higher.
Redheads actually retain their natural pigment a lot longer than other shades, so there is no need to panic about going gray or white.
Red hair is the result of a genetic variant that causes the body's skin cells and hair cells to produce more of one particular type of melanin and less of another. Most redheads have a gene mutation in the melanocortin 1 receptor (MC1R).
Red hair is caused by a mutation in the MC1R gene. It's also a recessive trait, so it takes both parents passing on a mutated version of the MC1R gene to produce a redheaded child. Because it's a recessive trait, red hair can easily skip a generation.
Which do you prefer: Blondes or brunettes? Redheads, perhaps? Well, whichever you personally find most endearing, here's a bit of interesting news: Men apparently prefer blonde women to their darker or red-haired counterparts…at least according to a new study published in The Journal of Social Psychology.
Natural redheads are born with cells that produce more pheomelanin and this provides us with vibrant red hair in your youth. As aging occurs, the body starts to produce more eumelanin which leads to hair darkening.
Updated: August 18, 2022. By Guest Writer: Carmina Alvarez Most natural redhead girls with Latin roots have golden and olive tones in their skin. Because of this unique combination, makeup advice is also different. Here's a little guide to complement your red hair and skin tone based on your shade of red hair: 1.
People with red hair produce little of the skin pigment called melanin that is good at blocking the sun's harmful light.
What personalities do redheads have?
They are typified as impulsive, quick-tempered, libidinous, and wild. The personalities of people with red hair are often believed to be imitative of their red hair, and they are seen as fiery, hot-tempered, hot-blooded, passionate, and angry.
Redheads have genes to thank for their tresses. Research shows red hair usually results from a mutation in a gene called MC1R, which codes for the melanocortin-1 receptor. Redheads are fabulously unique and amazing.
- Redheads are extra sassy. We're fiery and know how to celebrate our 'gingerhood' with pride.
- Redheads respect others. ...
- Redheads are sensitive to cold and might bundle-up more than most. ...
- Redheads are rare and get use to being in the spotlight. ...
- Redheads are extra confident.
If one parent is a natural redhead, and the other carries the gene, that gives them a 50% chance of their child being ginger. However, if the other parent has no ginger genes, the probability of a ginger baby falls to 0%.
Both parents must possess the gene for a red-haired child to be born. Redheads have fewer strands of hair on their heads. If they both just have the gene but have brown hair lets say then there is a 1 in 4 chance of having a baby with red hair.
But while blonde is the nation's preferred hair dye of choice, Brits are most likely to have natural brown barnets. Almost half (48%) of Brits are natural brunettes, around three in ten (29%) are natural blondes and 8% have natural black strands.
Ireland has the highest per capita percentage of redheads in the world -- anywhere from 10 to 30 percent, according to Eupedia, a website that explores European genetics and ancestry. They are almost equally prevalent in Scotland and other pockets of Celtic pride.
The percentage of redheads in Ireland hovers around the 10% mark. Scotland weighs in at around 6%, followed by England at around 4%. Scottish people may disagree, but we say Ireland is the undisputed world capital of redheads.
While it may seem that only Caucasians have red hair, people from all races and ethnicities have ginger locks. It is more common in areas such as Northern Europe and specific parts of Russia. However, the genetic mutation has also spread throughout parts of South America, Asia, and Africa.
2. Blonde hair. Blonde hair is the second rarest hair color in the world. About 20% of the population has blonde hair.
What is the rarest human hair color?
Red is the rarest hair color, according to Dr. Kaplan, and that's because so few MC1R variants are associated with the shade. “Only three variants are associated with red hair,” she says. “If a person has two of these three variants, they almost certainly have red hair.
After finding out that red, blonde, and strawberry blonde are the rarest hair colors, you may be itching to go rare. If that's the case, it's an option you should explore.
Most (natural) redheads will have brown eyes, followed by hazel or green shades.
Red hair is the rarest naturally occurring hair color. About 1-2% of the entire world population has red hair. The majority of redheads live in Scotland, Ireland, England, and Germany.
People with red hair are likely more sensitive to pain. This is because the gene mutation (MC1R) that causes red hair is on the same gene linked to pain receptors. It also means redheads usually need more anesthesia for dental and medical procedures. Having red hair isn't the only thing that makes some redheads unique.
The Vikings maybe brought a few red-hair genetic variants over with them, but the majority of redheads were already here.” Previously it has been argued that Scotland's poor climate was responsible for the high frequency of the ginger mutation.
Recessive traits like red hair can skip generations because they can hide out in a carrier behind a dominant trait. The recessive trait needs another carrier and a bit of luck to be seen. This means that it can sometimes take a few generations to finally make its presence known.
Genetic research has shown that the Vikings in West Scandinavia, and therefore in Denmark, were mostly red-haired. However, in North Scandinavia, in the area around Stockholm, blonde hair was dominant.
Research has shown that people with red hair perceive pain differently than others. They may be more sensitive to certain types of pain and can require higher doses of some pain-killing medications. However, studies suggest that their general pain tolerance may be higher.
Previous studies had shown that redheads inherit two versions of the MC1R gene that leads to red hair – one from their mum and one from their dad. Although almost everyone with red hair has two copies of the red-haired version of MC1R, not everyone carrying two red-haired versions is a redhead.
Who are redheads ancestors?
Red hair has long been associated with Celtic people. Both the ancient Greeks and Romans described the Celts as redheads. The Romans extended the description to Germanic people, at least those they most frequently encountered in southern and western Germany. It still holds true today.