On Being a Redhead: What Else Comes with Naturally Red Hair?

As a natural redhead, I was always jealous of my normal-looking friends who had blonde or brown hair. I adamantly stated I'd dye my red hair blonde just as soon as I was old enough to make my own decisions, and I'd get my curls straightened out, too. Well, I came to my senses, once I became 'of age' to make my own decisions, and with my natural auburn hair color being closer to brown than to blonde, I'm glad that I decided to leave my hair color alone. (I would've looked hideous as a bleached blonde!) Through this day, I've never put one ounce of color into my naturally red hair.

Besides my red hair, I was also born with a few other redheaded traits, and I get labeled certain ways, too, just because of my hair color. Here is my take on what else comes with naturally red hair:

Freckles or Very Fair Skin
Most redheads are born with fair skin. My skin is on the fair side, but definitely not as light as can be, especially not now, after many years of sun exposure. I wish I'd have avoided the sun more; wouldn't my skin just be beautiful! Instead, I embraced the sun, ended up with a few very good tans as a young teen, and now regret them all with much nearly-permanent freckling, especially on my arms and shoulders. The freckles on my face have faded over the years, but they still pop up with one accidental day of sun exposure!

A Temper
Don't know about other redheads, but yes I do have a temper. I was a pretty mellow and meek child outwardly, until I realized I had a right to verbalize what I was thinking. Now I have very strong feelings about things, and if I don't say them, I feel myself about to boil over. My face turns beet red, too, when I'm very angry or embarrassed, unfortunately, which embarrasses me even more. But, I'm not sure that I have more of a temper than anyone else. When one is angry, he's angry. However, I do blame my temper on my hair color!

A Square Face for Some
I've noticed other girls with a similar hair color to mine, also accompanied with natural curls or waves, to often have square-shaped faces. Now, I'm not talking about redheads who are strawberry blondes or any other shade other than auburn. But, I have a square-shaped face, and I've noticed plenty of other natural curly redheads do, too. The more I look for this characteristic the more I find it. I could be completely wrong about this theory, but then maybe a square-shaped face is common among us redheads. Could be.

Course Hair & Often Curls
It's true: naturally red hair often tends to be courser than blonde or brown hair. After my hair stylist told me this, I started to observe more redheads and their hair textures, and I saw that it's true for the most part. As for red hair normally being curly, I have to say that I've rarely encountered a naturally straight-haired redhead in my 26 years. Yes I have met some (and my cousin is one of them), but I suppose straight red hair is just not as common in red hair as red curls or waves are.

Called Carrots or Red
When the movie Anne of Green Gables came out, I did get called carrots a few times. Once a boy that I really liked in my 6th grade class called me carrots. Honestly I wasn't offended. After all, it was pretty significant that Gilbert Blithe was crazy about Anne Shirley when he called her that! As for being called red, some redheads may be quite offended by this. For me, though, I am not really bothered by it too much. It does happen more often than I'd like, though, but at least those who call me that usually do so with friendliness, and I can't complain too much about it.

Red Hair for Select Few, Every Other Generation
My grandfather had naturally red hair. Well, I was told this since his hair was already white when I was born. Every one who knew him called him Red instead of his name, and all the grandkids called him PawPaw Red. None of his 8 children had any hint of red in their hair, but 2 of the 21 grandchildren are redheads (myself included). Now, my daughter's hair is blonde, but she still has a chance of having a red-haired baby of her own one day.

Repeated Questions about Descent
I do get asked if I'm Irish quite often, and I'm sure other natural redheads get asked this as well. However, being a redhead does not mean that one is Irish. It probably means, though, that one's ancestors (from at least one side of the family) came from north-west Europe. Redheads are recorded to originate from Scotland and Ireland mostly, but also from Scandinavia and other surrounding countries. My mother is French, but my father does not know his ancestry, so it's very possible that his ancestors came from somwhere in north-west Europe.

Compliments on Hair Color
Ever since I can remember, strangers and friends alike have issued compliments on my hair color. I hear it all the time, and I just have to guess that those who are kind enough to give me compliments must not reaize how familiar those words are to my ears. Either that or they do realize but still desire to verbalize their comments. For whatever reason, compliments are always nice to receive - no complaints here! Comments about hair color is just one thing that redheads live with.

Always on Display
Being a redhead is like being on display. And, when one is born shy, like I was, being a natural redhead is uncomfortable at times. As you may know, shyness makes one simply want to blend in with the wall or other surroundings; having naturally red hair has the opposite effect from blending in. My red hair hinders me from blending in with anything other than a pile of pine needles. I can't hide very well! Like it or not, I was born to be noticed.

Being a redhead is not really that bad. After all, many people find red hair to be quite attractive, or at least that's what I hear. We do have to live with fair skin, freckles, and possibly hot tempers, plus never-ending comments on the color of our hair, but I actually feel rather special to have such a unique hair color. And since I refuse to color-treat or highlight my hair, I sure am able to save a lot of money by being a natural redhead!