World Redhead Day is observed on Tuesday, May 26, giving people with red hair an unofficial reason to celebrate one of the rarest natural hair colors in the world. While National Love Your Red Hair Day is held each November, May 26 has also become a day to recognize redheads, even though the holiday’s origin is unclear. This year, Wendy’s is joining the attention around the day with a look-alike contest in New York City for fans who resemble the chain’s famous red-haired mascot.
Red hair is uncommon globally, with estimates suggesting that fewer than 2% of people have it. Scotland has the highest concentration of redheads at about 13%, followed by Ireland at around 10%. Redhead celebrations have also become popular internationally, including the Irish Redhead Convention, which ran from 2010 to 2016, and the Redhead Days festival in the Netherlands. That festival has drawn thousands of attendees for more than two decades and set a Guinness World Record in 2013 for the largest gathering of people with natural red hair.
One of the rarest combinations is red hair with blue eyes, which is possible because both traits are recessive. Most redheads instead have brown, hazel or green eyes. Genetics play a major role in red hair, and scientists now believe multiple genes are involved, not just MC1R, which was once thought to be the only gene responsible. Both parents must carry the relevant gene versions for a child to have red hair, though parents without red hair can still pass on the trait.
Redheads are often linked to other distinctive traits as well. Some researchers believe they may be more sensitive to pain, and a 2004 study found they needed about 20% more general anesthesia on average than people with other hair colors. Redheads may also be more likely to be left-handed, possibly because both are recessive traits. Their hair itself tends to be thicker and less numerous than that of blondes or brunettes, and red hair is less likely to turn gray, often fading instead to blonde or white. Redheads are also believed to produce vitamin D more efficiently in shorter amounts of time.
The image of redheads in advertising is larger than their share of the population. A 2014 study found that red-haired people appeared in about 30% of primetime commercials. Health research has also linked red hair to higher skin cancer risk, with one study comparing the added risk to an extra 21 years of sun exposure. At the same time, another study found men with naturally red hair had a lower risk of prostate cancer than men with other hair colors.
Despite periodic internet rumors, redheads are not disappearing. And for those who want a second annual celebration, National Love Your Red Hair Day was created in 2011 by sisters Stephanie and Adrienne Vendetti to help redheads feel confident and proud of their hair, especially in response to bullying.
