Ginger

I am ginger, or is it that my hair is ginger? Having ginger hair becomes an identity. I tick every box: a pale complexion, freckles and I burn in a British March sun. Gingers have created a community for themselves. Every August, The Netherlands hosts a Redheads Days Festival where thousands of redheads gather to celebrate their connection, their pride and their recognition of their unique hair colour. Which is truly unique as only 2% of the world’s population have naturally red hair.

Tim Minchin sung that, “in this modern free-spoken society, there is a word that we still hold taboo… Of being used to abuse, oppress and subdue” – ginger. He may be joking, but there is a discrimination associated with red hair. Studies have confirmed that ginger hair makes people an easy target for bullies. I guess it stands out in a crowd, but that does not justify the comments about having a temper or being feisty, whether carpets matching the drapes or not having a soul.

Neither of my parents are ginger, nor my brother or my grandparents. My mum recalls being amazed when she birthed a child with so much red hair. It was unexplainable. Red hair, however, is completely explainable.

Melanin and genetics.

Our hair, eye and skin colour are determined by melanin. It is a natural pigment produced by our bodies. There are different types of melanin, those related to hair colour are eumelanin and pheomelanin. The amount of each of the pigments alters our hair colour. Eumelanin is a black/brown pigment so in high quantities individuals have darker hair, and in low quantities individuals have blonde hair. Pheomelanin is a red/pink pigment. Individuals with low eumelanin and high pheomelanin have red hair. These individuals also have fair skin, light eye colour, freckles and sensitivity to UV light.

Melanin production is controlled by the MC1R gene – a gene which codes for a protein called melanocortin 1 receptor. This receptor sits on melanocytes (the cells that produce melanin) and controls the type of melanin produced. An activated MC1R tells the cells to produce eumelanin. A receptor that is blocked or not activated tells cells to produce pheomelanin.

Common variants of the MC1R gene reduce the ability of the MC1R to be stimulated – resulting in higher pheomelanin production. These variants are found in 80% of redheads.

Other functions of melanin and MC1R.

Melanin in our skin is our bodies defence mechanism against UV light from the sun. It absorbs UV rays to try and protect healthy cells in our skin. When we are exposed to more sunlight, we produce more melanin – our skin tans. However, excess exposure to the sun kills melanocytes and triggers an immune reaction in the skin – sun burn. Individuals with higher levels of pheomelanin, red heads, are more susceptible to burning.

Scientists once believed that having red hair and lighter skin was an adaptation to northern latitudes. Sun exposure in northern, colder climates is lower so a lighter skin allows for higher potential sun absorption so they body can produce vitamin D. Contrarily, darkly pigmented skin in the tropics acts as a shield against UV rays. However, data has suggested the red-haired genetic variant become common in the north by chance.

Pain perception in red heads has been linked to the MC1R gene variant. Red-haired mice with this variant have shown a higher tolerance to pain, believed to be because of the reduced MC1R function in melanocytes. Unfortunately, this is in terms of physical pain, so can’t protect us from the emotional trauma of ginger bullying.

In conclusion, having red hair means that 1) you need to spend A LOT of money on sun cream throughout your lifetime, 2) you have perfected the insincere ‘piss off’ smile to respond to any comment related to your hair, and 3) everyone will question whether your hair is natural.