In any discussion about the issue (and joys) of having red hair, Anne Shirley’s name is bound to pop up. Such is the case with a recent article from the Irish Independent, stating that this season, “ginger is the new blonde”.
Apparently, any previously held misconceptions that having red hair is an unwanted feature are being thrown out the window. With a handful of today’s hottest celebrities dawning red locks, such as Mad Men star Christina Hendricks, Rihanna, Cheryl Cole and Amy Adams, it isn't surprising that red is in.
According to the article, women in Ireland especially are heading to the salon to have their hair colour changed. Now, women are being celebrated for either embracing their natural hair colour or enhancing it, like Christina Hendricks. Her hair is naturally blonde, but she begged her mother to dye it red after becoming obsessed with Anne of Green Gables when she was 10 years old. And with popular red-haired male actors like Rupert Grint (Ron Weasley in Harry Potter) being positive role models, the stigma, although sometimes still there, is slowly ebbing.
In Ireland and Scotland about 8% of people are born with red hair, while about 3% of the world’s population are naturally “ginger”, the reason being that both parents must pass on a specific “red” gene to their child.
If you’re thinking of dying your hair red, this article provides great beauty tips and information on the colouring process!
