There’s just something special about redheads. They’re spicy, they’re vibrant, they have personality galore, and a lot of them have chosen to be redheads. Whether you’re a natural redhead or bottle red, National Red Hair Day on November 5th is the perfect time to celebrate your zest for life. 

Less than two percent of the world has naturally red hair. It comes from a recessive gene, which means that both parents need to have that gene, even if they themselves don’t have red hair. 

Interesting facts about natural red hair

Being rare isn’t the only reason natural red hair is special. 

♦ While most redheads have fewer hair strands than blondes and brunettes, each strand of their hair is thicker than the other shades. 

♦ Red hair doesn’t turn grey; it fades to rose gold and ends up white.

♦ Most redheads have brown eyes, then hazel or green. There are few natural blue-eyed redheads.

♦ Red hair holds its pigment, so dying it requires stripping the original pigment first.

♦ While Scotland has the most redheads, it can occur in any ethnicity.

♦ Approximately 30% of women who dye their hair at home, choose red shades.

While being a natural redhead is relatively rare, it doesn’t mean you can’t opt for the dye method and create the illusion of being a redhead. But before you do, here are some tips to help you get a natural look.

Tips for gorgeous red hair

Whether you are going for a soft strawberry blonde or a deep burgundy, red hair is a statement that gets noticed. Unfortunately, it’s also difficult for your hair to hold onto the red tint, so the following tips can help you keep your dyed red hair looking fiery and feisty.

♦ Wait to wash. After your hair has been dyed, wait as long as possible before washing it. Two days is a good starting point, but we bet you can go longer than that. This allows the color to really be absorbed.

♦ No sulfates, salts, or parabens. These ingredients strip color out of hair, so look for shampoos that don’t contain them or skip shampoo entirely and try co-washing.

♦ Use a hair mask. Restore moisture to your hair with a nourishing hair mask. It’ll be healthy enough to maintain your ginger dreams.

♦ Go blue. Head to your nearest beauty supply store and see what blue shampoo and conditioner they recommend to keep your red ravishing.

♦ Use a sunscreen. This is important for everyone who wants healthy hair, especially when you dye your hair. Red is particularly susceptible to sun fading, so cover up or use sunscreen.

♦ Keep it cool or use a heat protectant. Try to use less heat in the shower, and always use a heat protectant before blow-drying and ironing your hair. Heat is notorious for causing hair damage, so maintaining moisture and health is important.

Modern hairstyles for redheads

Now that you’ve got your red color and you’ve mastered the art of maintaining it, how do you style it? Today’s hair trends lean one of two ways: it’s either extra-long with soft waves or a stick straight cropped lob. Luckily both look fantastic no matter what shade of red you have.

Because natural redheads have fewer hair strands—and the ones they have are thicker—they tend to have natural waves or wild natural curls. A short haircut is a little harder to manage for natural redheads because it doesn’t take advantage of the fullness of their hair, and those curls tend to have a mind of their own. A dyed redhead can totally rock a blunt bob.

On the other hand, long, lush ruby red hair with incredible curl that lasts all day is best done by the natural redheads who were born with those curls. Dyed hair has some damage already, so forcing it into curls that last will take a lot of harsh heat and a lot of product, which can fade dye and also dry hair strands. 

To get your best style, consider what’s involved in daily maintenance and whether it works with the nature of your hair or against it. Supporting what your hair was born to do will always give you the best results.

Final thoughts

Natural or not, red hair is a red-hot style statement this season. Autumn’s palette is bursting with rich reds, burnt oranges, coppery golds, all colors with a sense of depth, and a luxurious charisma. It’s easy to see why this change of season sparks a yearning for red hair.

As we move into the bleak winter season with its monochromatic mood, a burst of red will always bring about a smile. This makes red hair the perfect style statement to pull you from fall to winter with vibrant energy. It transforms the dull, depressing days of winter into an exciting period where you can shine. 

If you’re naturally blessed with red hair, make sure to love those locks this season because you’re on the cutting edge of style. If you are taking the dive and dyeing your hair, remember that hair dyed red requires more maintenance and care to hold its hue, but it’s well worth it.