Being born with red hair is a blessing and a curse. With only 2 percent of the world's population being natural born redheads, it is definitely a feature that stands out. Being part of the 2 percent has let me gain a first hand perspective at some of the struggles gingers have to go through, and I want to bring them to light (well, after I put on my sunscreen).
1. Sunburns.
Being a redhead typically coincides with having very pale, fair skin. This turns the sun into any ginger´s worst enemy. Not even 100 SPF can stop the suns rays from attacking the vulnerable flesh of the unsuspecting carrot-tops. If you see a ginger who is not the typical pasty white, it is most likely a sunburn that has since faded into a poor excuse for a tan, a swarm of freckles that have consumed their entire being, or they are an impostor. Ask any of your redheaded friends and they will tell you, aloe is a life saver.
2. The "No Soul" Jokes.
Whether or not you have red hair, you have most likely heard a "no soul" joke. After being the subject of many these, I have resorted to just making no soul jokes about myself and fellow gingers as well. This unfortunate joke has seemingly bonded all redheads in unity. Also, South Park made light of the situation in their famous episode dedicated to gingers and their lack of souls.
3. Needing Increased Anesthesia During Surgery.
According to
Medical Daily, Redheads need 20 percent more anesthesia than their dark-headed counterparts. Because the MC1R gene belongs to the same family of genes that play a role in pain, the mutation causes redheads to be more sensitive to it. That could explain the increased pain from those sunburns.
4. Being Ron Weasley or Kim Possible For Halloween.
If you grew up with red hair, you understand the struggle of deciding to own your natural hair or to cover it with a mask or wig. For those who rocked the red hair on Halloween, there were two easy costumes to chose from. For guys, Ron Weasley was an easy choice, all that was needed was a black robe and a wand. And for the ladies, Kim Possible was a popular costume as well only needing a black shirt, and some baggy cargo pants.
5. St. Patrick's Day Being The One Day A Year Where Gingers Are Cool.
For 364 days out of the year, it is always the redheads that are at the end of all the jokes, but every March 17, the redheads get their revenge. St Patrick's Day is the one time a year when those who don't have red hair, deep down wish they did. It's St. Paddy's Day everyday when you look like a leprechaun all the time. I was fortunate enough to participate in the Redhead Run down Lowes street on campus at the University of Dayton on St. Patrick's Day, which was a wonderful time for all the gingers involved.
The struggles gingers face are very minuscule in the grand scheme of things, it's a great thing to be different and redheads are the unicorns of humanity.
