Although it took a few years for me to grow a full head of hair, being born a redhead was a gift. My hair is a huge part of who I am. When people look at me, my hair is probably the first thing they notice. I’ve always loved being a redhead. Here’s ten reasons why it’s so awesome (and sometimes not so awesome).

1. Only 2% of the world's population has red hair.

We are rare and unique creatures. Amazingly enough, both my grandfathers, my aunt, my dad, my sister and I all have red hair. Having red hair and blue eyes is the rarest color combination in the world, and I’m thankful to have been blessed with it.

2. Redheads don't go gray.

Red hair tends to go blonde and then turn white. I occasionally find blonde and white strands in my hair, and I pluck them out immediately. Hopefully I don’t need to worry about going completely white for another 50 years or so.

3. People pay money to dye their hair red, but they can never get it quite like ours.

When I see someone with red hair, I can tell if it’s real. Not that it’s a bad thing to have fake red hair, I’m glad people admire it enough to dye their own hair that color. From strawberry blonde to deep auburn, there are so many beautiful shades.

4. Being called a ginger.

In my opinion, it's not an insult. Like many others, I actually embrace it. There are several theories behind the term “ginger” and where it comes from – including the root used for cooking, a red ginger plant in Malaysia, and ginger-flavored foods. No matter what the origin is, I am proud to be a ginger.

5. Think what you want, but we DO have souls.

People seem to think gingers have no soul. I find this funny. The claim was made in a South Park episode in 2005, but it dates back much farther than that and some people actually believe it. The disease called “gingervitis” refers to people with red hair, freckles, pale skin, and no soul. While the first three are true, I do in fact have a soul.

6. Redheads share a special bond.

Not only do several of my family members have red hair, but I feel connected to redheads everywhere. I know it sounds odd, but we notice each other. When a redhead sees someone else of their kind, they give them a little grin. I get especially excited when I see redheaded children, because I hope to have my own someday.

7. Not all of us have a fiery temper.

Although my hair is the color of fire, I don’t believe I have a hot temper. It’s another stereotype for redheads that I disagree with. (Hopefully my friends and family would back me up on this).

8. "Are you Irish?"

I get that question a lot. And yes, I am Irish. But not all redheads are. I also quite often hear, “you have such beautiful hair!” and “I used to have hair just like yours.” Hearing these things never gets old.

9. We don't tan. We get freckles and sunburns.

I love my freckles (which are also known as angel kisses) but I’ve had too many sunburns to count. I learned from my mistakes. I will smell like sunscreen all summer. Unfortunately, no matter how many times I reapply it during a day at the beach, I’ll probably still end up burnt at the end of the day.

10. There's a day dedicated to redheads.

In addition to “Kiss a Ginger Day,” redheads are celebrated for an entire weekend each year in the Netherlands. “Redhead Days” is a festival that takes place every September – including photo shoots, fashion shows, exhibitions, music and dancing. Redheads from all around the world attend, and it’s on my bucket list!

So, there's the ten things that define my life as a redhead. Although it's not always easy listening to ginger jokes and dealing with sunburns, I wouldn't want to live my life any other way.