Real redheads? I feel like I've only known a few in my life. This certainly doesn't include me, as I'm dyed. I've also known a few women with natural light auburn hair, which a bit harder to define, but you know it when you see it I guess.

I know several natural redheads (and many more "assisted" redheads).  I have always admired the beautiful color of their hair.

My Husbands sister was a natural redhead(copper colour)  My Aunt had beautiful auburn hair when she
was a young woman (shes 81 now and gray) I have
several first cousins on my moms side with beautiful
red hair.  Rua, I didnt inherit those genes either.  I got
the med brown.  I always wanted red hair(or shiny
silky black)

I don't know many.  And when I was growing up I didn't know any "enhanced" redheads!

Do we really need to make a difference?  I don't think so.  Any 'enhanced' redhead is paying other redheads the biggest compliment on their haircolor by choosing it for her own.

And I have seen red-tinted hair on some people that their coloring of their complexions along with their red hair was both unusual and stunning!

For me, we are all legitimate redheads, regardless of where our red color originated!
strawberryfine
Keep on glowing.....

Anais,

I think redheads count, too!

Sometimes red hair is an attitude.

strawberryfine

I know several natural red heads.... Of course I'm related to most of them... 16 in fact.. But I do know 5 others, who I'm not related to.

During my childhood I didn't know any other redheads and so I thought I was a freak, therefore I hated it. I was always singled out. Now I have two daughters who both have red hair and in my village I know of about t four true redheads and very rarely see others around. It is still a fairly rare colour as far as I can see. My mother had 7 brothers and sisters and neither she nor any of her brothers and sisters had red hair, they were all sort of mousy. I have 19 cousins, again no redheads, but some of my cousins seem to be having red headed children. My grandmother on my mothers side was Irish and my grandfather on my mothers side hailed from Scotland so I guess that is where it originally came from but it was strange that out of 19 cousins I am the only one. I love my hair colour now though. It will be interesting to seewhat colour I will go when I am old as loads of old ladies of varying colours have told me that they were red heads when they were younger.

My wife has auburn hair which she has been growing for around a year and has now reached the level of her bra strap.  My daughter has too - very short in her case though. 

In the UK it seems that redheads are the last minority that it is OK to make fun of.   In our tabloid press if a redhead is in the news they are always referred to as "ginger" in a most derogatory way. Is this the case in the US too?  It really winds up my wife and daughter

Oh Redgate, how I sympathise with your wife, I find these derogatory remarks really annoying. BUT, not half as annoying when one of my redheaded daughters was just a baby in her pram, she had red hair from the start and a man came up to me and said, with glee, "a little carrot top." I gave him such a look, I think that is the worst remark I have ever heard and got all the jibes when I was a kid at school as I was the only one for miles it seemed. Still, now I put their remarks down to jealousy and I feel so much better about it.

Have to pop in here...

Redgate, I wouldn't say people with red hair are made fun of completely in the US, but there was a Southpark episode entitled the "Ginger Kids," where the redheads are made fun of and then they begin to take over the world. It was especially funny because anti-redhead sentiments are often so subtle.  For example, I've noticed that redheads are often the "clownish" members of a neopolitan trio (sexy blond, smart brunette, and what's left? The kooky/wild/tomboyish/goofy redhead).  That's a pet peeve of mine. I'd love to see a quirky brunette or a nerdy blond for once, instead of always the poor redhead in such a trio. 

One would think the UK would be the most tolerant of redheads, seeing as how that's where most of our ancestors are from.  I once had a redheaded professor as an undergraduate who would arrive for British Literature wearing a cowboy hat and wrap-around sunglasses (he was an American, living in Colorado--hence the cowboy hat).  He once caught me sizing up his outfit and said to me--his fellow redhead in the class,   "Those of us from the darker corners of the world have to protect our eyes from the sun."  A little heavy, a lot weird, but there it is.   

On to the main question, I know several "non-enhanced" redheads (other than myself , my mother and brother).  Possibly four right now. Strangely, none of my children have red hair, although they do have cute little red freckles on their noses and light brown hair with reddish streaks appearing in the summertime.

Kim

What a shame people gave you a hard time over your henna'd hair!  I think red hair is very special.  You should invite your red-headed friend to join us!  I'm sure she would fit right in.

Why not invite her to visit LongLocks?  Then you can offer to take her picture to post here.

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Kim, I saw that episode!  Made me mad. 

Oh well, I guess there's no stopping stereotyping in any form, is there?

Though, I have to say, I'm one of those "wild" redheads.  Or maybe it's because I'm a gemini.... or maybe, just maybe, being a gemini AND a redhead makes me a double threat... 

My maternal grandmother's brother and sister were redheaded and had freckles (I inherited a reddish tinge to my hair, which I've sinced enhanced ). They were English, and I hope my little ones inherit these genes.

I also had a friend in grade school with red hair and freckles - she was very Irish. And a coworker's three kids are all absolutely adorable redhaired, freckle-faces.

Hi there all, I haven't been around for a while but thought I would just drop in again on this topic. Thanks Bikerbraid for your kind words about my hair.

Ashenlady mentioned that her mother has auburn hair and a hot temper to go with it.

I don't want to sound as though I am critisising here but that is another popular misconception, that redheads have a fiery temper. I believe you when you say your mum has a hot temper but not that it necessarily goes with her auburn hair.  I think I am quite even tempered and, though I don't know that many red heads, I can't honestly say I have noticed that any of them have particularly hot tempers. My father was a red head and he was a very gentle man and I can't remember him ever losing his temper, except with me when I was a teenager but I was no angel then and I probably deserved it, but I digress, so we all come under stereotypes whether it fits us or not. Blondes are supposed to be dumb but there are a hell of a lot of them out there that are exceptionally clever and some I know with hot tempers. It seems that humans will always categorise people, and I can't understand why, but if they could only remember that some of their characterisations can hurt .

It's Kay again here is another shot that maybe better shows my color. 

http://www.msnusers.com/h76upr1lv85okjljku0rjmphf5/Documents/Pictures%2Ffamily%2...

I can't see them either.  bummer.

My natural color in my 20s was a reddish brown.  I dyed my hair "auburn" for nearly 20 years!  Now my browns are not so red.  But my hair is so much healthier!

Hello!  Sorry that the photos are not making it through....I am very limited in my knowledge of how to transfer from web to email!  Blondestorm, asked for me to email some since they could not be viewed....Jim, do you mind helping me out?  If you know how to post will you post the photos for me?  Or walk me through the process of how to do this?  
P.S. Also, wondered if any of you other red-heads have ever been called 'blue hair'.  I don't know where that phrase came from, but as a child if I heard it once I heard it a million times...but it was always a more endearing comment, than some of the others!  Usually came from older gentlemenly type of folks.  
I was also a platinum blonde several years ago, and thought that I would love the change, I did at first, but to be honest, even though I despised my natural color as a child, I did begin to miss it and finally went back.  
P.S.S.  Also, I have tried to add my photo vs avitar, but have been unsucessful. 
Thanks!
Kay

Red hair is amazing and it comes in so many shades i new a lady with light red hair it was all curly, just wow.

I tried to view your pictures but it said the page cannot be found.

If you go to phot bucket you can upload your pictures to photobucket then for each picture they will give you a web address copy this web address to the page.forum here and then the picture will show up. That is how i dd mine as you can see the pictures in my siggy.

BikerBraid,
I am not having any luck w/getting emails to go through....  Did you happen to get the photos that I tried to email you?  Hope so, if not just let me know. 
Thanks,
Kay

Kay,

   I received the email with your pictures.  Your strawberry blonde hair color is fabulous!   Your hair is very very beautiful.

Jim

Such pretty hair - thanks for sharing!

Debr,

  Your hair sounds incredible!  You have to post a pic so we can see your long beautiful locks!

Jim

I don't know how I missed this thread! My mom's a redhead. I wish I had the picture of her when she was 18, you can see clearly her hip-ish length, bright fiery red hair. I also have a ginger cousin. When I was in high school, one of my best friends' older brother had shoulder length, wurly red-gold hair. Soo pretty... I also dated a boy who had gingery colored hair.

I know a bunch of people with red hair, actually, many of them family.

Actually, sometimes I think my hair can't make up its mind whether it wants to be dark brown, or a really dark auburn... in sunlight, I'm definately a red... all the short baby hairs give me a fiery halo when the sun's behind me, which is really cool looking, btw 

My friend D in junior college had the most amazing dark red hair ever, imho.  It was long to her waist and she had bangs, and she kept it braided most of the time.  One of her nervous habits was to pull her braid over her shoulder, pick it up and glance at the ends.  Looking for splits? I pointed it out to her and she said she didn't even realize she was doing it.

My husband's father was (he's passed away) a read head, with light orange hair, and DH's brother (same name as my brother, B!) has the most beautiful shade of red hair, but he recently shaved his head shiiiiny.  DH has that mouse brown hair that goes with the red-haired coloring, and they both have to stay out of the sun or they'll crispy-fry.  DD has golden brown hair, but in the sun there's coppery highlights that I'm sure come to her from the red-hair genes DH has.

I feel I should also mention that when DH grows a beard, it's as dark red as my friend's hair was.  (she's alive, we've just drifted apart.

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He claims Germanic descent (actually, he likes to think of himself as a Viking), but he has some English as well, according to his step-gramma.