With only two percent of the human population having red hair, the ginger gene becomes even more rare and special. There are numerous benefits to sporting the natural red color; however, golden summer tans definitely aren’t included. From strangers to grandparents, people everywhere can’t help but love the phenomenon that is being a redhead.

1. Anyone can find you in a crowd.

Nothing is worse than trying to find someone in a huge group of people who look exactly the same from behind. Every kid has gone up to a random man thinking it was Dad at some point in his or her life. If you’re searching for a redhead though, the search is easy. Gingers, with vibrant and unique hair, stick out in colossal crowds of the blonds and brunettes. Don’t waste time worrying about losing us anytime soon.

2. You don’t have to pay to sustain your hair color.

Hair treatment can be so expensive, unless your natural color can’t be matched in a bottle. If you never dye your red hair, there’s no need to worry about a perfect match or accidental mess-up. Since a young age, people are always telling us redheads to promise to never ever dye our hair. Don’t take away that color people spend fortunes trying to duplicate. Better yet, keep the natural red and you won’t have to fear gray hair later on.

3. People constantly confuse you for Merida.

Whether you find yourself in Disney World, or just the school hallways, people constantly confuse your curly red locks for “that girl from Brave.” You smile and laugh as if no one has ever noticed—what an honor to be compared to the princess herself! After about ten times, you’ll be able to finish their though before said person can come up with Merida’s name. All you have to do is master the Scottish accent and your future career as an actress is golden.

4. Strangers will complement you.

As weird as it sounds, the attention from random people in coffee shops seems normal after a young age. Friendly strangers for whatever reason are compelled to touch your red hair, despite the fact that its texture feels exactly the same as brown or blond hair. Can’t complain about the complements though!

5. The Redhead Scholarship

Probably the most beneficial-to-real-life advantage, private companies will actually grant scholarship money just for being an enthusiastic ginger. ScholarshipRed strives to celebrate natural redheads across the United States by funding educational opportunity. To apply, one must submit a creation that characterizes what it means to be a redhead. This program is an amazing way for gingers to show the world what makes them special and then gain something in return.

From pale skin to freckles, being a natural ginger has numerous values that other people either covet or question. Redheads are only a small majority of the world, yet we benefit in awesome ways.