There are a lot of unique things about me, but my red hair is definitely the most obvious. Being born with red hair is like being born into a giant club; because it’s so rare, meeting another redhead is like meeting a long-lost sibling. There is an instant connection because having red hair has its own set of challenges. There are just certain things we all have to deal with, like these five things.
1. The nicknames are never ending.
Teenage Mutant Ginga Turtle, Ginger Snap, Gingivitas, Carrottop, Freckles, Red Hot, Big Red, just to name a few. You begin to answer to references to your hair more than your actual name. You can try to fight it, but honestly it’s no use. Just embrace it, Red.
2. One word: sunscreen.
As a redhead, you learn at a very early age that SPF 150 is your summer best friend. While others smell of tanning lotion, you cannot escape the perfume of Coppertone. Swimming is never a simple endeavor for redheads; there must be at least ten minutes allotted to sunscreen application, and at some point, it will have to be reapplied.
3. Freckles are permanent skin decorations.
Don’t bother trying to cover them up with make-up, that’s a battle they will win. I’ve felt conflicted about them my entire life, but I’ve finally learned to accept them. They’re like stars; how boring would the sky be without them? You rock those freckles!
4. Every time you get angry, it is somehow related to your hair.
People seem to be under the impression that a person’s hair being red automatically means they have a horrible temper. Don’t let this define you; your temperament does not have to be dictated by your hair color. And if someone tries to tell you that it is, you show them they have another thing coming to them! (Just kidding, don’t do that.)
5. You are a rare breed!
Less than two percent of the world’s population has naturally red hair. Granted, that’s about 140 million people, but it’s still the rarest natural hair color. While the rumors about redheads going extinct aren’t true, you should still be proud of being one of the two percent.
Sure, there are downsides to rocking red hair, but you should never let it get you down. You are a part of a special breed of human being. You are descendants of warriors, you hold galaxies on your shoulders and across your cheeks, and so long as your anger is in defense of something you care about, it is justified. Rock your red hair, and this summer, you rock that SPF 150! (Seriously, please remember to wear sunscreen).
