5 Things Redheads are tired of hearing

I never expected to write a post about what I, a redhead mom of four is tired of hearing, but I am. I thought after almost 40 years people would have stopped saying the dumb things that get under my skin but I was wrong. So if you have a friend or family member who has red hair, stop saying these things to them. We do not think it is funny or amusing. It is actually annoying and tiring and in some instances, just rude. There is no reason to ask these questions to anyone ever!

Is your colour natural?

Would you ask anyone else that question? What business is it of yours? I honestly do not even know how to answer this some day. Yes my hair is naturally red. However the sun highlights it and what mother nature does not take care of I may fix up at the salon. After all no matter what they say, red heads do go grey!

Are you Irish?

Actually to say this is a question is incorrect. Nobody asks this they just assume it. They will ask “Where does your red hair come from?” And when I really do not have an answer even after going through many generations of my family tree, they assume I am Irish. I have had people argue with me telling me this. I know for a fact I am not, nor were my parents or their parents. Hard to believe but there are redheads in other parts of the world.

Did you get sun?

This one I dislike the most! Any redhead who burns stays out of the sun unless covered in SPF 60 sun block. So to be my age and ask me if I got some sun is irritating. And if I did pointing it out would just be embarrassing. My pigment is very fair and my cheeks often red, naturally. Many redheads have rosy complexions.

Along these lines are also the freckle questions. If people think I have less freckles than they expected, they ask questions. I have freckles yes. Will I show you? NO!

Do you have a temper?

Back in the day when I was a bit younger a question like this would show you exactly what kind of temper I have. Luckily as I have aged and my patience being a mother has grown, it just irritates me. Nobody wants to think they are easy to anger. We do not want to fit into stereotypes and being asked is super annoying. Would you ask anyone about a stereotype regarding their ethnic background? Why is hair colour any different?

Hey he has red hair, do you know him?

Being Canadian I get this question regarding other Canucks every time I travel. Oh you are from Ontario, do you know my cousin who lives in Alberta? Or similar, we all get it. But I also get it for fellow Gingers.

If I happen to be in the same room or at a venue with another redhead people have been known to say “OH do you know XYZ he is a redhead too?!?” There is not a secret club, we do not know each other. We are unique and stand out in a crowd but we are not all related nor are we all friends.

I do admit to feeling a slight bond though when I meet a fellow redhead or pass another Ginger by. I think we all do as we have been through many of the same struggles. I grew to embrace my hair and the attention it brings, but as a child I hated it. Redheads are often bullied and made to feel like their hair is weird or ugly. It was not until I was a teen that I realized how lucky I was.

Next time you want to ask one of your redhead friends one of these silly questions, don’t!  I know there are many more but these are ones I was asked just this week and it is only Tuesday 😉