“My red hair is so much a part of my personality and really defines me as a person. During this mask-wearing year, it may be difficult to recognize someone with their mask on –– but not me and my red hair. My red hair is like a beacon and I secretly refer to it as my crown.”
In recent years, studies have shown redheads feel more pain and need more anesthesia. A new study led by investigators at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) contradicts what we have heard in the past; this new study has have found that people with red hair feel less pain and have a higher threshold.
The study, published in Science Daily, found that natural redheads have a much higher pain tolerance than blondes and brunettes and it also has to do with a redhead’s skin. Yes, you heard it right. Due to a mechanism that ups a redhead’s susceptibility to sunburns, the skin cells lack the function of a certain receptor. The study goes on to say that a “lack of this receptor function causes changes that tip the balance between pain sensitivity and pain tolerance.”
The pigment-producing cells (cells that determine your pigmentation) are called melanocytes and contain a variant form of the melanocortin 1 receptor. “This receptor sits on the cell surface, and if it becomes activated by circulating hormones called melanocortins, it causes the melanocyte to switch from generating yellow/red melanin pigment to producing brown/black melanin pigment.” Meaning, these cells are crucial in deciding a person’s pain threshold.
Redheads boast a faulty melanocyte and they can’t process enough dark pigment to tan. This has the added effect of elevating their threshold for hurt.
The study, led by David E. Fisher, MD, Ph.D., director of the Mass General Cancer Center’s Melanoma Program and director of MGH’s Cutaneous Biology Research Center, studied a strain of red-haired mice that “contains a variant that lacks melanocortin 1 receptor function and also exhibits higher pain thresholds.” Dr. Fisher led a previous study that found redheads cannot create dark pigment and tan due to their genetic mutation and loss of melanocytes.
We are excited and honored to have Dr. David E. Fisher on the How to be a Redhead podcast! Listen to Season 3, Episode 12 where he breaks down in simple terms more about his incredible study and why redheads feel less pain. Listen directly below or search for us wherever you listen to podcasts):
This means that redheads feel less pain and have a higher pain threshold. “These findings describe the mechanistic basis behind earlier evidence suggesting varied pain thresholds in different pigmentation backgrounds,” says Dr. Fisher in Science Daily. “Understanding this mechanism provides validation of this earlier evidence and a valuable recognition for medical personnel when caring for patients whose pain sensitivities may vary.”
Now we know what Julianne Moore meant when she talked about feeling pain and being “a very tough redhead.” Watch the clip below:
This work was supported by the National Institutes of Health, the Melanoma Research Alliance, the U.S.-Israel Binational Science Foundation, and Dr. Miriam and Sheldon G. Adelson Medical Research Foundation.
Update: Unfortunately the TSA has clarified that sunscreen in larger quantities isn’t allowed through in carry-on bags through security checkpoints. From TSA:
“Our website incorrectly reported that sunscreen containers larger than 3.4 oz. were allowed in carry-on bags if medically necessary. That error has been corrected. Sunscreen in carry-on bags must be 3.4 oz. or less. Larger quantities should be placed in checked baggage.”
Redheads, this is major news. As of April 7, 2021, sunscreens are now on TSA’s medically-approved list of items and therefore allowed in your carry-on bag in full size. This change is thanks to the department of dermatology at Brown University, which challenged TSA on the 3.4-ounce liquid limit because sunscreen is needed to protect against skin cancer.
On the TSA’s website, SPF products are allowed along with other medical items like inhalers, contact solution, and medications. But there is one thing you need to remember — while this change means your full-size sunscreen will no longer be confiscated at security (and tossed out — the horror!), you will need to alert officials that you have it. At the checkpoint for inspection, all travel with full-size sunscreen must tell security officers.
This important change comes just ahead of Skin Cancer Awareness Month in May. Skin cancer aka melanoma is the most common form of cancer in the United State and according to the National Foundation For Cancer Research, “approximately 9,500 people are diagnosed with skin cancer every day in the U.S.”
For redheads, this news is even more important because the MC1R gene causes red hair, freckling and an increased incidence of melanoma. Natural redheads are at a greater risk of melanoma –– even if they never go out in the sun. For anyone who doesn’t know, skin cancer is the most deadly form of skin cancer and essential for redheads. In an article published in the Journal of American Academy of Dermatology, they wrote, “Estimates show that increasing sunscreen use by 5 percent per year over 10 years would lead to a 10 percent reduction in melanomas in the United States.”
As a new redhead mom of an 8-month-old, my hair is always in need of some TLC. At four months postpartum, I went straight to the expert: my hairstylist! I had asked her for a deep conditioning treatment to rehydrate and combat my frizzy red hair –– thanks to a baby pulling at loose strands and the same high bun sitting on the top of my head.
According to my hairstylist, Dana Copeland-McArdle, “One of the biggest issues regarding frizz and feeling like you have frizzy hair really just translates into your hair being thirsty!”
So, basically, if your hair is full of frizz, it needs moisture.
5 tips for fighting frizz at home:
1. Leave-In Treatment
Copeland-McArdle’s favorite product for moisture and frizz prevention is Olaplex No. 6. “After you wash your red hair and it is damp, you can apply roots to ends for some extra nourishment.”
Instead of brushing your hair once you come out of the shower, she recommends brushing your hair while IN the shower with conditioner ON the brush to distribute it through wet hair. This trick is more gentle on your hair and prevents you from causing split ends.
4. Microfiber Towel
When drying your hair opt to use a microfiber towel! Introducing the How to be a Redhead Soft Microfiber Hair Towel for Redheads. Because wet hair is at its most vulnerable, this custom microfiber towel gently and carefully absorbs moisture from your red hair and dries it quickly, all while protecting it from stretching and breakage. This design is uniquely shaped to wrap all of your hair securely (no matter the length), with an elastic strap to comfortably keep things in place. Your hair journey starts here, redheads.
Opt for Ecla Organic Castor Oil to smooth away frizz and also promote my red hair growth! It’s an amazing product I also use on my eyelashes* to condition them, as well as add a few drops to my hair mask.
5 Redhead-Friendly Hairstyles to Fight Frizz:
1. Braids
Keep those frizzy baby hairs at bay during the humid months by experimenting with braids which also work to pull and keep hair away from your face. Copeland-McArdle suggests a fishtail braid saying, “You can even pull out the weaves of a fishtail braid to make it look a little ‘messy.’ This is known as ‘pancaking’ the braid so that when / if any frizzy baby hairs come out it looks intentional.”
2. Braided Headband
If your hair length allows for it, you can braid your own hair around your head like a headband.
3. Twirled Topknot
My personal favorite and current ‘go-to’ as a new mom, is the twirled topknot which contains frizz in a knot. This topknot also doubles as a professional look for the office (or even a Zoom call).
4. Messy Bun or Ponytail Paired with a Headband
It’s important for me to switch things up a bit on a weekly basis in between hair washings, which are much less frequent these days! To amp up the volume of my hair, I will sometimes opt for a messy ponytail. As a more frequent option, a silk fabric headband with a messy bun is always a classic look that keeps frizzy red hair contained and smooth thanks to the silk fabric.
What are some of your go-to hairstyles and favorite accessories to combat frizz to rock your red hair?
If you are looking for a way to keep your red hair shiny and healthy, look no further:
It took many years to custom-make the Finally Glossy® formula and we’re so excited for redheads to enjoy it. We’re thrilled to release another clean redhead beauty product. It is paraben-free, cruelty-free, sulfate-free, petroleum-free, mineral-oil, and vegan. It also contains no perfume, is free of gluten and is silicone-free, phthalate-free, formaldehyde-free and cocamidopropyl betaine-free. This clean formula is formulated with Vitamin B3, olive oil, coconut oil and green tea.
This oil-free facial sunscreen is recommended by many dermatologists to help calm and protect sensitive skin types prone to acne, rosacea and discoloration.
Active Ingredients: 9% Zinc Oxide, 7.5% Octinoxate
This lightweight, Derma E Sun Defense Mineral Body Sunscreen SPF 30 offers broad spectrum that’s fortified with antioxidants vitamin C and green tea to protect and help fight the signs of aging for vibrant, younger-looking skin.
You don't have to spend a ton to keep your red hair looking fabulous!
There’s nothing like an expensive ‘redhead friendly’ shampoo and conditioner. Take this list with you the next time you’re in the hair care aisle at your local drugstore.
Cleanse and condition your red hair with this floral-scented shampoo and conditioner from Herbal Essences. Made with vitamin E, rose hips and jojoba extract to leave red hair feeling smooth and looking shiny.
Eliminate frizz this summer with John Frieda’s Frizz Ease Shampoo and Conditoner. Formulated with a blend of Vitamins A, C, E, green tea extract, and hydrating ingredients to replenish thirsty red strands.
This duo from Hair Food is sulfate-free, dye-free, paraben-free and mineral-oil-free. It’s super gentle to leave your hair soft, smooth, hydrated and vibrant.
Aveeno never disappoints –– especially when it comes to this shampoo and conditioner. Infused with balancing seaweed extract and NatrasurfTM technology to make your red locks soft, manageable and healthy.
Repair flat, lackluster red hair with Burt’s Bees Pomegranate Seed Oil Very Volumizing Shampoo formed with a natural origin sulfate-free formula in a delicious pomegranate scent.
Your curls will love this unique blend of aloe vera juice, pure coconut water, papaya butter and plumeria extract to help detangle, de-frizz and define curls.
If you’re a big skincare enthusiast like I am, you know how great it feels when you find new products that work for your redhead skin. Here at How to be a Redhead, we categorize a product that is tested and approved on a redhead (for a minimum of 10 days) as being ‘Redhead Friendly’. Over the last few months, I have added six new skincare products to my redhead skincare regimen.
There’s no surprise why this product went viral on TikTok. It’s amazing and if you’re a redhead wondering if it works for you — it does. It combats redness, wrinkles, aging, enlarged pores and blackheads. Beta hydroxy acid (BHA is also known as salicylic acid) improves the overall skin texture by helping to unclog and clear pores. After toning, apply once or twice daily on a cotton pad.
ClarityRx, a brand featured in the April Monthly H2BAR Box, offers this wonderful quick-absorbing oil to promote healing, hydration and protection. Apply after your serums and before your moisturizer. This product can also double as a hydrating moisturizer.
This is a super refreshing toner powered by the benefits of Canadian glacial oceanic mineral water, red maple bark extract and sugar maple extract natural. It’s lightweight and quick-absorbing. Your redhead skin will feel clean and invigorated when you continue on with your routine of serums, oils and moisturizers.
Featured in the April Monthly H2BAR Box, this is a skin-brightening, hydrating and anti-aging serum made with both vitamin C and hyaluronic acid. Apply after toning and before moisturizing.
Infused with willow bark extract and natural lactic acid, these wipes will be your go-to solution to help fight blemishes and cleanse the skin while on-the-go. Gently stroke the wipe on your face, body or other affected areas one to two times daily as tolerated. Do not rinse.
This overnight face mask from Bliss has been said to be a Glow Recipe Watermelon + AHA Glow Sleeping Mask dupe. It will leave you waking up with a refreshed, dewy, plumped complexion. Massage a thick layer onto dry skin for one minute. Let it dry, sleep, wake up and rinse.
Many years ago, before Stephanie and I founded HowtobeaRedhead.com in 2011, I was in my early twenties and living in Boston. One evening, as I waited for a friend at a restaurant, I ended up befriending a fellow redhead. She and I spoke about the common redhead topics (sensitive skin, sunburns, loving our hair, etc) and when I mentioned us being a similar age, she stopped me in my tracks and said, “Honey, I am over fifty years old.” I gasped. There was absolutely no way she was older than thirty. I immediately asked her what her secret was to looking so young.
She responded, “Vitamin E.”
This conversation has stayed with me and ever since, I have incorporated Vitamin E* into my evening skin routine. Since Vitamin E has a thick consistency, it’s best to apply it before bed so that it can fully absorb.
Vitamin E is a nutrient your body needs to support your immune system and help your cells to regenerate. Vitamin E is most commonly known for its benefits for skin health and appearance. It can be applied topically to your face to reduce inflammation and make your skin look younger. Many people also swear by the effects of topical Vitamin E when it’s applied to the face overnight. And, I do too, redheads.
Typically, before bed, I cleanse, tone, use a serum or oil mixture containing Vitamin E as an all-over treatment, then lock it in with a moisturizer. During the summer months, when my skin is tired from sun exposure, I will make sure my moisturizer has Vitamin E in it too.
And, about once or twice a week, about 30 minutes before bedtime, I use a pure Vitamin E oil and mix one or two drops of it for every 10 drops of carrier oil with jojoba oil, almond oil, or coconut oil. I leave it on while I sleep and the results in the morning are undeniable.
This pure oil contains only natural Vitamin E sourced from organic olives. Every drop unleashes the full potency of this powerful antioxidant in a form that’s absorbed readily to nourish your skin from the inside out.
You may notice many brands have a Vitamin C & E product. Vitamin E is used to extend the life and effectiveness of Vitamin C. Vitamin C evens skin tone and helps builds collagen.
This Vitamin E oil formula is perfect for soothing and protecting redhead skin while regenerating skin cells, giving a radiant and youthful complexion!
This brand is frequently in the H2BAR Box and now you know why! Vitamin E helps to soften and soothe extra dry, severely chapped skin. Quickly absorbs to help replenish lost moisture and helps aid with face protection.
You’re probably already getting enough Vitamin E in your diet, but adding more through healthy foods could help speed up your cell synthesis and make you feel healthier overall.
You might be wondering: what about foods? Yes, almonds, blackberries, and avocados are some foods with the most vitamin E!
*Disclaimer: Vitamin E isn’t an effective remedy for everyone. Before taking oral Vitamin E supplements consult with your doctor. Too much Vitamin E in your bloodstream can result in a reduced platelet count and blood thinning. Speak with your doctor before starting Vitamin E oral supplements.
Many of asked if Finally Have Brows® is long wearing...
Updated: November 2nd, 2023
Avivah, a redhead and professional ballerina, used Finally Have Brows® for 1 month and this was her review!
“This lasts all day. I have tried a lot of eyebrow gel products and none of them have been the right shade, a lot of them too dark. None of them have lasted like this,” says Avivah. “I am a professional ballerina meaning that I sweat a lot when wearing this and I don’t have to reapply my eyebrows at all.”
No one wants to invest in an eyebrow product only to realize the brows don’t look their very best after 1-2 hours of use. We were so sick of applying a product and hours later, our eyebrow hairs had fallen and our brows look unkempt! Once you apply Finally Have Brows®, you will feel the product working immediately. As it dries, you might feel a slight stiffness but this is the product working itself into your eyebrows. Allow it to fully dry and watch the magic occur. The less you use, the better. A few swipes are all you need for gorgeous redhead eyebrows.
Watch her full review here:
In shade Universal Red, all redheads can use this shade! The brush-on eyebrow gel tints, locks & tames redhead brows in a single stroke. It is long-wearing & natural-looking. Go from no brows to “hello, brows” in 5 seconds.
Here is Avivah’s before/after photo:
Learn more about Finally Have Brows:
For the perfect brows, use the Ultra Fine Redhead Brow Pencil’s automatic liner with a built-in grooming brush to fill in brows. Then, use the Volumizing to tint, condition and fluff. Lastly, use the Longwearing to tint, tame and lock. Get ready for fluffy, full, and always natural-looking redhead brows.
AVAILABLE NOW: Finally Have Brows Clear Brow Gel. It’s best for redheads who want to embrace their natural brow color but desire a fuller/more even look. Tip: This product can also be applied after using Finally Have Brows gels or pencil in Universal Red.
Redheads, do you experience itchy, dry or aggravated skin after washing dishes? We feel your pain! We have tested and approved dish soaps that will make your hands and skin thank you!
This dish soap is great for sensitive skin for both adults and redhead babies. Made from naturally derived ingredients. Puracy Natural Dish Soap is sulfate-free and free from chemicals and petroleum. The formula has Himalayan Pink salt to balance and purifies your skin. For animal lovers, it is cruelty-free and vegan. Puracy is certified by PETA and Leaping Bunny. Puracy is also safe to use around your pets.*
This great product is known to be good for the environment. But, it’s also good for humans and around their pets*. This dish soap is free of fragrances, dyes and cruelty-free. The brand Seventh Generation uses a biodegradable formula to be gentle on your plumbing. Recyclable materials are used for packaging their products. Dermatologists tested and hypoallergenic which equals that it’s good for sensitive skin.
Crafted with moisturizing ingredients like almond milk and blueberry. This dish soap provides a cleaning that is soft on sensitive hands while leaving your dishes sparkling clean.
Redhead babies can give you so many dirty dishes that your sink looks like the Leaning Tower of Pisa of dishes. Babyganics can help with this. They are dermatologist tested and have nonallergenic, so it doesn’t give you rashes and breakouts. No fragrances, phosphates, and dyes. It can be used for everyday washing also. However, they are fantastic to use for baby bottles, grease, grime, even breast pumps.
If you are worried about your hands getting dried out, Better Life dish soap has Aloe and Vitamin E in its formula. Plant-derived, mainly from corn and coconut. It has zero sulfates in it, so it is not harsh on your skin. Brownie points for Better Life Dish Soap, it has also been advertised on the Oprah Winfrey Show.
ECOS has a plant-derived formula, with the main ingredient being coconuts — and coconut oil is so great for redhead skin. This dish soap is 100% vegan and doesn’t test on animals, certified by Leaping Bunny and PETA. Ecos is hypoallergenic with no toxic, harsh chemicals to damage your skin. It is made in the USA and is certified by the EPA’s safer choice program. One last thing I thought you should know: this company is family-owned and run by women.
We all like to feel pretty, right? We use foundations to hide those blemishes that we are embarrassed about and build our confidence. Finding a foundation that fits sensitive skin for redheads is, well, difficult. You don’t know what will make you break out in a rash, or that will leave you looking more pasty and unhealthy. That’s okay. You are not alone.
Here are 14 of the best ‘Redhead Friendly’ foundations that won’t leave you standing in the middle of a drugstore, trying to figure out if it’s the right foundation for you.
The Fresh Wear 24HR Powder is a matte finish, which gives you that sophisticated yet polished look. It is waterproof, sweatproof, and heatproof, like the Fresh Wear Foundation.
It’s good for all types of redhead skin. However, it targets people with oily skin that causes you problems with dry skin and acne. This powder doesn’t give you a greasy feel when you are applying it. It will feel also weightless and breathable on your skin.
Infalliable Pro-Matte Liquid Longwear is a demi-matte finish, which gives you that natural look and satiny look that you will fall in love with this foundation. You don’t have to worry about this foundation being heavy on your skin. It’s lightweight and can be worn for up to 24 hours. This foundation will make your girlfriends jealous with the glow radiating from you.
Maybelline Fit Me Matte + Poreless Liquid Foundation gives you a Matte Finish to radiates a natural look and will blend easily with your redhead skin tone. Ideal for oily skin but can be used for all types. You can wear this all day if you wish. It has also been rated the #1 foundation in the U.S.
The mineral technology formula in Maybelline Fit Me Matte + Poreless Powder gives your skin a matte finish and has you saying, ‘Where in the world did my pores go?’.
This elf Flawless Finish Foundation is vegan and cruelty-free. All of their products do NOT have sulfates in them also. Provides medium to full coverage wear and feels weightless so that you can feel like a boss all day. Keeps a semi-matte finish to your look.
Another reason to love this is that it’s oil-free and has glycerin to hydrate and soften skin your gorgeous skin.
Designed with sensitive skin in mind, this foundation provides a soft matte finish with medium coverage. This foundation aids in preventing acne while also conceal it. Within the Almay Clear Complexion Make Myself Clear formula, there are 4 aspects to make your skin beam with excitement: cover, clear, calm, and takes control of your acne. Also, hypoallergic and fragrance-free.
It has a matte finish and has full buildable coverage, which lasts 24 hours. The Revlon ColorStay Makeup is oil-free and has SPF 15 in the formula to keep you protected from those pesky ultraviolet rays, making our sensitive skin burn.
For when you have dark circles, from not sleeping, redness, or imperfections, Milani Conceal + Perfect 2 in 1 Foundation + Concealer helps hide them, making you look flawless and like nothing ever happened. Has medium to full coverage. Plus, it’s water-resistant and provides no mess or drip.
NYX’s foundation is suitable for many skin types: normal, oily, sensitive, and combo skin types; to make you strut your stuff, wearing it all day long. This foundation is vegan and water-proof.
Seeing wrinkles and get disappointed that you thought you had more time to look and feel young? Covergirl teamed up with Olay to reduce those wrinkles, hydrates your skin, and give yourself some extra Vitamin C that is part of the foundation.
Do you look at yourself in the mirror and notice you have fine lines? This tint doesn’t settle into your lines. It will moisturize your skin all day, and it’s oil-free.
The Burt’s Bees brand is another favorite of ours. This foundation is made with meadowfoam oilseed, known for moisturizing dry skin types whilst hiding imperfections. Ideal for dry and combo skin types.
Made with bamboo, this powder foundation obscures those imperfections we are all desperate to hide. Ideal for oily and combo skin types. There are no paraben, synthetic fragrances, silicones, or phthalates.
Redheads need sunscreen, but we don't need stains!
My (and yours?) sunblock frustration: sunscreen stains and yellow rims on the cuffs of white t-shirts! I hate it. However, not using sunscreen is obviously not an option as a redhead with sensitive skin. I’ll share my tricks on how to avoid these stains and make t-shirts vibrant and clean again.
Unfortunately, sunscreen can leave unattractive marks on clothes, which are often not noticeable at first. I discover the annoying stains and edges after trips to the beach and it’s often really bad, especially after many trips to South Africa. I often wear light-colored blouses and some of them I couldn’t save, some I could clean. Oh, how I hate it, but not wearing sun protection is obviously not an option for redheads.
Where do these yellow spots come from?
The yellow spots and edges, unfortunately, come from the oil-soluble, organic UV filters contained in the sunscreen. Residues tend to stick stubbornly to the fabric. Of course, the best thing would always be to wash t-shirts, tops and bathing suits immediately after a day of sunscreen use. The longer the laundry remains unwashed, the more difficult it is for the stains to come out. But, it is not always feasible to wash clothing immediately.
Here are my tips and remedies for annoying yellow rims on blouses and shirts:
1. Prevent the stain if possible
Sunscreen should always be well absorbed when you pull the t-shirt over your head. This prevents acute stains. Try to apply the sunblock already in the morning and let it absorb into the skin before you dress. However, in summer temperatures, you usually sweat on your neck and that’s why it’s almost impossible to avoid a little fatty sunscreen collar or cuff.
2. Dishwashing detergent
Dishwashing detergent also dissolves grease when washing up, so it can also help quite well with sunscreen stains. The best time to use it is when the stain is still relatively fresh. Then you can pre-treat it with liquid dishwashing detergent, leave it to soak in for 30 minutes and then wash it in the washing machine. However, refrain from using bright-colored dishwashing liquids that are heavily dyed. The best option for redheads is to use gentle dishwashing detergents that are redhead-approved.
To remove stains: Wet the area with the sunscreen stain, add dishwashing detergent over it and rub it into the fabric. Leave it to soak for about 30 minutes and then wash the garment in the machine as usual.
3. Baking powder or baking soda
Baking power and baking soda are household all-rounders. These home remedies, therefore, have very well appreciated in my household. They work wonders on lighter clothes.
To remove stains: Wet the area with the sunscreen stain, sprinkle the baking soda or washing powder over it and rub it into the fabric. Leave it to soak for about 30 minutes and then wash the garment in the machine as usual.
4. Citric acid or vinegar
Citric acid and vinegar are also natural home remedies that can help remove sun lotion residues from clothes. However, you should be especially careful when using either of these on colored textiles. They could be discolored by the acid.
To remove stains: Dissolve 15 g of citric acid in 1 liter of warm water and soak the garment or stained area for about 2 hours. After this pre-treatment, you can wash the item in the machine as normal. If you use vinegar water, simply add 1 part vinegar essence to 5 parts warm water and soak the garment for about 1 hour. Then wash it as usual.
If you have white clothes with sunscreen stains, a great option is to use Mrs. Stewarts Liquid Bluing. Sometimes bleach can cause clothes to become yellow, but this product makes clothes whiter and prevents sunscreen staining!
To remove stains: Dilute bluing in 1 to 2 quarts of cold water. Add diluted bluing to wash water or final rinse water. Wash water should appear a light sky blue color.
