Last year, we posted 5 Facts About Freckles You Probably Didn’t Know and now we’re back to give you 6 more freckle-friendly facts. Many redheads carry the freckle gene, and having freckles is a common redhead trait, although not all redheads have freckles, and not all people with freckles also carry the redhead gene. Here are a few more things you might not know:
1. It’s estimated that about 80% of redheads have freckles.
Some redheads may have a lot of freckles, while others may only have a few that come out in the sun.
Freckles are most common in more fair skin tones, but they can appear on anyone. On darker skin tones freckles may be harder to see. Darker skin tones are also more likely to tan instead of developing freckles.
5. Variations (also called alleles) of MC1R control freckle number.
While freckles can be caused by the sun, they are not a sign of sun damage. Nor are freckles a sign of skin cancer. Other skin discoloration and patches may be present, so it’s best to get your freckles and moles checked.
#3 sounds weird but it's a win-win: UPF protection + stellar brows
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Beauty routines are so personal, and everyone follows a different one. Individual beauty routines vary based on factors such as skin type, personal preferences, cultural influences, and specific skincare needs. Redheads usually adapt beauty routines to address their unique concerns (sensitive skin, freckles, etc) and achieve the results they desire. We all have quirky steps we do every once in a while. Here are some of the strange things our H2BAR team does as part of our beauty routines. You could call them hacks or beauty secrets, but these little tricks work:
1. Use olive oil on the hair
Hair oiling is becoming more and more popular, but you don’t need to buy fancy oils to get the benefits. The olive oil you have right in your kitchen can be used to condition, strengthen, and repair dry hair.
2. Apply brow makeup before moisturizer
Applying brow makeup over skincare can often give you a watery, “unset” look — especially if you’re in a hurry. We like to wash our skin, apply serums, then allow 2-3 minutes to let it all set it. Once dry, apply brow makeup, then apply the moisturizer around the brows and rest of the face.
3. Use SPF as “brow gel”
If you’re doing a “no makeup” look and don’t want to apply brow products, try applying your SPF all over your face, including your brows, and then brush them up. Usually, the SPF will help them hold.
4. Groom your brows in the car
Speaking of brows, the best lighting for doing your brows and grooming your brows is in the car. So, keep some tweezers and a spoolie on hand for the next time you’re at a long red light.
5. Use cream masks as foot care
Treat dry feet with a cream facial mask because facial products are usually made with premium ingredients. That’s why we like to apply facial products to the feet and pop some socks on. Facial masks can help to leave your feet nice, soft and moisturized.
6. Exfoliate lips with your washcloth
Dry lips are no fun, but you can easily exfoliate them by rubbing a dry, terry washcloth over your lips 1-2X. Make sure to follow up with a hydrating lip balm.
7. Ice your face
Facial icing is quite popular, but you don’t need a special roller. Use some ice cubes from your freezer instead. It can help with swelling, puffiness, redness, and inflammation.
8. Shave with your conditioner
If you struggle to get soft legs with your regular soap or shaving cream, try using conditioner. This is also a great hack for when you’re traveling.
9. Trim brow hairs with nail clippers
If you don’t have brow scissors on hand, or you struggle to get a precise snip with brow scissors, try using nail clippers. You can cut the hair directly from the top, but be very careful.
10. Wash your hairline after conditioning.
If you use hair masks or like to condition your roots, you might notice your part and hairline can get greasy faster. Avoid this by using just a spot of shampoo on your part and hairline after conditioning.
Take a peek above and you will see the many redheads characters recasted. We believe it is a sign of the times and a powerful (and positive) step closer to true inclusivity.
When a cartoon, comic, or otherwise animated work moves from animation/drawing to live action, there are decisions made about how the characters will be portrayed. Some characters aren’t drawn in a way that translates to real-life people, while others may change in appearance to fit a certain look.
One huge point that comes up whenever a piece of work is made live-action is the so-called “recasting of redheads”. Often redheads are recast with actors who are Black, Indigenous, or People of Color (BIPOC).
As redheads, we’re familiar with feeling underrepresented, and we aren’t the only ones. White characters have dominated film and television since the beginning of time, and only in the last decade or so have we really seen diversity starting to creep into entertainment (thankfully). An article from libertainism.org called “Where Have All The Disney Redheads Gone” explains that giving a character red hair was a way to feel inclusive, while now in 2023, black skin functions as a more “effective external signifier”.
“When Sony Pictures released a new film version of Annie in 2014, replacing the redheaded Annie of the 1920s with Quvenzhané Wallis, it was simply a realistic reflection of the changing cultural and racial mores of America in the intervening century,” libertainism.org explains. The article’s synopsis is: “The recasting of redheads is simply a ‘Reasonable Artistic Decision’.
In a recent Reddit thread, someone asked the r/Redhair community how they feel about this. Take a peek at some of their comments:
Overwhelmingly, redheads are talking on Reddit about disliking how and why redheads are recasted. Many feel “disappointed” to see redhead characters they loved and related to as a child be recast, but at the same time, they understand that representation is important.
Most of the other commenters on the post also express some annoyance or frustration feeling like redheads are being erased from these roles. Others point out that it’s disrespectful to both redheads and the BIPOC communities. Many people seem disappointed but also have some sort of understanding of why this happens, and some even point out that most actors portraying redheads in movies and TV aren’t real redheads anyway — so, why does it matter?
This issue is one that probably won’t be going away anytime soon, but hopefully, there can be some sort of compromise where everyone gets the representation they deserve. In the meantime, we will sit back and enjoy watching many redhead characters transformed into a more mainstream, inclusive version. We believe change is good and the best advice we can give redheads is — keep rockin’ your red hair and love who you are. Then, maybe you will be the true redhead representation we all need. It’s important to lead by example and be open to change. We’ll leave with one of our favorite quotes, “The only way that we can grow is if we change. The only way that we can change is if we learn. The only way we can learn is if we are exposed. And the only way that we can become exposed is if we throw ourselves out into the open.” ― C. JoyBell C.
We'll see you for the premiere of Season 6 in early 2024!
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Season 5 of the How to be a Redhead Podcast has wrapped! There was a brand new episode every Friday since April and the season ended on National #LoveYourRedHairDay. This was a unique year because the national day fell on Sunday, November 5th, so the celebration lasted all weekend long.
We always go big and there was a lot to celebrate, so Adrienne + Stephanie shared it all in one place — on the How to be a Redhead podcast. There are brand new beauty drops that have hit the shop including a few new surprises including:
On this episode, Adrienne + Stephanie also share their 5 top moments of Season 5, and tease some hints about what’s coming in Season 6. They also talk about other product launches, goals for How to be a Redhead this upcoming year, and so much more.
You can hear Stephanie and Adrienne on the Season 5 finale episode of the How to be a Redhead Podcast available directly below, on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts:
Want to help us spread the news about the How to be a Redhead brand and this podcast? Please give us a 5-star review and tell your friends (redheads and everyone else) to subscribe.
Want your questions answered on an episode of the podcast? Email H2BARPodcast@gmail.com, or DM us on Instagram @HowtobeaRedhead or TikTok @HowtobeaRedhead. We answer 2-4 questions per podcast so be sure to tune in to hear if we answered yours.
To celebrate #NationalLoveYourRedHairDay on November 5th, we dropped 7 new redhead products! Some are available now, and some are available for pre-order. We are so excited for you to experience all these new items. Explore below:
Lock and tame redhead brows in a single stroke with this brush-on clear brow gel. Perfect for layering with other Finally Have Brows® products, locking in tinted brows, or embracing your natural brow coloring.
The semi-matte, ‘edhead-approved formula glides on with a lightweight, non-sticky sheen; and the clean ingredients feature shea butter to provide hydration while providing sheer-to-medium coverage. Available in 3 colors.
Your hair journey starts here, redheads. This custom-made woven hair towel is soft, water absorbent, assists with fast drying, and helps to reduce frizz.
Every redhead woman is a goddess and we’re lucky enough to have the rarest hair color in the world. Empower yourself and welcome to The Redhead Club. Available in sizes XS-4XL.
Using the right amount of sunscreen is vital for keeping your face and body protected
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As we know, redheads often have fair and sensitive skin, which can be more prone to sunburns and damage from ultraviolet (UV) radiation. Sunscreen is crucial for redheads (and everyone else) because it helps protect the skin from harmful UV rays that can lead to sunburn, premature aging, and an increased risk of skin cancer.
Using a broad-spectrum sunscreen with a high SPF is especially important for redheads to shield their skin from both UVA and UVB rays. It’s essential to apply sunscreen generously and reapply it regularly, especially when spending extended periods outdoors. Sun protection is a key part of maintaining skin health and preventing long-term damage.
Using the right amount of sunscreen is equally as important for keeping your face and body protected. When it comes to facial sunscreen, there are a few tricks or methods that some people swear by for getting it right. One common method is the “two-finger sunscreen method”. It is a simple guideline for applying sunscreen. The idea is to use enough sunscreen to cover your face adequately. The recommendation is to apply a line or strip of sunscreen that is about the length of two adult fingers. This helps ensure that you’re applying an adequate amount of sunscreen to provide effective sun protection.
So, what is this method and does it really work?
How to use the “two-finger sunscreen” method
This method is simple, you take your sunscreen and apply sunscreen down the inside your pointer, and your middle finger. You start at the tip of the finger and bring it down to where the finger meets the palm. This idea is that this is enough sunscreen to cover your face.
Does this method work?
While this method may work for some, it’s not perfect. Everyone has different-sized hands and different-sized faces. If you have smaller hands and a larger face you’re not getting enough sunscreen. If you have large hands and a small face, you might be using more than you need to. This method also makes the assumption that all sunscreens are coming out at the same rate. So if the two-finger method is what works for you that’s fine, but it’s not a guaranteed correct amount.
What method works better?
The best way to know if you’re using enough sunscreen is if you can easily cover your whole face. Start on one section like the forehead and ensure full coverage in an even layer before moving on to the cheeks and nose, then work down to the chin and neck. Over time you’ll learn how much sunscreen your face needs, and you’ll be able to adjust depending on the consistency of the sunscreen you’re using.
Remember to apply sunscreen evenly to all exposed skin and to reapply it regularly, especially if you’re spending extended periods in the sun or engaging in activities that might cause the sunscreen to wear off, like swimming or sweating.
Yes, this is a new term and the process can help you elevate your haircare routine
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There’s a new term that’s been popping up over the past year or so called “skinification.” It typically refers to the trend of incorporating skincare ingredients or practices into other beauty and personal care products, like makeup or haircare. It reflects the growing emphasis on skincare benefits in various beauty routines, beyond traditional skincare products. For example, foundations with added skincare ingredients or hair products that claim to provide skincare benefits are instances of the skinification trend. It’s essentially about merging the worlds of skincare and other beauty categories to offer multi-functional products.
To break it down, skinification is the method of treating the rest of your body with the same attention that goes into your skincare routine. Another term for it can be head-to-toe skincare. It is also about introducing ingredients your face and body will love. Some of these include hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, etc. A lot of the ingredients we use on our faces can have great benefits for our hair, if used properly.
Not sure how to get started with skinification? Here are 6 simple ways:
1. Start with a hyaluronic acid to incorporate into your skincare routine.
To incorporate hyaluronic acid into your skincare routine, start with a gentle cleanser. Afterward, apply a few drops of a hyaluronic acid serum to your damp skin, patting it in gently to help your skin absorb it effectively. Wait a few minutes for it to fully soak in, and then follow up with a moisturizer to lock in the hydration. If it’s morning, don’t forget to apply sunscreen to protect your skin from UV damage. You can use hyaluronic acid in both your morning and evening routines, making it a daily addition to your skincare regimen. Always consider your specific skin type and needs while introducing new products gradually to your routine.
Using a scalp massager is a simple and relaxing process. Enjoy the soothing sensation and take your time to cover your entire scalp. Scalp massagers can help improve blood circulation, exfoliate the scalp, and provide a sense of relaxation, making them a valuable addition to your hair care routine – especially if you experience scalp tension or dryness.
We created the Finally Have Brows and Finally Have Lashes line with clean, vegan, paraben-free/sulfate-free ingredients. Just like clean skincare, we knew the H2BAR redhead beauty line had to follow the same desires our followers have requested for more than a decade.
Exfoliating your body is a beneficial skincare practice that removes dead skin cells, enhances skin texture, and improves the efficacy of other products. Pay extra attention to rough areas like elbows and knees. Remember to be gentle, especially with physical scrubs, as excessive pressure can irritate the skin. Always select products suited to your skin type and perform a patch test for new exfoliants to ensure compatibility.
Selecting a nourishing body moisturizer involves a few key considerations. Begin by identifying your skin type. Look for moisturizers containing hydrating ingredients such as shea butter, glycerin, ceramides, and natural oils. Take into account any specific skin concerns you may have, whether it’s eczema, acne, or signs of aging, and opt for products formulated to address these issues. Fragrance-free options are gentler for sensitive skin. With these considerations, you can find a nourishing body moisturizer that keeps your skin well-hydrated and healthy.
Many redheads have light eyebrows, and have the desire to fill them in. The combination of red hair and lighter eyebrows is often due to genetic factors. Red hair is primarily caused by a genetic variation in the MC1R gene, which leads to the production of a type of melanin called pheomelanin, responsible for the red color. This same genetic variation can also affect the production of eumelanin, the type of melanin responsible for darker hair colors. As a result, many redheads may have lower levels of eumelanin, leading to lighter eyebrows. However, the specific shade of eyebrows can vary among individuals with red hair, and some may have darker or lighter eyebrow colors based on their unique genetic makeup.
If you have full eyebrows already, filling them in with a tinted brow gel or even tinting them is pretty easy. But, if you have sparse brows, there’s less for the color to cling to and even once the product is applied, your brows might still look a little thin. There are methods to help your brows look fuller, and it’s pretty easy.
Use Finally Have Brows® Ultra Fine Redhead Brow Pencil in Universal Red (the same shade as the Longwearing and Volumizing gels) and make short strokes to fill in the sparse areas. You want the areas to look like they have hair and aren’t just colored in so your movements should mimic the direction and pattern of your natural brow.
Step 4: Lock it All In Place
Using your tinted brow gel, or the Finally Have Brows® Clear Brow Gel, lock your style in place. This will help your brows to hold their look longer and stay styled.
Step 5: Set Your Look
Since you’re applying makeup to your brows, it’s smart to add some setting spray to help it stay all day. Lightly mist the setting spray over your brows, or your whole face if you’re wearing other makeup.
2. Microblading
Consider professional microblading to create realistic hair-like strokes in your brows. Make sure to choose an experienced technician who can match your hair color accurately.
3. Eyebrow Tinting
Tinting your eyebrows with a color slightly darker than your natural shade can give the appearance of fuller brows.
4. Brow Serum
Some people find success with eyebrow growth serums that can stimulate hair growth in sparse areas.
5. Professional Help
Consult with a professional makeup artist or eyebrow specialist for tailored advice and grooming.
Remember that it’s important to choose products and techniques that match your unique hair color and complexion to achieve natural-looking results. This is why we at H2BAR created the Finally Have Brows eyebrow line to make your redhead eyebrows the easiest process in your makeup routine.
Although it’s the least common hair color, natural redheads are found around the world! Red hair can occur in people from various backgrounds, including those of Asian, African, and South American descent. It is primarily determined by specific genetic variations, and its prevalence can vary significantly between populations. Unsurprisingly, some places have more redheads than others. If you had to guess what the top 5 countries in the world are for redhead populations, which ones would you guess? We bet you can get most of them correct:
5th: England
Home of Ed Sheeran and Prince Harry, England comes in fifth with about 4% of the population having red hair. In an article from A-Z Animals, it’s reported that Scottish geneticists have figured out that about 1/3 of England’s population carry the redhead gene.
4th: United States
With such a large and diverse population, the United States is home to over 330 million people with between 5-6% of them being redheads. This high population is likely due to immigration from the other countries on this list in the 1800s.
3rd: Wales
This might be one you wouldn’t guess, but Wales ranks 3rd with 6-10% of their population having red hair. Since redheads can produce their own Vitamin D, it’s not shocking to find them more prevalent in cloudy places like England and Wales.
2nd: Scotland
With somewhere between 6 and 13%, Scotland could be the top spot depending on where Ireland’s true numbers fall, but according to these numbers it’s ranked second. Scotland is a close neighbor to England and Wales, as well as our number one spot, so it makes sense they all have large populations of redheads.
1st: Ireland
This is probably no surprise to anyone, but Ireland has the highest population of redheads of any country in the world. With between 10 and 15% of the population having red hair. Also in the A-Z Animals article it’s reported that about 46% of the people in Ireland also carry the recessive freckle gene.
We just celebrated National #LoveYourRedHairDay weekend and wrapped up Season 5 of the How to be a Redhead Podcast. This season has been such a blast, and we’re so thankful to all the amazing guests we’ve had on the podcast. Adrienne + Stephanie had some of their favorite conversations to wrap up the season and their final guest was Laura Jackel (follow her on Instagram).
She was the Senior Lifestyle Writer at Mamamia, Australia’s super channel for women. She is also a mum of two boys and a former natural redhead. She recently wrote an article titled: ‘I’ve been blonde, brunette and a redhead. There’s one colour I would not go back to.’ She details how she was born with natural red hair and journeyed through different hair colors. We are so excited for you to enjoy this interesting conversation.
They dove into a lot on this episode, and it’s a must-listen! Some of the topics and questions covered include:
Why did you write this article? And how was it to reflect on your hair journey?
You write about now turning gray, saying, “The graying remains of my natural ginger hair are for now, still under my cool blonde highlights and I feel nostalgic and sad about the fact I didn’t embrace its natural shade for longer than I did.” We read your son is a natural redhead — do you share tips with him on self-acceptance?
“As a ginger-haired, pale, and freckle-faced kid, I would have done anything to change my hair color and complexion. I faced plenty of teasing for being a redhead..” Now for the question we ask our redhead guests: what was it like for you growing up as a redhead? From reading your article, it seems like it was not pleasant.
You say you went back to red for your wedding and for the birth of your child. It made us wonder how your husband feels (or felt then) about your natural red hair and if he influenced you to go back to your natural red hair?
We found it interesting you went from red to blonde to brunette, saying, “But in my late 20s when I decided I wanted to be taken more seriously at work, I completed the hair trifecta and became a brunette.” Tell us more.
As we mentioned before, you went back to red for the birth of your child in 2010. Why?
Now for the present day, you’re blonde. We wanted to read the last sentence of the article to listeners. You say, “Perhaps in years to come, I will branch out and embrace my greys or even try a candy pink, but right now I’m comfortable as a blonde.”
What advice do you have for redheads, no matter their age, struggling with their identity? Do you recommend trying a new hair color or embracing you?
You can hear Stephanie and Adrienne interview Laura on the latest episode of the How to be a Redhead Podcast directly below, available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts:
Want to help us spread the news about the How to be a Redhead brand and this podcast? Please give us a 5-star review and tell your friends (redheads and everyone else) to subscribe.
Want your questions answered on an episode of the podcast? Email H2BARPodcast@gmail.com, or DM us on Instagram @HowtobeaRedhead or TikTok @HowtobeaRedhead. We answer 2-4 questions per podcast so be sure to tune in to hear if we answered yours.
With over 6 million videos, it seems like everyone wants to see themselves with red hair
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Viral TikTok filters are a cultural phenomenon that we’ve only begun to experience in the past few years. These filters can create new trends and memes and take the internet by storm. Something we’ve seen a lot of are filters that alter people’s appearance. From makeup to hair color, you can change just about any part of you with a filter.
Every few months it feels like a new redhead filter pops up on TikTok, but there’s a new crimson-focused filter that not only gives you red hair, but also gives freckles, lipstick, and lashes. The filter is called “gingerhair&fr by lerrie” and it is one of the more realistic hair color filters we’ve ever seen.
Arden Rose, popular influencer and YouTuber, dyed her hair red after using the redhead filter. She posted a few TikTok videos using the filter over her natural non-redhead locks and spoke about how amazing it would be if she actually had red hair. Within a couple of days, she dyed her hair red! You will see from the videos below, the red suits her and she looks gorgeous.
There is no other word than “crazy” to explain the impact viral filters can have. We recently wrote an opinion post titled, “Opinion: Society is Rebranding Red Hair and We Don’t Know What To Think.” In the article, we express, “red hair has been trending season after season, but no-one is calling it ‘red hair’, ‘redhead’ or the ever-controversial term ‘ginger’. Instead, they’re exchanging it for more trendy terms.” The terms are: Cowboy Copper, Cowgirl Copper, Cherry Cola, Cinnamon Cookie Batter, etc. Are these TikTok filters causing society to continue to rebrand red hair, or do you think it’s making redheads more socially acceptable? Are redheads finally trending for actually having red hair, or are we trending because of these new technological advances to recreate appearances?
Aside from Arden’s massively popular video, the filter has been used in over 6 million videos, many of which feature non-redheads who have realized maybe red is their color. Captions read things like:
We think natural redheads should be happy that the color we’ve all rocked our entire lives is finally *the* color to have — and we didn’t even need to step foot in the salon or apply a TikTok filter. We welcome those into our community, but may we ask everyone to start naming it: redhead, red hair and/or ginger, instead of the commercial names? BRB while we get back to our FYP..
There’s nothing worse than waking up with puffy under eyes. Redheads, like individuals with other hair colors, can have puffy eyes for various reasons. Puffy eyes can be caused by factors such as genetics, allergies, lack of sleep, fluid retention, or even certain lifestyle choices. Since redheads usually have sensitive skin which can increase puffiness, and it’s important to address the underlying cause, such as getting enough rest, managing allergies, and staying hydrated. It’s also important to remove allergens from your home and use quality eye creams daily. Here are five of our favorite ways for redheads depuff their eyes in just 15 minutes:
1. Cold spoon
Keep a clean spoon in your fridge or freezer and place it gently over your eye for a few minutes to help reduce puffiness. If you didn’t plan ahead you can try dipping a spoon into ice water for about a minute until cold to the touch and using that.
2. Ice
You can also reduce puffiness by applying ice or an ice roller to the affected area. Be careful not to leave it too long as you don’t want to damage the skin. An ice roller is perfect for this because you can keep it moving and ice the entire face, but regular ice cubs work too!
3. Tea bags
Applying tea bags to your eyes is a great way to bring down any puffiness. Green, black, chamomile, and calendula tea can all be used. First, you want to steep 2 tea bags in hot water for about 5 minutes. Then squeeze the excess liquid from them and wait for them to be cool to the touch. If you prefer them to be cold, you can refrigerate them. Lay down and place the tea bags over your closed eyes for up to 15 minutes.
4. Under-eye masks
Under-eye patches and masks are perfect for reducing puffiness. Find ones that contain things like caffeine and calming agents. For an added soothing effect, store your under-eye products in the fridge.
5. Aloe vera
A natural depuffing remedy that most redheads probably have in their homes is aloe vera gel. Apply cooled aloe gel to clean under the eyes. Massage the gel to promote circulation and help reduce swelling.
