Natural hair colors are black, brown, blonde and red. The latter is the rarest and it is this shade that we will take a closer look at. It is related to a genetic mystery that fascinates both scientists and society. Check out the most important information about this unique hair color.
To start with, it’s worth considering all of them to see how unique the red shade is. The most common hair color is black, dominant in 80% of the population. It results from high levels of melatonin and protects against harmful UV radiation. That’s why people from Africa and Asia, where there is a lot of sunlight, have it.
Another popular hair color is brown – 11% of people have it. This color varies in tone – from light brown to very dark, almost black. Blonde hair is less common – only 2-3% of the populationbut it is the red one that is the real rarity.
Red tint of streaks occurs in only 1-2% of people around the world. It results from a recessive mutation of the MC1R gene, occurring on chromosome 16. A child will have this color of hair only if both parents pass on this feature.
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Red hair color is most common in Ireland and Scotland. This is where as many as 10-13% of people have this shade of hair. Moreover, 40% of the population are carriers of the MC1R gene. What is the situation in other countries?
For example, in Germany, France and Italy, only 2% of people have red streaks. An interesting fact is that this color occurs even in distant geographical regions, e.g. in Udmurtia in Russia. This is related to population migration, which may be an interesting research topic.
Red hair color is not only a matter of appearance – behind this shade there are fascinating genetic and biological mysteries. People with such streaks often have lighter skin that tans less easily, and their body produces more vitamin D in low sunlight conditions..
Interestingly, research shows that these people may have higher resistance to certain diseases, as well as sensitivity to pain. This unusual set of features makes redheads unique not only visually, but also physiologically. This makes them a particularly interesting topic for geneticists and anthropologists.
