# Goodbye redheads: they could be extinct within 100 years **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [August 23, 2007, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/goodbye-redheads-they-could-be-extinct-within-100-years/416584 "2007-08-23T00:49:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Cunctator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/43a26b/32.png) [@Cunctator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cunctator)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2007, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/goodbye-redheads-they-could-be-extinct-within-100-years/416584/1 "2007-08-23T00:49:45Z")
According to [this item](http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,22289183-2,00.html) in today’s paper (23 August) reporting on genetic scientists’ musings in an article in the current _National Geographic_. ---
**Author:** ![Tabula\_Rasa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a9adbd/32.png) [@Tabula\_Rasa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tabula_Rasa)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2007, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/goodbye-redheads-they-could-be-extinct-within-100-years/416584/2 "2007-08-23T01:00:08Z")
The report fails to factor in the ease with which redheads can find each other in a crowd. ---
**Author:** ![Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e480ec/32.png) [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Least_Original_User_Name_Ever)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2007, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/goodbye-redheads-they-could-be-extinct-within-100-years/416584/3 "2007-08-23T01:15:45Z")
I’ve never been a big fan of redheads. I like it when women dye their hair red, but natural redheads are rarely hot. The lone women that buck that trend are [Angie Everhart](http://imagecache2.allposters.com/IMAGES/MMPH/262746.jpg), [Nikki Cox](http://imagecache2.allposters.com/images/pic/MMPH/257810~Nikki-Cox-Posters.jpg), and [Julia Boorstin](http://www.gogomag.com/jb5/x_juliaboorstin.jpg). The third I discovered at work, where we watch oodles of MSNBC and she does the Hollywood reporting periodically throughout the day. ---
**Author:** ![GingerOfTheNorth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/cdc98d/32.png) [@GingerOfTheNorth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GingerOfTheNorth)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2007, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/goodbye-redheads-they-could-be-extinct-within-100-years/416584/4 "2007-08-23T01:21:11Z")
I wonder if the authors of this study have ever been to Canada. I find that redheads aren’t nearly as prevalent in the US as they were in Canada and I’m something of an oddity here. ---
**Author:** ![CaerieD](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/da6949/32.png) [@CaerieD](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CaerieD)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2007, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/goodbye-redheads-they-could-be-extinct-within-100-years/416584/5 "2007-08-23T01:32:36Z")
Bah, they recycle that old bit of trash every few months. There wasn’t a single redhead on either side of my family in my or my parents’ generation and then, low and behold, I was born with bright red hair and others followed me! As long as people with recessive genes continue to breed, the genes will continue to be passed on, even if there’s nothing but brunettes for four generations. Yes, all of us redheads could end up marrying people who lack the recessive ginger allele, but it’s not terribly likely. The 2% figure is looking at the entire world, after all. When looking for a mate, the fact that there are several billion people with black hair in Asia isn’t going to somehow prevent me from finding a local boy who has red hair running in his family. ---
**Author:** ![sturmhauke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e47c2d/32.png) [@sturmhauke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sturmhauke)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2007, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/goodbye-redheads-they-could-be-extinct-within-100-years/416584/6 "2007-08-23T01:36:15Z")
[QUOTE=Least Original User Name Ever] I’ve never been a big fan of redheads. I like it when women dye their hair red, but natural redheads are rarely hot. [/QUOTE] Bite your tongue! Redheads are so hot, their heads catch fire! ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2007, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/goodbye-redheads-they-could-be-extinct-within-100-years/416584/7 "2007-08-23T01:40:53Z")
I must seek out a redhead to continue the strain. (Why, **Sunspace** , you haven’t a red hair on you! I–_shuttup!_–What?–_you’re giving it awa_–_thump_ BANG arrgghh) Sorry. What was the thread saying again? ---
**Author:** ![NurseCarmen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/5daacb/32.png) [@NurseCarmen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NurseCarmen)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2007, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/goodbye-redheads-they-could-be-extinct-within-100-years/416584/8 "2007-08-23T01:41:27Z")
Oh dear god! Something must be done, stat! I’m sure all redheads are concerned about this trend. I will be willing to sacrifice myself to the furtherence of redheaded species. yes, I will screw every hot willing redhead that avails herself to me. Yes, I’m selfless. I know. ---
**Author:** ![DJ\_Motorbike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/90ced4/32.png) [@DJ\_Motorbike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DJ_Motorbike)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2007, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/goodbye-redheads-they-could-be-extinct-within-100-years/416584/9 "2007-08-23T01:42:18Z")
A world without redheads is not one I would care to live in. ---
**Author:** ![Lightnin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lightnin/32/180_2.png) [@Lightnin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lightnin)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2007, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/goodbye-redheads-they-could-be-extinct-within-100-years/416584/10 "2007-08-23T01:44:10Z")
My family is rapidly being taken over by the redheads- most of the cousins born in the past decade have been gingers. ---
**Author:** ![asterion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4da419/32.png) [@asterion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asterion)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2007, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/goodbye-redheads-they-could-be-extinct-within-100-years/416584/11 "2007-08-23T01:50:47Z")
I heard some report on NPR a while back about the horrible abuse “gingers” apparently face in the UK. I swear, the way they were reporting it made it sound like that episode of South Park. I kept hoping someone would call himself a daywalker. ---
**Author:** ![Mona\_Lisa\_Simpson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ce7236/32.png) [@Mona\_Lisa\_Simpson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mona_Lisa_Simpson)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2007, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/goodbye-redheads-they-could-be-extinct-within-100-years/416584/12 "2007-08-23T01:53:03Z")
The reason there are so few of us left is that red dye fades out quickly… ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2007, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/goodbye-redheads-they-could-be-extinct-within-100-years/416584/13 "2007-08-23T01:53:39Z")
[QUOTE=Least Original User Name Ever] I’ve never been a big fan of redheads. I like it when women dye their hair red, but natural redheads are rarely hot. The lone women that buck that trend are [Angie Everhart](http://imagecache2.allposters.com/IMAGES/MMPH/262746.jpg), [Nikki Cox](http://imagecache2.allposters.com/images/pic/MMPH/257810~Nikki-Cox-Posters.jpg), and [Julia Boorstin](http://www.gogomag.com/jb5/x_juliaboorstin.jpg). The third I discovered at work, where we watch oodles of MSNBC and she does the Hollywood reporting periodically throughout the day. [/QUOTE] You forgot [Kari Byron.](http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c292/Crepas/kari140oi.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2007, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/goodbye-redheads-they-could-be-extinct-within-100-years/416584/14 "2007-08-23T01:55:51Z")
[QUOTE=Cunctator] According to [this item](http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,22289183-2,00.html) in today’s paper (23 August) reporting on genetic scientists’ musings in an article in the current _National Geographic_. [/QUOTE] Noooooooooooooooooooooooo!!! ---
**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2007, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/goodbye-redheads-they-could-be-extinct-within-100-years/416584/15 "2007-08-23T01:57:26Z")
[QUOTE=Least Original User Name Ever] I’ve never been a big fan of redheads. I like it when women dye their hair red, but natural redheads are rarely hot. [/QUOTE] I’m sorry, I reject you totally. ---
**Author:** ![pizzabrat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e9c0ed/32.png) [@pizzabrat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pizzabrat)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2007, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/goodbye-redheads-they-could-be-extinct-within-100-years/416584/16 "2007-08-23T01:58:01Z")
^^ What he said. Edit: Crap, too late. What he said before the other thing. ---
**Author:** ![Triskadecamus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b19c9b/32.png) [@Triskadecamus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Triskadecamus)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2007, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/goodbye-redheads-they-could-be-extinct-within-100-years/416584/17 "2007-08-23T02:09:21Z")
“In my opinion, there’s nothing in this world, Beats a '52 Vincent, and a red headed girl.” ~ Richard Thompson ~ ---
**Author:** ![Scuba\_Ben](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/278dde/32.png) [@Scuba\_Ben](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scuba_Ben)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2007, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/goodbye-redheads-they-could-be-extinct-within-100-years/416584/18 "2007-08-23T02:48:49Z")
I’ve been a sympathizer with the League of Red-Headed Men for a couple of years, though I believe the League should be putting more efforts into Red-Headed Ladies. I know _I_ would. ---
**Author:** ![tremorviolet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e47774/32.png) [@tremorviolet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tremorviolet)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2007, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/goodbye-redheads-they-could-be-extinct-within-100-years/416584/19 "2007-08-23T03:02:07Z")
[QUOTE=Least Original User Name Ever] I’ve never been a big fan of redheads. I like it when women dye their hair red, but natural redheads are rarely hot. [/QUOTE] That’s probably a percedption issue. Stunning redheads probably occur as often as stunning blondes or brunettes, there are just a lot fewer of them since natural red hair is relatively rare. Because red hair is rare, you tend to remember all redheads whereas you would tend to forget or not even notice an average or unattractive blonde. Women who dye their hair tend to take more care in their appearence and, on average, are probalby more attractive than women who don’t dye their hair. And I say this as an completely average red head. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2007, 4:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/goodbye-redheads-they-could-be-extinct-within-100-years/416584/20 "2007-08-23T04:51:45Z")
Red hair does not automatically make a woman hot. But when it works, it works very well. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/goodbye-redheads-they-could-be-extinct-within-100-years/416584.md?page=2)