Oops, I missed Gaspode’s post, thats basically what I was talking about…
I think the idea that redheads originate from Ireland and Scotland is a misconception. When I have visited Ireland, I didn’t see an alarming number of redheads; just the same proportions you see here in the US. In fact, its my understanding that in Ireland, red-headed women are considered bad luck. My own theory on the matter of redheads from Ireland and Scotland is that any redheads are results of Viking invasions in the pre-Middle Ages.
witchcraft, also see left handed
Women with red hair are the most beautiful, sensual, intelligent, passionate, mystical, wonderful, and free-spirited* creatures to grace this Earth.
*Unfortunately they have also been responsible for this gaping hole in my heart 
I’ve had to duct-tape the damn thing 2 1/2 times on account of them.
Another redhead checking in here, sorry to hear that Lockfist, some redheads are the devil.
Not me, of course, but… hmm, we don’t lie either.
I’ve never seen a real redhead with a tan. I’ve seen photos of dyed-haired women with red hair and a tan, and it looks so weird to me.
It does, but I’ll let you check to be sure.
Highest proportion of redheads is in Scotland. Something like 10% of the population. About 35% of the population is also estimated to carry the ‘red gene’, meaning that their offspring could have red hair. Your experiences of Ireland depend rather in what part of the country you visited. I think Northern Ireland has a higher percentage, probably due to immigration from Scotland.
Whether they originated there is a different matter, but I would suspect that the majority of US redheads can trace their ‘red gene’ back to one or the other. Estimates for the very first redhead suggest about 50 thousand years ago.
Redheads have low levels of melanin, a naturally produce pigment in the skin. This means they don’t tan, they go pink and burn. Their relatively large percentage of the population in Scotland might be explained because we don’t get much sun, so it’s not much of a problem being a redhead. There’s also studies to suggest that a lot of it has to do with, you know, attraction.
More about this at: http://www.ananova.com/news/story/sm_80720.html?nav_src
Uh, I happen to be left handed as well as red headed. What doe that mean?
And why do so many seem to have curly hair?
I don’t.
I have naturally curly hair. Naturally curly, naturally red hair.
And I’m still waiting on *Delta-9’s answer.
:mad:
Persephone, you minx, you tease.
Prove it.
I do. Really curly. Not as curly as Persephone’s but still very curly. Blonde eyelashes and brows - thank you mascara and brow tinting!
[Slight hijack]
AAAAAHHHHHH, Blonde eyelashes, the bain of my life, it’s like they don’t exist and makes me look even paler. I’ve just started having them tinted and it’s a life saver, haven’t tried the eyebrows though, next on my list.[/slight hijack]
I can tan if I do it very slowly, but being in Scotland dosen’t give me the opportunity unfortunatly. I grew up in a hot country but still never had a tan, so it must be more to do with melanin than how much sun you have available.
Ahh, no. Redheads often produce more melanin than other people, it’s just the type of melanin produced that differs.
Clffy, my first wife was a redhead, my second wife is of Japanese descent. We really should get together and compare notes some time.
No, I didn’t mean it THAT WAY.
Arden: I’ll tell you the same thing I tell everyone else when they ask me to “prove it”: Check my eyebrows.
Haaaaaaaaaahahahahahaha!
I’ve also got red eyebrows and lashes. Like Ginger, mascara is my friend. But no, I do not color my eyebrows. They’re red, but they’re dark enough to be visible.
I’m also one of those freak redheads with no freckles. Go figure.
And I’m STILL waiting for Delta’s answer…
Nah-uh, Persephone. You said all the way down.
Um, stay away from piles of wood with posts erected in the middle… no matter what they offer you if you’ll just take a second and climb up… also, I would suggest staying away from dunking ponds, likewise basement that contain thumbscrews and hot pokers should be avoided.
On the plus side, those annoying co-workers CAN be turned into toads. 
I am a redhead who tans. I don’t burn too much at all. I spend a lot of time outdoors, and I rarely wear sunscreen (don’t lecture me please). I don’t get a dark tan–more of a golden tan. And lots of little freckles.
FWIW, I have noticed that dark-eyed redheads* like me tend to tan, and pale-eyed redheads tend not to tan.
*My eyes are dark, but my hair is light–some call it strawberry blonde.