Throughout history, redheads have been feared and revered, loathed and adored, degraded and exalted. It’s one hair colour which provokes such a definite response.
For many years I hated being a redhead. As a child I would search the shelves in toy stores for a doll with my hair colour, to no avail. As a teenager I’d flick through Vogue and Elle in search of a runway model with red hair. Neither were there any redheaded newsreaders, celebrities or movie stars. It was as if red hair was still seen as something ugly, something which people didn’t want to see or emulate.
And then in the late eighties Pretty Woman and Julia Roberts came along, at last, someone with red hair who was deemed beautiful. I wanted to be just like her (albeit not a hooker). So I permed my hair, bought knee-length boots and waited for my Richard Gere.
Yet it was the 90s before I saw red-haired dolls in the shops, and even today they’re still uncommon.
Redheaded Barbie
However, there are many beautiful redheads who are now celebrated and adored, from Mad Men’s Christina Hendricks and to natural redheads like Juliane Moore and Debra Messing who never faltered from their roots…
And those we wish had stayed red, like Lindsay Lohan…
…to new flaming redheads like Rihanna.
We’re slowly beginning to realise that what makes us different is what makes us beautiful.
Becoming a redhead has never been easier as at last there’s an incredible range to choose from, I’m particularly excited by John Frieda Precision Foam Colour, a new range which offers an extensive colour chart of reds.
Detailed review of this new ‘easy to use product’ which promises ‘salon results’ to follow in the coming weeks.
Beautyboffin 
I’ve looking for a natural looking red like Christine from Madmen, she is a natural blond you know, would really like to hear how your tester gets on with this, please post pics. Any recommendations for which one will give the most natural looking results?
Do you have a cost on this?
Ms Lohan gave redheads a bad name! Love J.Moore, so classy.
I too am a natural redhead and hated it as a child. Applying mounds of chocolate mousse to my long curly hair was a morning staple for me. As an adult, however, I appreciate my auburn locks and wouldn’t change it if you begged me.
FYI, Debra Messing is not a natural redhead. She has dark chestnut locks and was in the Keanu Reeves movie: “A Walk in the Clouds” with her natural brown color.
Nice article!
Thanks for your comments.
I used coloured mousse too, and it used turn my hair hard – not a good look.
You’re totally right about Debra Messing – I just looked up an interview she gave to Elle – I wonder what dye she uses cause it certainly looks natural to me.
Lovin’ your blog btw.
Red heads rule – so much more interesting than blonde. Love Lindsay since she got out of Rehab and let her auburn hair shine through again. Suits her so much more.
I wanted to go red for new years and used this but didn’t get any of the glorious reds featured, instead I’m kind of an unattractive back/plumb and it won’t wash out. 😦
Red is one of those colours which is hard to carry off but can look incredible with the right skin tone. Hate when I see redheads with fake tan because it looks all wrong.
Redheads unite! I’m writing an essay about how red heads are represented in film & u know they’re always cast as the villain!
Just stumbled across your blog and have now been here for an hour!! I’m going to reference your redhead post in my assignment. Awesome blog!!! I’ll be back.
PS. CAn you PM me if you’re time and I’d love to ask you a few questions on your post.