Red hair, more fragile than any other type of hair, requires appropriate care. Here’s how to take care of it on a daily basis.
Natural red hair is rare
Red hair affects only 1-2% of the world’s population. And it is in Northern Europe that we encounter the most redheads, particularly in Scotland, Ireland, and Wales.
The mutation of the Melanocortin 1 Receptor or MC1R gene is thought to be the causality of the red color, freckles, and white skin. To be redhead, it is not only necessary to be a carrier of the gene and that it has experienced a specific mutation.
Thus, two parents who are not ginger can have ginger children if they both carry the MC1R gene. And even if they both carry the gene, they only have a 25% chance of conceiving a child with red hair.
What are the features of red hair?
They are sensitive to UV rays
Red pigments are very sensitive to sunlight, they are said to be photosensitive. As a result, red hair can quickly become dull under the effect of ultraviolet rays. Hence the importance of applying care that contains sun filters.
They are thicker and drier
The hair fiber of red hair is thicker and drier than that of brown and blond hair. As a result, They need to be hydrated and nourished intensely. Another peculiarity, red hair is thicker than brown and blond hair, but there are fewer of them on the skull, with an average of 80,000 hairs, against 140,000 for blonds and 100,000 for browns.
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They are more difficult to color
Red pigments are tough! Natural red hair is therefore more difficult to color. In addition, their thick texture prevents good penetration of pigments. In most cases, conventional colorings do not hold. It is better to seek advice from a professional than to attempt home coloring. Bleaching may be required to achieve the desired color. Another option, sweeping, to give shine to your red hair.
They whiten less quickly
Natural red hair bleaches less quickly than brunettes and blondes. Good news for redheads who see their first gray hair arriving late!
Red hair: what care to adopt?
Sensitive to the sun, naturally red hair can quickly lose its shine. They need a shampoo that maintains their natural pigments.
Using a henna shampoo will bring out the highlights of your natural pigments. Also, turn to radiance booster treatments. Enriched with pigments, they sublimate red hair by highlighting the different natural shades.
You can also use shampoos and conditioners for colored hair, as they fix the color of the hair fiber.
As red hair is thicker and drier, it needs to be deeply hydrated and nourished. Apply masks with nourishing active ingredients such as keratin or shea butter, and hair oils on the lengths and ends.
Finally, remember to protect them from the sun by applying an anti-UV lacquer or sun oil.
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Red hair: how to boost its color?
In addition to care, you can add shine to your natural color with balayage or hair shine, a gentle coloring technique that adds shine.
Balayage is a light highlighting of thin strands of hair. In redheads, the lighter locks give relief and light to the lengths. For the choice of the lightest tone, ask your colorist for advice, because there are several shades of red (Venetian blond, mahogany red, flamboyant red, coppery red, etc.).
If your red is very dark, thin streaks of a slightly lighter tone are enough to give light to your hair. If your red is reddish, the colorist can intensify it with cherry or garnet tones. On a Venetian red, honey or caramel streaks will give shine to your natural color.
Photo: Pexels/ Mariana
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