I'm a redhead- ask me anything.

[Blackbirdblue30]

Just joining in :)

I'm also a redhead - what factor SPF do you use? Do you tan? Do you get freckles?! What shade of red?!?

I use a 30 on my body and a 50 on my face and anything delicate. I freckle but they go away in winter. I was the most freckled child I have ever seen. Traditional red red rather than paler 'ginger' (perjerative term) or auburn that is getting a bit blonde around the temples with age (early 30s)

My feet and my back tan a tiny bit, nothing else does.

Do,you get called named relating to,your hair colour by strangers in the street?

Are you super ticklish? My dh and ds's are ginger and they are the most ticklish people I have ever met. I wondered if their colouring had something to do with it!

Genuine but bonkers question: have you had a general anaesthetic? Have any of your red head relatives? How did you react.

My ds is have one next week and I have worked myself into a lather convincing myself he’ll have a bad reaction because it’s more common in redheads. Doesn’t help that his red head dad is allergic and his grandad on the other side only has battlefield anaesthetic so barely lived through it.

phlewf, I'm a red head and have had seven general anaesthetics with no bad effects. Hope your son's goes well!

Thanks. My brain knows he’ll be fine, it’s tonsils, it’s a world class hospital, he has no underlying conditions. My whenever I think about it my stomach drops into my boots and I wants to phone and cancel. The only logic I can apply is some weird pseudo science about redheads.

I'm a red head too and have never heard of this problem re GA , I was always OK.

I have always used high SPF sun cream but beware of not getting enough vitamin D. I now have mild osteoporosis.

Red head here too.

spf50 on the face and neck, cover up everything else.

I've had two general anaesthetics (tonsils & adenoids and wisdom teeth) and reacted badly each time, including very slow to come round.

Also prone to strange allergies and intolerances.

Another red head here, have had 30+ general anaesthetics and always been fine. Am known as a "bleeder" to midwives though as had major haemorrhages after each of my two children- apparently old (mid)wives tale is that red heads bleed!

What hair dye does anyone use? Am a fading into grey/auburn and missing the vibrant red I loathed as a child.

Also had no issues with GA, but need about 3 times the amount for any locals!

DS2 is a red head and had anaesthetic for a heart op with no issues. I presumably have the gene and have had some anaesthetic problems - mainly needing more to have any effect. The anaesthetist couldn't believe I could still feel him during a spinal block for DS1's section.

Clairol's Nice n Easy Blondey Orange

Always go for a lighter shade than you currently are.

Yes, that's true, I always need tons of local anaesthetic at the dentist, but generals have never been an issue. Also had a pph and my midwife said that red heads are always bleeders. Aren't we lucky?!

Do you have children? Are they redheads too and if not, were you a bit disappointed?

There’s a lot of redheads on my mum’s side of the family and I was convinced that, as it had skipped a generation with me and my sibling, my child would be a redhead. I was a little shocked when a dark haired baby arrived!

Redhead here! How does everyone else feel about the jokes/ digs about collars cuffs etc. It's always made me incredibly uncomfortable. Usually it's Saud by drunken idiots but trying to show off but I've never got used to it

Another redhead here - if I ever feel like answering the 'collar and cuffs' question (which I rarely do, a withering look is my usual response), then I just say 'you will never know'. To hide greys and give me back some of the 'gingeryness' I use Casting Creme Gloss 732, Vanilla Moccacino. I avoid the sun rather than using suncream, because I get so sick of applying it, and have never had a tan in my life - just freckles and more freckles. I tend to need more pain relief than most people, also a higher dose of sleeping pills and valium-type medications - not that I take them habitually!

Thanks for hair dye tips!

I have two red heads of my own, which is great. Didn't expect them at all as my parents both have v dark brown hair and DH has brown hair too.

Do you have blue eyes?

My DS is red haired with blue eyes which is apparently very unusual.
He's also due a GA for an undescended testicle which I'd been feeling very nervous about having read all the received wisdom re this online.

I thought red hair with blue eyes was the more usual combination, Jacinta!

Wow I never knew the red head/anaesthetic thing. It explains why I struggled with epidural!

Apparently not Apile, most redheads eyes are hazel, green or brown.
My DS' blue eyes make me wonder if his red hair will fade as he grows up. I hope not.

How interesting! Me and DC are all super pale redheads with blue eyes.

Saw a fascinating map of red head populations across the world once. Loads in E.Europe/Russia and populations all over the world.

I am a redhead. I’ve had two general anaesthetics with no problems.
I use a £1.99 colour thing from Superdrug to brighten my hair. (Answering someone’s question).