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Original poster

Red hair

63 replies

Babyfaces12 · 28/05/2021 07:35

Calling all red heads and parents of red heads...

My baby was born was bright red hair. He’s now 6 months and it’s fallen out and grown back in the same colour. Eyebrows and lashes were blonde but they now match his hair. His hair is so so bright, truly orange and glows fluorescent in the sunlight! My question is... does this shade of orange calm down, or if this is his colour does it stay for life? I ask as I’ve never seen children or adults with this colour and as we don’t know any redheads, I’m wondering if it’s similar to blondes and brunettes where the shade does change over time.

Curious to hear experiences!

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Blackopal · 28/05/2021 07:40

Hi my eldest child was born with hair this bright and yes it did calm down, although it's still very red.

Are you worried about his hair?

Original poster
Babyfaces12 · 28/05/2021 08:04

Thanks for the reply @Blackopal I have no concerns with him having red hair - I know people can be unkind, but this doesn’t worry me too much as we’ll do our best to make sure he’s equipped to deal with any experiences he has. Its more this shade that is quite shocking and seems very rare, so I wonder how this develops through life. Did your child’s calm around 10/11?

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Blackopal · 28/05/2021 08:15

No, I think earlier then that. I can't say when exactly as it was gradual but I think fallen hairs were replaced with slightly calmer shade from around three years. She does still have bright hair.

I have red hair as do both my daughter's. I love their hair but I was a little concerned for them as it's such an easy thing to pick on and I have experienced it myself.

One thing I did from the start was refer to their hair as 'ginger' in a really normal and positive way.
I knew it would be flung at them as an insult in its own right and I wanted to kind of own the word from the start, I think this has helped. When a classmate says it to them their reaction is 'well ...yeah?'.

Also telling them how beautiful it is, may have overdone it with that one, my elder daughter will swish her hair at anyone in a five mile radius!

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sleepyhead · 28/05/2021 08:19

Yes, it's like that white blonde hair a lot of small children have. It'll darken a bit as he grows.

Didiplanthis · 28/05/2021 08:22

My boys had really bright orange hair when it finally grew through. For a while at about 1 they rocked a bright orange mohican ! It was a very very bright orange but not an really intense deep orange, they also had red eyebrows/eyelashes. Theirs has now dulled to a strawberry blond. Although when the light hits it its like fire.

GingerScallop · 28/05/2021 08:22

It's a pity that people with red hair are picked on. I absolutely love red hair. My husband was a ginger (not super bright but sister was rather bright) but in his late thirties it changed and I miss it. I wanted my kids to have that colour but no ways as am black African and it's so rare for that to happen. But each time a see bright red haired kids I just swoon

Original poster
Babyfaces12 · 28/05/2021 08:24

She sounds fabulous! I love how proud she is of her gorgeous hair. His hair really does suit him and I couldn’t imagine him as a blonde or brunette. I will admit I was extremely shocked and also worried when he was born, but as his personality is beginning to come through I feel better. I call his hair ginger and always have, but I’m conscious that some do find that offensive so tread carefully!

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Original poster
Babyfaces12 · 28/05/2021 08:27

That’s what I was thinking! My other child was white blonde and by 11 he’s pretty dark. You don’t see grown adults with natural white blonde hair and I haven’t personally seen a grown man with natural orange hair... but I wonder if mine is the first!

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Original poster
Babyfaces12 · 28/05/2021 08:30

This sounds similar to my boy. His hair suits him so so much and we’ll raise him to be proud and own it... but I wouldn’t mind it toning down just a little! What age did yours start to alter? He also his piercing blue eyes so looks very striking against me with near black hair and dark eyes. I’m sure people don’t think he’s mine.

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bubblebath62636 · 28/05/2021 08:30

Dd was born with black hair, by 6 months she was bright red. Now age 12 she has reddish/brown hair and loves it.

I know where you're coming from, it seems red hair on girls is more 'acceptable' these days and less prone to bullying. Sadly I've noticed the same can't be said for boys!

I'm sure your son is gorgeous!

Original poster
Babyfaces12 · 28/05/2021 08:32

@Didiplanthis

This sounds similar to my boy. His hair suits him so so much and we’ll raise him to be proud and own it... but I wouldn’t mind it toning down just a little! What age did yours start to alter? He also his piercing blue eyes so looks very striking against me with near black hair and dark eyes. I’m sure people don’t think he’s mine.

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Babyfaces12 · 28/05/2021 08:34

@bubblebath62636 He really is gorgeous! It is a shame people take issue with hair colour but as it’s become more acceptable for girls, I wonder if in time the same will happen for boys.

As he was born this colour, I wonder if it’s less likely for it to change, unlike your daughter who was born dark. Her hair sounds a gorgeous colour!

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Original poster
Babyfaces12 · 28/05/2021 08:36

@GingerScallop It would be rare for your child to be red headed.... but certainly not impossible! 🤞🏻

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ThatOtherPoster · 28/05/2021 08:39

I’m a ginger and I’ve found the shade changes. When I had a lot of hair during pregnancy it all looked an amazing colour - a really deep red. Now I’m older it’s fading.

I got teased at school, but the only real downside was that I could never get away with anything because I stood out like a bloody beacon. So it’s great for curbing naughtiness...

I think it’ll change as he gets more hair. It’ll look different.

Original poster
Babyfaces12 · 28/05/2021 08:43

I have thought that too @ThatOtherPoster ... I’ll spot him from a mile away! 😆

I’m sorry to hear you were teased. My 11 year old in first year high school assures me this isn’t the case anymore. Time will tell

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HaplessHetty · 28/05/2021 08:44

@Babyfaces12

That’s what I was thinking! My other child was white blonde and by 11 he’s pretty dark. You don’t see grown adults with natural white blonde hair and I haven’t personally seen a grown man with natural orange hair... but I wonder if mine is the first!
My Grandad and brother were born with white blonde hair and both still had the colour when adults.
Original poster
Babyfaces12 · 28/05/2021 08:48

@HaplessHetty How lucky are they! That’s amazing.

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Namenotavail · 28/05/2021 08:50

My son had beautiful red strawberry blond hair until his early thirties then he went bald at the top. He now shaves the rest off. Such a shame

RockPainting · 28/05/2021 08:51

You really need to embrace his natural colour. If you don't like the alternatively names, just keep repeating that it is 'red' and that it is wonderful.

There are lots of physical characteristics that it is absolutely not acceptable to 'hope it will change' or that it 'may fade as they get older'.

Red hair is no different.

Sorry, really gets me this one.

HaplessHetty · 28/05/2021 08:56

Babyfaces12 They are very lucky. I was born with white blonde hair but went darker unfortunately.

k4523 · 28/05/2021 08:57

I've been wondering this too, me and my husband who is adopted have blonde hair, just had a boy with a full head of the most gorgeous red hair. He's 3 months now. Really hoping he keeps this colour!

lavenderandwisteria · 28/05/2021 08:59

Boris has white blonde hair Grin

Ds is pretty much bald but the tiny bit he has is so fair, it came as quite a surprise. I think it will go brown though Smile

Original poster
Babyfaces12 · 28/05/2021 09:02

@RockPainting I haven’t said I don’t like alternative names or that I hope it will change

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Dilbertian · 28/05/2021 09:03

My redhead at 21 has the same colour hair as when he was born. It looks a little darker because it is thicker, but last year we took a lock of his hair from his first haircut at 4yo and laid it on top of his hair, and they were identical. A fabulous, glowing, coppery red.

And I absolutely agree with this:

One thing I did from the start was refer to their hair as 'ginger' in a really normal and positive way.
I knew it would be flung at them as an insult in its own right and I wanted to kind of own the word from the start, I think this has helped. When a classmate says it to them their reaction is 'well ...yeah?'.

Footloosefancyfree · 28/05/2021 09:03

As a mother of a little red head and who married someone with red hair its just a hair colour just embrace it. His hair doesn't define him and he's had no problems because he's has a red hair.