Redheads teased on the school playground over their fiery locks are now having the last laugh after a Harvard University study showed their numbers are surging thanks to natural selection.
But whilst the ginger gene has become more common among Europeans, those with copper locks are still only estimated to make up between just one to two per cent of the world’s population.
So, don’t believe every auburn haired goddess you see, because there’s plenty of folk who quietly mimic having naturally flaming locks – including a host of celebrities.
Several A-listers known for being redheads are actually flame-haired fakers, with their fans sometimes totally unaware of their natural blonde or brunette looks.
Read on to discover which famous faces have long been tweaking their hair colour, and who’s actually been blessed with copper ‘dos…
Julianne Moore
American actress Julianne Moore is beloved for her signature red tresses and frequently showcases her long locks while stunning on the red carpet
American actress Julianne Moore is beloved for her signature red tresses and frequently showcases her long locks while stunning on the red carpet.
Eager fans of the Still Alice star will be pleased to learn that Julianne is, in fact, a natural redhead. While she has occasionally experimented with different looks, Julianne’s auburn hair seems to be her go-to colour.
Yet while her copper locks have become an integral part of her public image, Julianne has spoken candidly about how her natural colour made her feel like an ‘outsider’ in her early years.
‘Redheads are two percent of the global population. Nobody wants to feel like they’re in the minority,’ Julianne told The Times.
‘Now, I feel very identified with my hair and freckles. But there’s still a part of me that would rather be a tanned blonde,’ she added.
Bella Thorne
Since she first graced our screens on Disney Channel show Shake It Up in 2013, Bella Thorne’s red locks have often garnered significant public attention
Since she first graced our screens on Disney Channel show Shake It Up in 2013, Bella Thorne’s red locks have often garnered significant public attention.
Yet in 2019, Bella left fans amazed when she revealed that her signature look is far from au naturale.
Speaking to Allure, she disclosed: ‘A lot of people don’t know I’m not actually a redhead. I’m a blonde. I dyed it for Big Love.
‘It started off more of a deep red, and Disney was like, Why don’t we take Bella all the way to blonde again?’ I don’t know why, but I had a breakdown and so overreacted. I wanted to go back to red.’
Emma Stone
Award-winning actress Emma Stone has become long-associated with vibrant red hues. Yet, much to the dismay of many, her signature redhead is achieved by the remarkable work of hair stylists, rather than genetics
Award-winning actress Emma Stone has become long-associated with vibrant red hues. Yet, much to the dismay of many, her signature redhead is achieved by the remarkable work of hair stylists, rather than genetics.
Emma is, in fact, a natural blonde and made the decision to transition to a red shade in the early days of her acting career.
‘I like to dye my hair red. I’m not a redhead naturally, but you know I’m a great supporter. I love the red. Blonde is the easiest because it keeps growing out this way, but if it weren’t for Spider-Man, I’m sure I would still be red,’ she previously told Ginger Parrot.
Emma’s seemingly effortless hair colour is achieved by longtime colourist Tracey Cunningham who made the actress ‘really red’ when she was around 17 or 18.
Tracey told Refinery 29: ‘I always tell people that one of the biggest reasons why Emma’s hair looks so incredible red is because she looks like a redhead.
‘Despite the fact that her natural color is blonde, the red suits her so well. It’s a unique case, because almost everyone in Emma’s family has red hair except her. Her mom is a beautiful natural redhead, and it’s actually on both sides of her family.
‘I think there’s something about those genetics that make the red shade look so gorgeous with her skin tone and her eyes — it’s just a look that she can pull off exquisitely.’
To achieve Emma’s signature red look, Tracey explained that she uses the Redken Shade EQ gloss to create a simple yet striking auburn tone.
Isla Fisher
Australian actress Isla Fisher’s long auburn locks are a staple part of her public image and personal brand, yet she has previously discussed struggling with her gorgeous natural red hair
Australian actress Isla Fisher’s long auburn locks are a staple part of her public image and personal brand, yet she has previously discussed struggling with her gorgeous natural red hair.
Speaking to Marie Clarie Australia, Isla openly revealed that during her childhood, she was keen to ‘blend in’ and struggled with being one of the few redheads growing up.
‘Having red hair was something that made me feel a little different to people—I wouldn’t say I naturally embraced that difference, I sort of wanted to blend in,’ she said.
However, the Great Gatsby star added that as she grew into her vibrant hair colour, she later realised that being naturally red was an incredible attribute that should be celebrated, rather than shunned.
She added: ‘In my journey, and when I got older, I really realised it made me feel unique.’
Lindsay Lohan
When Lindsay Lohan first hit our screens in the legendary film Parent Trap in 1998, she quickly became a leading redhead figure for those growing up in the late 90s’ and early 2000s
When Lindsay Lohan first hit our screens in the legendary film Parent Trap in 1998, she quickly became a leading redhead figure for those growing up in the late 90s’ and early 2000s.
And while Lindsay has occasionally experimented with blonde and brunette colours, she has always returned to her strawberry blonde tresses – and indeed has spoken openly about how she will always opt to lean into her natural redhead roots.
Speaking to Elle Magazine, she revealed: ‘Redheads are unique, and their hair is beautiful. It’s a special color. As you get older, you learn to appreciate your natural beauty.
‘It took me a long time because when I was a kid, it wasn’t cool to have red hair. [I] kind of felt like an outcast when I was young, but that’s changed so much. Now I really embrace my red hair.’
Geri Halliwell-Horner
Famously dubbed ‘Ginger Spice’, Geri Halliwell-Horner’s fiery red hair was requested by scores of Spice Girl fans who flocked to the salon in the late 90s’. Yet Geri’s signature ginger locks were, in fact, down to the fabulous work of hair dye
Famously dubbed ‘Ginger Spice’, Geri Halliwell-Horner’s fiery red hair was requested by scores of Spice Girl fans who flocked to the salon in the late 90s’.
Yet much to their dismay, Geri’s signature ginger locks were, in fact, down to the fabulous work of hair dye.
In actuality, while she may have helped to put red hair on the map, Geri is a natural blonde and has since reverted back to her roots.
However, in 2019, she sent fans of the popular girl group into meltdown when she took to Instagram to show her tussled head of red locks with the caption: ‘Ginger is back!’
Later revealing why she opted to dye her hair red during the 90s, Geri told ELLE: ‘There is a connotation that comes with being ginger. It’s an attitude. There’s a fire in you, you’re outspoken.
‘Going back to red, it’s like a comfort zone, it’s a safe place. It feels authentic to me.’
Jessica Chastain
Award-winning actress Jessica Chastain has often turned heads with her striking auburn hair which she wears with immense pride
Award-winning actress Jessica Chastain has often turned heads with her striking auburn hair which she wears with immense pride.
Indeed, Jessica, a natural born redhead, is so fond of her ginger tresses that she adamantly refuses to dye her hair for movie roles.
Instead, the film star opts to use careful wigs to ensure that her auburn hair remains in excellent condition.
Opening up about how her signature red hair affected her self-confidence in her teenage years, Jessica told Stylist: Being a redhead, you can’t fit into the group. I wanted to be blonde so bad.
‘I had really bad self-esteem and I asked my mom if I could dye my hair but she wouldn’t let me.’
Christina Hendricks
Mad Men star Christina Hendricks has long been associated with her fiery red locks. Yet much to the surprise of many, she hasn’t always been a redhead
Mad Men star Christina Hendricks has long been associated with her fiery red locks. Yet much to the surprise of many, she hasn’t always been a redhead.
At the age of 10, Christina was inspired to dye her hair red with Clairol’s Nice’n easy after becoming a firm fan of the popular novel Anne of Green Gables.
And the striking auburn colour has pretty much stuck ever since.
‘I was a blonde, but I loved Ann-Margret and Lucille Ball, so my mom suggested I change my color to red with a rinse,’ she told Wall Street Journal.
Explaining how her signature red look became integral to her public persona, she told Radio Times: ‘When I first started modelling I was blonde. Then I got a job and they wanted to do my hair bright red.
‘I came back as a redhead and couldn’t get my hair back to blonde for two days – in the meantime I had to audition. I booked two or three jobs, because there were a lot fewer redheads than blondes, and I was like, this is working for me, I’m keeping this!’
