Any redhead will know that the weird and wonderful world of having ginger hair is rather wonderful. And weird…slightly.

Everyone has an opinion of red hair. Some say it indicates a short temper, and others say it’s a sign of promiscuity. When in Poland, if you pass three redheads in a row, it’s said that you’ll win the state lottery. To say that redhead stereotypes are rife in modern society is a bit of an understatement.

But what’s the truth? Are any of these stereotypes true? It is every redhead’s duty to their weird and wonderful genetics to find out.

Enter Red: The History of Red Hair. And sure enough, within only a few paragraphs, you’ll quickly realise just how complicated this redhead history lark is. You’ll also learn that, aside from a mutated MC1R gene on chromosome 16, red hair is also dictated by HCL2 on chromosome 4, which determines your exact shade of gingerness. Fascinating.

Tracing back 50,000 years, our Red friend guides the reader through the Ancient Romans, the Egyptians, the Scythians, Elizabeth I’s reign…the list goes on. Eventually you make your way to modern day, with author and natural redhead Jacky Colliss Harvey detailing her experience at the Redhead Days event in the Netherlands.

The historic depth in which Harvey researched and delved to write Red is astonishing. Simply put: it’s the only history book a redhead will ever need. (You also gain a collection of pretty hilarious quotes about red hair on the inside cover of your book)

Jacky Colliss Harvey is probably the most knowledgeable woman of the history of red hair on the planet. We thank you dearly, Jacky.

Red is available in hardback, paperback and ebook

By Emma