10 things I’ve learned since going ginger
A month ago, I had my dark blonde hair dyed a vibrant shade of red for a newspaper feature – because red is THE hair colour of 2015, I’m told. It’s also, as redheads everywhere will know already, not the easiest colour to live with — I’ve already toned that red down to a more manageable ginger. Here is what has struck me most over the past weeks.
1) Gingers are in a tiny minority. I know 1-2 per cent of the population in the UK is meant to be redheaded, but it feels like less than that in London. In any gathering of people – in a crowded shop, on a train station concourse – when you stop and look around, there is very rarely anyone else with such a noticeable hair colour. That means…
2) You stand out, whether you want to or not
3) which means that people will feel it’s perfectly ok to stare at you, just a bit longer than is polite.
4) You wouldn’t get away with any misdemeanours, however tiny, just because you are so obvious.
5) I need to wear blusher. A red-head beauty editor friend tipped me off about this and though I didn’t want to believe it, I see she is absolutely right. Without it, I look washed out.
6) A wardrobe of black, white and grey works just fine. With this beacon sitting on top of my head, I feel no need for colourful clothing
7) In the same vein, almost any ornamentation – earrings, necklaces — seems superfluous. The hair is decoration enough.
8) People will give you things like this mug, and you will have to laugh and accept them with a smile
9) Your friends will also be unable to stop themselves asking you idiotic things like, ‘Are you feeling more feisty, with that hair colour?’
10) Even worse, there are hazards out there like #KissAGingerDay out there – today. Who knew?