A talk with redheads.
What more appropriate than to take aside five redheads and ask them questions on their glorious hair colour?
Os.
What are you doing // where // what for
I’m studying French and Spanish at Cambridge uni because I wanna travel lots and meet new people and all of that fun stuff.
What was the first gig you went to?
I remember my twin Bernard and I thought we were quite sick and indie when we were sixteen or seventeen, and we found out about a pretty unknown (and quite shit) band on Spotify called The Struts. There was a lil’ notice on their Spotify profile with live shows and we found out there was one playing that week so we were like “Sick!” and booked a couple of tickets. It was at a dingy underground bar in Tottenham Court Road, with about 30 other people, and the music was so loud that it gave Bernard tinnitus from which he is yet to recover. Pretty shit night.
Do you prefer the term red head or ginger?
I prefer red head just because I feel like my hair is darker than ginger. Ginger is sometimes pretty lifeless and faded as a colour and I don’t actually like it that much. I’m more of a red head I think. Also I hate ginger (the spice / root / whatever it is).
Do you feel a particular bond with other people with hair as fiery as yours?
Yeah! Completely! I remember being at a rap concert in Paris once and there was a guy with a fantastic ginger afro, who gave me a wink and a pat on the back. It’s always little things like that. Little acknowledgments of mutual redness.
Favourite red haired role model?
Ewan McGregor. (Yeah he is a redhead. When he’s got his rugged look going on). He’s a hero. I’m really into acting and I rate him a lot.
What’s the hardest part of growing up?
I’d say getting comfortable with yourself. Being young is a pretty turbulent time of change and so many young people go through phases of intense self-doubt and insecurity because of those changes. I’d say that’s got to be one of the hardest struggles.
Best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?
Nothing is permanent.
Favourite colour?
Dark green.
Where do you dream of living?
I want to live in loads of places – at the moment I would say Cuba. Or Senegal! Somewhere with lots of energy and flavour, and where I can practise my languages.
What do you think of Aristotle’s quote “The reddish are of bad character”?
Do one Aristotle mate.
Finish this sentence: being a redhead is…
… being proud, comfortable and unique.
ps. check out Os' pics here
Minnie.
What are you doing // where // what for
I've just become an underwriting assistant for terrorism and war insurance in London.
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What was the first gig you went to?
Busted (no shame).
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Do you prefer the term redhead or ginger?
Either - I refer to myself as ginger, but in general it unfortunately has more negative connotations.
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Do you feel a particular bond with other people with hair as fiery as yours?
Of course - we need to stick together, safety in numbers and all.
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Favourite red haired role model?
Boudicca, I bet she was sassy.
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What's the hardest part of growing up?
People being patronising and sympathetic with you just because you’re ginger. It’s tough being that little bit different/unique when you’re a child, when all you want to do is fit in, but it allows you to appreciate the rarity of being a redhead when you get older.
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Best piece of advice you've ever been given?
In terms of being ginger it has to be to never dye my hair. I get it from my mother and old people all the time.
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Favourite colour?
Navy.
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Where do you dream of living?
A Scandinavian city, maybe Helsinki or Stockholm, or anywhere in Scotland- I love it there.
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What do you think of Aristotle's quote "The reddish are of bad character"?
I see the quote as referring to the temperament of redheaded people, in which case from my own experience/personality I would say the quote is mildly true. I have a tendency to get agitated by the most insignificant and small things that others might do.
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Finish this sentence: being a redhead is…
Machiavellian (society says we are both perceived as fiery yet apparently sexy individuals) (lol).
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What do you think of when you think of red?
The 2002 Busted album cover and Little My, the feisty and determined redheaded character in the Moomin series.
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Min linked us up with this article. Have a read, we enjoyed it: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/this-britain/seeing-red-nature-vs-nurture-5348801.html
Alice.
What are you doing // where // what for
Studying geography at the University of Edinburgh. My dream would be working for the UN doing geographyish things.
What was the first gig you went to?
James Blunt when I was 10, met him and cried.
Do you prefer the term red head or ginger?
Ginger. Cos I’m ginger.
Do you feel a particular bond with other people with hair as fiery as yours?
No.
Favourite red haired role model?
Ron Weasley. Cos he’s a lad. No don’t put that. You have to make it sound good- guess I fancy him too.
What’s the hardest part of growing up?
Being bullied mercilessly for my ginger hair. Jokes I was never bullied.
Best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?
I dunno. What did everyone else say? Try not to die before every night out ever.
Favourite colour?
I think probably turquoise. Or green. Colour of the sea.
Where do you dream of living?
I dunno - fuck - you know when you haven’t thought about it for ages? I wanna live in the old suburbs of Edinburgh. Those big ass town houses with the big bay windows and old furnishings dotted about.
What do you think of Aristotle’s quote “The reddish are of bad character”?
He can piss off.
Finish this sentence: being a redhead is…
FAB.
Caspar.
What are you doing // where // what for
2nd year of Edinburgh university.
What was the first gig you went to?
Van Morrison.
Do you prefer the term red head or ginger?
Red head – a lesser of two evils.
Do you feel a particular bond with other people with hair as fiery as yours?
(no answer)
Favourite red haired role model?
Prince Harry.
What’s the hardest part of growing up?
Your mum can’t deal with the bullies for you.
Best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?
Wear a hat.
Favourite colour?
Green.
Where do you dream of living?
Costa Rica
What do you think of Aristotle’s quote “The reddish are of bad character”?
Not his most memorable work.
Finish this sentence: being a redhead is…
Not worth trying.
Isobel.
What are you doing // where // what for
I am on second floor of the University of Edinburgh library procrastinating.
What was the first gig you went to?
S Club Juniors.
Do you prefer the term red head or ginger?
Red head for sure!! I think ginger is more for cats.
Do you feel a particular bond with other people with hair as fiery as yours?
Yes I can sometimes read their minds too.
Favourite red haired role model?
Simon Pegg.
What’s the hardest part of growing up?
The freckle merge.
Best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?
Wear sunscreen – Baz Luhrmann.
Favourite colour?
Blue! Complementary to orange.
Where do you dream of living?
Probably in a commune of red heads with blacked out windows to prevent our skin from burning.
What do you think of Aristotle’s quote “The reddish are of bad character”?
I think the the badder the better.
Finish this sentence: being a redhead is…
Rad.
