As the only redhead in my family, and one of only two redheads in my class when I was growing up, I felt like an outsider at times. My hair was made fun of and I frequently wished I looked another way. As an adult, however, I truly appreciate my coloring and I have met many other redheads who have helped me see we are an extra special group. This page lists some of the best resources for redhead I've found in my efforts to make the most of my red hair. If you're a redhead, I welcome hearing from you and learning about your favorite resources, too.

Hair Care

If you're looking for amazing shampoo that plays up your natural color and balances your pH so that you need less conditioner or add-on products, you should try ShiKai's Henna Gold Redhead formula. You can purchase it from VitaminLife online (with the best price I've found anywhere), at local health food store (ShiKai website helps you find a store in your area), directly from the ShiKai website, or by telephoning ShiKai at 1+800-448-0298. Be sure to get the Henna Gold Redhead formula (item #31303), list price $7.95. Before finding this shampoo formula, I frequently changed shampoos, looking for something to make my hair soft and shiny. No more searching! I've been using it for years and I'll use this shampoo until they stop making it. I sure hope that's no time soon...

I sometimes also use ShiKai's Henna Gold Extra Shine spray-on conditioner (which is also fabulous as a detangler on children's hair). Most of the time I don't need it though and just use the shampoo. NOTE: This product seems to be unavailable right now. I'll keep looking for a source and update this page asap.

Occasionally I use their Henna Gold Volume Plus Styling Gel which works very well because it's light and flexible while also holding the shape of my curls when I air dry my hair.

ShiKai has launched a line of products called "Color Reflect" specifically for color-treated hair and that give an extra color boost to fading natural red hair. While it does a beautiful job enhancing the color, I needed to use a conditioner with it and so I'm back to using the original Henna Gold Redhead formula instead.

By the way, my husband tried the color-enhancing shampoo for platinum hair and he loves it. Takes out every bit of yellowing and leaves his hair far less wiry-feeling than other shampoos he's used.

Hair: A Book of Braiding and Styles by Anne Akers Johnson (Klutz, 1995) Spiral bound. A beautifully illustrated instruction manual for creating cool hairstyles. While the book is especially suited for people with long hair, it also offers some good suggestions for people with shorter hair looking for inspiration to grow their hair out. Not specifically for redheads but features them prominently.

Curly Girl by Lorraine Massey with Deborah Chiel (Workman, 2001) showed me how to make my usually wavy red hair more curly than wavy. It offers simple techniques that I would never have thought of on my own. This book is not specifically for redheads but would be helpful for any red head with curly or wavy hair.

Just for Redheads offers makeup, hair care products, and tips specifically for redheads. The makeup comes in low-price packaging, but I've been happy with the quality and range of colors. For instance, they carry red and light brown mascara perfect for very pale lashes. They also offer a hair scrunchy that looks like hair (OK, that sounds creepy, but it's great for wrapping around a ponytail or a bun) that is exactly the color of my hair. I use "Strawberry Blonde" but they offer four different shades. Call for a catalog at 1+800-830-8240.

Other makeup tips: L'Oreal used to offer True Brown mascara, which didn't make me look like a raccoon, but I can't seem to find it anymore. I'll keep looking and report on it here asap. Bobbi Brown offers makeup with a yellow undertone (listed as "pale yellow" or "sand"), instead of pink or brown, that I can wear without looking like I'm wearing a mask. It takes a little getting used to but I wouldn't go back to the beige tones. Although I haven't ordered from them, Redheads Fancy also specializes in makeup for redheads.

Although it has nothing to do with the fact I'm a redhead, the most prized ingredient in my cosmetic bag is Rosebud Salve. I use it to take off mascara, stop itching bug bites, clear up blemishes or dry patches of skin, and as a lip and cuticle balm. Very impressive for one product... and it smells great!

Books About and For Redheads

The Ginger Survival Guide Tim Collins (Michael O'Mara Books, September 2006). A humorous look at all-things-redhead related. The Ginger Ninja, as the author describes himself, also points out some interesting things I hadn't heard elsewhere. For instance, "Some scientists predict that with the current pace of globalization and migration, the ginger gene could die out within the next hundred years." > NEW <

The Redhead Encyclopedia Stephen Douglas (Redheads International, 1996). Over ten years of research finding information that defines the redhead culture without really identifying it. More redhead facts than you could ever need and possible want. I realize this book is now out of print and copies are hard to come by (and very expensive) so if I discover any new source, I'll list it here. Drop me a note if you know where to get more copies. *** NOTE: Amazon in the United Kingdom says they have copies available for far less money than the sell in the US.

The Redhead Handbook: A Fun and Comprehensive Guide to Red Hair and More Cort Cass, editor and Vanessa Garcia, illustrator (Blue Mountain Arts, 2003) Full of fun redhead trivia and history.

Redhead Book: A Book for and about Redheads Allen P. Sacharov, Nancy Barry (Illustrator). Paperback, 1985. Very hard to find, but worth getting if you can find it.

Little Red by Sarah "The Duchess of York" Ferguson, Sam Williams (Illustrator). Paperback, Sept 2003. Also, Little Red's Summer Adventure and Little Red's Christmas Story. A sweet series of children's books about a little girl with red hair. >NEW<

Redheads Daniel Cohn-Bendit and Uwe Ditz, Photographer (Edition Stemmle, 2000) The author writes, "My hair color played an important role in my search for self, subconsciously at least, for there's a lot one tends to suppress or ignore. I used to hate my red hair. It was perplexing, made me feel insecure. And then I started to like it. Blonde hair? Straight hair? No thanks! I'm just the way I am."  This book is also now out of print and copies are hard to come by (and very expensive) so if I discover any new source, I'll list it here. Drop me a note if you know where to get more copies.

Redheads Joel Meyerowitz (Rizzoli, 1991). Reprinted as a paperback, this is a volume of photographs of redheads.

Redhead: Fabulous Makeovers for Ultimate Beautyy Linda McCrerey (McMillian, 1996). Offers redheads advice on makeup, skin care, and wardrobe selection, shows makeovers for five women of various ages, and discusses hair care and styling. A bit dated now.

Make Up for Redheads Susi Rogol. Paperback, 1984. Dated, but a good reference book.

Sarah Ferguson: The Royal Redhead David Banks. Silver Burdett Pr, 1987. Traces the life of Sarah Margaret Ferguson, detailing her childhood, how she met and fell in love with Prince Andrew, the royal wedding and her changing life as the Duchess of York.

Did you know a Sherlock Holmes mystery was written entirely about crowds of redheads, called The Redheaded League by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle?

Facts About Redheads

Sources: The Redhead Encyclopedia, The Redhead Book

Websites and Organizations

Tips

Enhance your beauty by dressing in clothes that best complement your coloring. Build a wardrobe around colors that celebrate your features and make getting ready in the morning fun and simple.

Select Clothing Colors That Complement Red Hair and Light Eyes

Select Clothing Colors That Complement Red Hair and Dark Eyes

And if you have aspirations of being a redhead:
Switch From Brunet to Red Hair

Quotations

Man, you ain't lived
Till you've had your tires rotated
By a red-headed woman.
Bruce Springsteen

Once in his life, every man is entitled
to fall madly in love with a
gorgeous redhead.
Lucille Ball

Out of the ash
I rise with my red hair
And eat men like air.
Sylvia Plath

Of course, part of the problem with redheads
is that there aren't enough of them.
They make up just two percent of the
population. So they're pretty extraordinary.
Redheads are too numerous to be ignored,
too rare to be accepted.
Grant McCracken, from his book
Big Hair: A Journey Into the Transformation of Self

Famous Redheads

Thomas Jefferson - Peppermint Patty - Bonnie Raitt - Sarah Ferguson - Simply Red's Mick Hucknall - Geri Halliwell - T'Pau's Carol Decker - SONiA - Gina G - The Little Mermaid - Little Einstein's Leo - Little Red - Boris Becker - Jim Courier - Molly Ringwald - Elizabeth I - Julianne Moore - Marcia Cross.

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