Only 2 percent of the world's 7.7 billion humans have naturally red hair. It's in their genes — specifically the one called MC1R. If your hair is red, your MC1R gene will have a mutation (or possibly several). These variants also affect melanin production (most redheads have freckles too).
The melanocytes in our skin produce two types of melanin: eumelanin, which manifests as brown and black pigment, and pheomelanin, which appears as red and yellow. Redheads' gene variation causes their melanocytes to produce mostly pheomelanin.
But there's more to the science of redheads than what meets the eye: There's evidence that, due to gene variation, those with red hair may have increased levels of general pain tolerance. Some reports even say redheads smell different than the rest of us — sweeter.
While researchers have just begun to understand the science that makes redheads so special, our collective fascination with redheads is nothing new. "According to 16th- and 17th-century pagans, redheads symbolized magnetism and mysticism," says Tobias Anthony, the author of Ginger Pride: A Redheaded History of the World.
Here, three of these 154 million sweet, magical marvels talk to us about making the world see red.
The British supermodel is naturally strawberry blonde, but started enhancing her color at 18 when photographer Steven Meisel convinced her to take the plunge for a magazine shoot. "It changed my life," Elson says. "I looked in the mirror and said, 'This is me.'" She's kept it up ever since, tweaking the shade to be slightly richer or lighter depending on the season. "There are infinite possibilities in being a redhead."
When asked if she believes redheads have unique characteristics, Elson offers a quote: “Mark Twain said, 'While the rest of the planet is descended from apes, redheads are descended from cats.' We're a little mysterious and hard to pin down."
Until recently, the Nassau, Bahamas-born model considered herself a blonde. "[But] a couple of months ago I was looking at photos of myself and I was like, ‘Oh, my goodness, I’m a redhead.'" Carter is now thoroughly embracing the lifestyle. "Redheads have such a kind aura about them," she says. "I don’t think I've ever made contact with a 'bad' redhead."
Needless to say, she has no plans to permanently alter her color. But Carter was game for our hairstylist to use a temporary maroon tint (topped off with faux baby bangs) for the shot you see above.
She was living just north of Little Rock, Arkansas, when a local designer spotted a photo of her on an ex's phone and asked to work together. That was about six years ago; today, Mahogany is a full-time model carving her own path. "Being a redhead — especially being a Black redhead — is extremely rare," she says. "I'm in my own lane."
Her name and the color of her hair are merely a happy coincidence. "But my dad always said that mahogany [stands for] richness and strength. I feel like my name was a gift to me."
Fashion stylist: Chloe Hartstein
Hair: Joey George
Makeup: Sam Addington
Manicures: Alicia Torello
Production: Sasha Corban Production Services
This story originally appeared in the November 2021 issue of Allure. Learn how to subscribe here.
More on red hair:
- 27 Beautiful Red Hair-Color Ideas for Every Skin Tone
- Peaches and Cream Hair Is the Gorgeous New Way to Be a Redhead
- This is What Beyoncé Looks Like as a Redhead
Now, watch the evolution of red hair over the last 100 years:
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