Why are redheads so fascinating? Detangling the science!

The Wholesome Show

What’s the deal with redheads? It sounds like the beginning of a Seinfeld bit but in all fairness (pun intended), for a group of people who make up only 2% of the population, our flame-haired ginger guys and gals have attracted much attention throughout history. Some of that attention is due to the obvious: redheads are babes.

But the fascination with redheads over the centuries hasn’t all been positive. They’ve also received far more hostile attention like being labelled barbarians by the ancient Greeks and Romans. In Ancient Egypt, redheaded men were burnt as human sacrifices at the grave of Osiris (god of the deceased) and their ashes were scattered to the four winds in the name of a bountiful harvest; red hair symbolised the golden wealth of the corn after all, so… makes sense.

In medieval times, people with green eyes and red hair were considered either witches, werewolves or vampires. There were even alchemical recipes requiring the blood of a redhead to turn copper into gold. Just mix the blood up with the ashes of a basilisk, easy as pie.

Scientific or not, redheads do seem to carry the reputation of having a somewhat spicy temperament and the people from Charles University in Prague wanted to know if this translated into the bedroom… The science says yes but not in the way you think!

CHAPTERS:

• 00:00 Why do redheads fascinate us?
• 03:42 Barbarians and human sacrificing
• 05:40 Alchemical recipe with the blood of a redhead
• 07:30 19th century study: Most criminals were redheads
• 09:31 Ayurvedic medicine and genetics
• 13:42 Opiate response, Vitamin D and adrenaline
• 17:48 Redheads smell like ambergris
• 19:12 Pain studies: Stabbing and electric currents
• 21:50 Sexism in redhead stereotypes
• 24:21 Study on Redheads and Sexuality
• 27:08 What’s next on The Wholesome Show

PREVIOUS EPISODES MENTIONED:

• What The Hell Happened To The Left-Handers?

SOURCES:

• Myths about red hair are rooted in fear of difference | Aeon Ideas
• The Truth About Redheads

• Ginger hair: 13 fascinating facts about redheads

• World Redhead Day: 16 fun facts about red hair - Indianapolis

• Redheaded women are more sexually active than other women, but it is probably due to their suitors

• Science Confirms Redheads Are Equipped With Some Weird Genetic Superpowers - GQ Australia

• Red hair - Wikipedia

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