We've teamed up with Redhead pioneers and sisters Adrienne and Stephanie Vendetti, Co-founders of "How to Be a Redhead," to launch and promote National Redhead Day in the UK. National Redhead Day was first launched in the US on November the 5th by the Vendetti's back in 2015.
With the United Kingdom boasting the biggest population of redheads in the world - 25% of all Brits sport auburn, ginger and other red shades - we thought it was time we helped promote and support our native redheads by bringing the national holiday to the UK.
Leaders of the Redhead Hair Extension Revolution
Back in 2012, Cliphair launched the first redhead range of hair extensions. To this day, they remain the leading seller of red hair extensions, with 10 stunning shades in their bestselling collections. Check out some video footage from our Redhead Campaign photo shoots below.
UK Red Head Population Map

Scotland: Home of the Redheads
Only 2% of the global population are redheads, yet Scotland have the world's largest percentage of redheads. Over 13% (roughly half a million) of all Scottish people have red hair, with Wales and Ireland making up a further 10%. 4% of the English population are Redheads, an estimated 2.1 million people! Considering only 2% of the entire world’s population has red hair, the British Isles are proudly waving the red flag for redheads everywhere.
It's a Gene Thing
The secret that makes redheads so unique and special is their genetics. Most redheads have had parents with two copies of a recessive gene - on chromosome 16 - which causes a mutation in the MC1R protein. Even if neither of your parents has this gene you can be lucky enough to be born with red hair. If this wasn't confusing enough, the gene can also skip generations.
There is a 1 in 2 chance a child could be born with red hair even if just one of their parents is a redhead. Although rarer, it is also possible to be a natural redhead if you’re person of colour, although there are very few redheads in Africa and Asia as opposed to Northern Europe.
The biggest redhead genetic heartland is unsurprisingly in the south-east of Scotland. Edinburgh is the undeniable epi-centre with 4 in 10 people (or 37%) carrying one of the 3 most common red hair genes.
Ireland also has a high percentage of red hair genes with 35% of people believed to carry them. A staggering 1 in 3 Brits are red hair gene carriers, which means their children and grandchildren could be redheads even if they aren't themselves.
Top Redhead Facts