A month ago, I had my hair dyed a vibrant shade of red for a newspaper feature - red is THE hair colour of 2015, I'm told. It's also, as redheads everywhere will know already, not the easiest colour to live with -- I've already toned that red down to a more manageable ginger. Here is what has struck me most over the past weeks.
Picture by Lezli and Rose
1) Gingers are in a tiny minority. I know 1-2 per cent of the population in the UK is meant to be redheaded, but it feels like less than that in London. In any gathering of people - in a crowded shop, on a train station concourse - when I stop and look around, there is very rarely anyone else with such a noticeable hair colour. That means...
2) With red hair, you stand out, whether you want to or not
3) Which means that people will feel it is perfectly ok to stare at you, for just a bit longer than is polite.
4) You wouldn't get away with any misdemeanours, however tiny, just because you are so obvious.
5) I need to wear blusher. A red-head beauty editor friend tipped me off about this and though I didn't want to believe it, I see she is absolutely right. Without it, I look washed out.
6) A wardrobe of black, white and grey works just fine. With this beacon sitting on top of my head, I feel no need for colourful clothing.
7) In the same vein, almost any ornamentation - earrings, necklaces -- seems superfluous. The hair is decoration enough.
8) People will give you things like this mug, and you will have to laugh and accept them with a smile
9) Your friends will also be unable to stop themselves asking you idiotic things like, 'Are you feeling more feisty, with that hair colour?' And you will have to refrain from acting up to your hair colour and socking them one.
10) There are hazards like #KissAGingerDay out there (12th January). Who knew?