This is how it is with that pain threshold when you have red hair

But only one percent of the world's population has red hair. So you can feel quite special if you are blessed with ginger locks. Naturally red, that is. My failed home hair dye incident accidentally made my hair red too, and you don't belong to the exclusive club of redheads. At that time, I didn't belong to any club anyway, because no one wanted to be seen with me since I had hair like a rainbow. Too bad.

There are more special characteristics that natural redheads have. For example, they are less tolerant of extreme temperatures like cold and heat, they need to visit the dentist more often because they generally suffer more from toothache, but they can actually handle a stinging pain on the skin better. Quite specific that last one, huh?

But what I found most striking is that redheads need up to 20 percent more anesthesia during surgery. TWENTY. Hoooly hell, that's quite a lot. This is because the gingers among us have a lower pain threshold. Interestingly, if I may believe the stories, not much is done with this during surgeries, even though it is quite clear and reliable research has been done. Hmm, so if you are a natural ginger, let the surgeon know. ‘Yoohoo, I have naturally red hair so bring on that extra anesthesia.’ Something like that.

And how does this happen? Due to a mutation in their gene, eumelanin is not produced, but pheomelanin. The former is responsible for the brown in someone's hair, and due to that mutation, it only becomes red. It is a specific protein that is produced in a different way, and that small mutation also causes all the issues surrounding your pain.

Funny: redheads are also sexually more active. And apparently especially women. Now you know that too. And another plus: redheads hardly go gray, but more straw blonde. That saves a lot on hair dye costs, I must say.