Anti Red Head

by Hallie
(Florida)

I have noticed people are very anti-redhead at least in my town. Pantene used to have Red Expressions for redheads, but they no longer make it, however they are still making Brunette Expressions and Blonde Expressions. I went to every store trying to find that shampoo, but I could never find it. I also like John Frieda's Radiant Red Shampoo and conditioner. Whenever I asked an employee when they would be getting more in they would tell me they never heard of it before and question why I wanted it. They would become extremely annoyed when I told them it was for me. Things they said were "You are not a redhead, your hair is brown. Buy the Brunette one that's more for you."

My color is auburn and everyone in this town thinks it's brown. I understand my hair might look brown but if you go in the sunlight you can clearly see it's not brown. However most people will say "All brown hair has some kind of red tone, but that does not make you a redhead." Then some people tell me I have pretty light brown hair to which I correct them and tell them the real color. Then they get a very shocked look on their face and say they have no idea at all whatsoever and ask me if I am going to dye it. When I tell them no they get shocked again, and some people have even stopped talking to me after finding out my real hair color.

I had fire red hair until I was two years old, then it changed, but I am still a redhead. It's just a very very dark red. Or they say "No, we only carry for blondes or brunettes; most people don't want their red hair to become anymore red." or "Most people want to cover up their red overtones." That even came from my own hair stylist. Even some of my co-workers whom are very nice and friendly cannot believe I have red hair. The one girl said "Oh but don't worry it does not look red at all. You look like you have brown hair. Nobody can tell. At least you do not have the kind that glows in the dark."

Why is there such an anti-redhead movement? Some people think I am worried about it and WANT to hide it. Even when I emailed a popular shampoo company asking if they had a shampoo for redheads, they emailed me back saying their color treated shampoo would be good for my color treated red hair. I had never said anything about my hair being color treated, yet they assumed I had dyed red hair. Don't they realize there are natural redheads?

Any of you ever experience this? Does anyone out there have hair like mine that it's so dark you have a hard time convincing people you are a redhead?

P.S. I can attach a pic to go with this let me know if you will accept pics......