How did my daughter get red hair?

Question

Neither I nor her daddy have red hair so we are trying to find out what has caused her to have red hair. We can't think of anyone in the family tree from either side that have/had red hair. I understand what causes red hair, however it's my understanding that there has to be a history of this color.

Answer 1

Red hair is a skipping gene that randomly pops up

You just got a ginger kid.

Answer 2

must be way way back in the day...There had to have been red hair, just like blue eyes or brown eyes....in the genetic background

Answer 3

The gene that causes red hair is called MC1R (melanocortin 1 receptor). No matter what your hair color, everyone has this gene. The red hair gene originally arose in Northern Europe, because having fair skin was an advantage. How? Because it lets more sunlight through than dark skin. When sunlight enters your skin, it stimulates the production of vitamin D, and that protects you from getting diseases like rickets.

Though red hair is a recessive gene, extremely recessive from what I understand, it is one that can be carried for ten, twenty generations of more without making an appearance. The link below is a really good article about red haired children...hope it helps!

Answer 4

GenevievesMom and aidan402 (above) hit the nail on the head. That's exactly right. My sister is blonde, and her husband has dark brown hair. Their first son has auburn hair. I have reddish brown (light auburn) hair, and my sister's husband had an uncle with dark auburn hair.. so both of them carried the gene.

Answer 5

Anyone with brown or blonde hair carries a recessive red gene. Anyone with ancestors from France, Ireland, England, the Netherlands, Germany, Switzerland, Scandinavia, Russia, Poland or most of Eastern Europe carries a recessive red gene. Red genes have been documented to skip as many as 10 generations until there are two parents who both carry the recessive gene and who mate.

BTW, as red, blonde or black as hair may be in infancy, it all falls out by 1 year and will usually grow in a completely different color. That can also explain why you haven't had much luck tracking it. Until 40 years ago, baby pictures were black and white. That makes it even harder.

Answer 6

Red hair is a recessive gene.   If both parents carry the gene you two could have brown hair and have children with red hair.  Happens all the time in Scotland.

Both of my children are red hair even though I have brown hair.  But their mother has red hair and we are both of Scottish descent.  I must carry the recessive gene.

Answer 7

My son has red hair also. I'm Welsh so that explains it but he is the first one in 5 generations to get the red hair.

Answer 8

If your sure you know who her daddy is...

Answer 9

I had the same thing happen to our daughter. It is a beautiful auburn red hair. Her daddy use to joke it was the mail mans baby. It can very well happen. Somewhere down the gene line you both had someone with red hair and she just happened to pick up that genetic profile.

Answer 10

Down the line in either one of your families there must of been someone with red hair. Perhaps even 3 generations ago & now one of you carried the gene & that's why she has red hair. A lot of the time we ask relatives & they can't remember either.

Answer 11

Funny you should ask that.  My little guy has blonde hair.  My husband has black and I have dark brown.  We wondered the same thing.  No blondes on either side of the family.  I am guessing it will change.

Answer 12

It's an old wives tale that redheaded children are a product of infidelity.

I dont believe it, but thats what them old wives say..