Why The Red Beard?

As a woman, bearded men are a curiosity to me, all the more, if  the  beard is red and the hair on his head is not! The reason as to why this strange phenomenon happens is still under a shroud of mystery…well, that’s hardly true anymore but it did add some dramatic weight to the intro, no?

 

Genetics?

The vast majority of bearded men who have a red sprinkling to them, stem back generations, even if parents and grandparents might not share this trait. Geneticists and medical specialists agree that there is a single gene responsible for a man growing a red beard and yet a different color on top.

If the mother or father gives the child such a gene, a mismatch of head hair and red beard will arise. If a child has been given two red hair genes, then all body hair would turn out red. If a man is born with darker hair, then he is more likely to turn out with a dark beard that has hints of red in it, if none at all. As the beard grows longer and thicker, these red tints become more noticeable and may, if given a chance, over-power the color of the dark hair like little Viking Raiders…hmmm.

 

Royal Red Beards

Throughout the halls of past and present history hang portraits, paintings and photographs of men who sport or sported glorious red beards. Those pictures date back  hundreds of years ago to last week. Fact: nearly every 2 in 5 men have a ginger beard in some way shape or form.

 

 

Well-Known Red Beards of History

The first blazing red representative of ginger beards-r-us we’d like to introduce is Henry the VIII King of England. Henry was not only great in stature, but also great in beard. He succeeded in jousting and hunting, he had six marriages which he got better at with practice. Both he and his beard became head of the Church of England. It’s good to be the king. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

King Richard the Lion-heart is another fine historical example of a rather dashing red beard. Known for being both a warrior and a cunning military leader, this King of England was one of the first individuals to wear such a keenly groomed beard, inspiring both noblemen and commoner alike.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Modern Red Beard Folk

 

 

Dexter or in the real world Michael C. Hall. Serial killer vigilante killer on television, lady killing, red bearded gent in the real world.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Christian Bale, unmasked and awesome beard!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

About the Author

Sasha Moran has a degree in Linguistics. She is a writer at best essays with a background in psychology, e-learning, and marketing.