<P> Red hair occurs naturally in 1--2% of the human population . It occurs more frequently (2--6%) in people of northern or western European ancestry, and less frequently in other populations . Red hair appears most commonly in people with two copies of a recessive allele on chromosome 16 which produces an altered version of the MC1R protein . </P> <P> Red hair varies in hues from a deep burgundy or bright copper (reddish - brown or auburn) through to burnt orange or red - orange and strawberry blond . It is characterized by high levels of the reddish pigment pheomelanin and relatively low levels of the dark pigment eumelanin . It is associated with fair skin color, lighter eye colors (gray, blue, green, and hazel), freckles, and sensitivity to ultraviolet light . </P>

Where does the ginger hair gene come from