Do redheads get cold easily?

As a subject matter expert in genetics and human physiology, I can provide an informed perspective on the question of whether redheads get cold easily. The notion that redheads feel the cold more than others is not supported by scientific evidence. The trait of having red hair is determined by a genetic mutation in the MC1R gene, which affects the production of melanin, the pigment responsible for hair color. This mutation results in a higher concentration of pheomelanin, which gives the characteristic red or orange hue to the hair.

However, the MC1R gene is not directly linked to the regulation of body temperature or the ability to generate heat. The ability to maintain a stable body temperature is a complex process involving the nervous system, circulatory system, and the body's metabolic processes. It is influenced by factors such as body composition, clothing, activity level, and environmental conditions, rather than hair color.

It is possible that some redheads might perceive the cold differently due to individual differences in sensation or personal experiences, but this would not be a characteristic specific to all redheads. Therefore, the idea that redheads are more susceptible to feeling cold is more of a stereotype than a physiological reality.

Redheads may be hotheads, but they get colder faster. They also bruise more easily. And they feel more pain. ... It's also possible, according to Liem, that the redhead version the MC1R gene also directly affects hormones that stimulate pain receptors in the brain.