@theblckgin
About Us
Red Hair and Freckles!
“Hair like fire - you’ll see them anywhere!”
Natural redheads are born with hair whose cells produce a pigment called pheomelanin. People who produce mostly pheomelanin have red hair and freckles. This is because of the Melanocortin 1 Receptor gene. A genetic variant of the MC1R gene causes the melanocytes to primarily produce pheomelanin. As we age, we produce more eumelanin, which leads to our hair darkening.
We are a growing community seeking to share stories, experiences and increase awareness of the MCR1 gene being present in people apart of the African diaspora. Less than 2 percent of the world’s population has red hair, making it the rarest hair color in the world.
@gingernoirbrp / @kishotit
People from the African Diaspora with red hair are a smaller percentage of that number.
Here at Ginger Noir, we embrace our unique and organic hue.
Celebrating and sharing what makes us different, talented, and OH, SO GINGER!
From the desk of Ginger Noir
About our creator,
iVa Lynn
Melanin In My Freckles!
I’m iVa Lynn, the founder of Ginger Noir: The Black Redhead Project. We’ve met informally sometime ago. It may have been the store, the park, the subway, a street festival, or social media. What struck me about you or your child was that we both share a common feature of being Black Gingers, one who is born with fire red hair and pronounced freckles (a result of the Mc1R gene). I am an African American woman from Queens, NY. The youngest of six siblings, a fraternal twin sister, and the only sibling born with red hair; which makes me a special edition.
The Black Redhead Project will celebrate us, black redheads. The goal is to strengthen body positivity, increase awareness and provide a platform for us to share stories.
When we see a redhead, we stop a redhead. We may ask for a photo, a follow, or a fist bump. But most importantly, we want you to participate in our growing community. When the Mc1R gene shows up, it definitely shows out!
Welcome and join me in this beautiful journey.
Follow me on social media!