Guaranteed to have a redhead?

Kaseybill

My DH, a redhead, did the research about 2 redhead parents genetically must have a redhead child (I'm also a redhead).  We are both scientist so it made sense,  but really? I might be disappointed if I don't have a redhead after all the hype.  Know of any other redhead mommies and daddies not make a redhead baby?   

danienross

i don't know about redheaded parents but i do know that nothing is ever 100%.  recessive genes can show up out of no where.  i know a family where both parents are hispanic with naturally tan skin and dark hair and eyes.  their six year old little girl has ivory skin, read hair and blue eyes.  she is their biological child.  apparently the father had a great uncle who looked the same way that they didn't know.

plunderb

I'll let you know in 3 weeks when my redhead friend and her redhead husband have their baby. They're in the same boat as you ? everyone expects the baby to have red hair and they will be disappointed if he/she doesn't!

It's also possible that the baby could develop red hair later in life. My DH was blond until he was about 3, but now his hair is the most alarming shade of bright red you ever saw.

CFH79

I don't know about 2 redheaded parents, but I know that nothing's ever a guarantee.  My parents are both brunettes and have one of each (blonde, redhead, and a (much darker than either of them) brunette).

The joke in my family has always been that my older sister (the rh) would have little darkheaded babies and that I (the darkheaded one) would have the little redheaded babies.  Since I married a rh, I feel like we're definitely going to have redheads!  But DH started out tow-headed, so my babies will likely be born white-blonde and stay they way for a few years before turning.  DH was in 2nd grade before his hair changed from white to red.  Crazy genes!

CFH79

plunderb:

I'll let you know in 3 weeks when my redhead friend and her redhead husband have their baby. They're in the same boat as you ? everyone expects the baby to have red hair and they will be disappointed if he/she doesn't!

It's also possible that the baby could develop red hair later in life. My DH was blond until he was about 3, but now his hair is the most alarming shade of bright red you ever saw.

See my post right below yours!  My DH was 8 before his hair turned!

I'll also be a little disappointed if I don't have a redhead.  My redheaded sister, on the other hand, desparately does NOT want a redhead!

LCB34

My BFF and her hubs both have red hair. They have a blonde baby girl. I guess the baby's hair could change as she gets older but she has been blonde since birth and is now right at a year.

MNgirl326

i am a true red head and DH's hair is reddish brown, our LO's hair is reddish brown.

In some light it looks red and in other light it looks brown, but there is definitely red! 

Norcal_chick

You never know.

I am a redhead... auburn, I guess. DH has dark dark brown hair... I wonder if we will have a redhead? I am thinking she will probably have darker hair... but you never know!

Mrs. K in TX

There are at least two genes that code for hair pigment- one for eumelanin (brown/black) and one for pheomelanin (red/not red).  There are probably other genes that code for the amount of each pigment, but that's not really well understood.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_hair_color

https://humangenetics.suite101.com/article.cfm/hair_color_genetics

 Hair, skin, and eye color are all very complex, and from what I understand, they can be effected by not only genetics, but also by environmental factors, including environmental factors during development.

bobbyruth

It is basic genetics.  Red hair (although it is not even the gene for hair color it is a totally different gene that effects pigments in the entire body) is a recessive trait meaning you have to have 2 recessive genes  .  IF you and your DH are both read haired then you both have two resecive genes and and will each give a recessive gene to your children... 

So YES you will have redheaded children!!  

thepumpkinsituation

Mrs. K in TX:

There are at least two genes that code for hair pigment- one for eumelanin (brown/black) and one for pheomelanin (red/not red).  There are probably other genes that code for the amount of each pigment, but that's not really well understood.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_hair_color

https://humangenetics.suite101.com/article.cfm/hair_color_genetics

 Hair, skin, and eye color are all very complex, and from what I understand, they can be effected by not only genetics, but also by environmental factors, including environmental factors during development.

Ditto this. 

Neither of my parents have red hair and I do.  Moreover, my sister has reddish blonde hair.  I think definitely more is involved than simple medelian genetics with hair type. 

Kaseybill

This is exactly what we thought! 2 recessives make it a done deal it seems? Especially with red hair since hair is classified in 2 categories: red or not red... it is not a mix of genes like other expressions like skin color. Now what will be a surprise is if he will be a blond-red or auburn-redhead.  Guess we will see in a few months!!!  Hope all the redheads out there are procreating! 

bobbyruth

Yes DH has auburn hair.  I want an auburn haired baby so bad! I have blonde hair DD has brown hair.  I don't know if i am a carrier of the trait so we will see if this one gets his/her daddy's hair.

Joyous1106

Kaseybill:

This is exactly what we thought! 2 recessives make it a done deal it seems? Especially with red hair since hair is classified in 2 categories: red or not red... it is not a mix of genes like other expressions like skin color. 

Actually it is more complicated than that (scientists are still trying to figure out the complexities).  Red hair comes in variations: true red (fire red, so to speak), strawberry blonde, and auburn (depending on the type of redhead gene).  Strawberry blonde is self-explanatory, blonde tinted with red to varying degrees. Auburn is dark hair tinted red, again with varying degrees.  True red is the only red hair that has the two recessive alleles, and the shade depends on many things (see the post with links above).

For myself, my dad is a blonde with strawberry tints and my mom has light brown hair (with blonde and red-tinted relatives).  I am a true red-head with three different color strands to my hair, a bright red coppery color, a golden red, and a very dark red.  My husband is a blonde with a reddish beard, so it will be interesting what color hair our child has.  

TiggerLuv80

LCB34:

My BFF and her hubs both have red hair. They have a blonde baby girl. I guess the baby's hair could change as she gets older but she has been blonde since birth and is now right at a year.

TiggerLuv80

LCB34:

My BFF and her hubs both have red hair. They have a blonde baby girl. I guess the baby's hair could change as she gets older but she has been blonde since birth and is now right at a year.

DH was born as a red head but his hair turned light brown around the age of 4-5. His brother(brown) and SIL(strawberry blonde/brown) have a blonde 13 yr old boy, red head 8 yr old girl and brunette 2 yr old girl. And then his sister (brunette) and BIL(blonde) have a red head 4 yr old girl and now a brunette 1 month old girl.

I definitely think a red head is in the future for DH and I but I guess we'll have to wait and see!

Stacyc625

Nothing other than death is 100%- ~ so hate to bust your bubble.

Both DH and I are redheads- and my DD is as blonde as they come- see sig.

Mrs. K in TX

AubBun:

It is basic genetics.  Red hair (although it is not even the gene for hair color it is a totally different gene that effects pigments in the entire body) is a recessive trait meaning you have to have 2 recessive genes  .  IF you and your DH are both read haired then you both have two resecive genes and and will each give a recessive gene to your children... 

So YES you will have redheaded children!!  

It's actually NOT basic genetics.  Basic Mendelian genetics only works when there is only one gene that codes for a trait.  Hair pigment is coded for by at least two different genes, and the concentrations of those pigments may be coded for by even more genes.