Caution: Red Ahead
If blonds have more fun, then redheads are more fun. That, at any rate, is what a lot of carrot tops will tell you, since they seem to have strong opinions about the shade.
Take Kate Pierson of the B-52’s, for instance.
“I definitely think colors have a vibration, and certain colors make you feel a certain way,” she says. “Red is a flamboyant color, a passionate, vivacious color. I think that red suits my personality. I can’t believe the transformational power that red can have. I think there’s a redhead in everybody waiting to come out.”
Despite the fact that crimson locks have gone in and out of fashion over the years (think Lucille Ball, Rita Hayworth and Molly Ringwald), Pierson hasn’t deviated from the shade since she hit the henna at about 20. (How many years is that? Approximately 31). Her true color is light brown with red highlights.
Not that Pierson feels she’s missing out on anything: “A lot of times I’ll walk down the street and hear men say, ‘Hey, Red! Hey, foxy Red!’ It’s a better image than a dumb blond--which I think is very unfair.”
But what about those redhead stereotypes--that they’re fiery and short-tempered? Pierson’s not in total disagreement.
“There’s a definite mystique about redheads. They might be aggressive, mischievous, fun, freewheeling, you just never know. There’s always something unexpected.”
Pierson was in town last week as spokesperson for “Operation Redhead,” a promotion by Alize Red Passion, a liqueur of cognac, passion fruit and cranberry that happens to be a very vibrant shade of red.
How an after-dinner drink ties into the concept of hair color is anyone’s guess (do women sometimes need a little liquid courage to dye their hair flaming shades?). Regardless, Alize is sponsoring a national contest in which 250 winners will be treated to dye jobs courtesy of Manic Panic, the New York City-based beauty company responsible for the chemically altered locks of Dennis Rodman, Cyndi Lauper, Shirley Manson, Marilyn Manson and Christy Turlington, among others. Some winners will receive trips to New York for a mass coloring next month.
The contest is open to women 21 and over (men may enter the name of a woman of their choice). For more information and entry forms, call (800) 628-2921. Entries must be received by Nov. 4.
