The first step in my grand scheme is pretty obvious but it's something that redheads can't afford to overlook - Sun and heat protection.
It's not news to anyone that people with fair skin tend to burn easily; redheads are more sensitive to sunlight and more at risk of skin damage. What you might not know is that this is because of a mutated gene that gingers carry which affects the production of Melanin, a chemical that helps protect against the sun's harmful rays. The most effective way to combat sunburn is of course to stay out of direct sunlight and there's no shame in sunbathing under an umbrella or dragging your friends to a more shaded spot in the beer garden if it's going to keep you safe. But for those moments when you want to be out in the open (or you don't have another option) sun tan lotion is a MUST!
Let's start with a bit of mythbusting - A high factor suncream doesn't necessarily afford your skin a higher level of protection from the sun, instead it prolongs the amount of time you should be able to spend in the sun before you start to burn. Without suncream, the skin starts to burn after 10 minutes, the SPF (that's 'Sun Protection Factor') number on your bottle indicates the factors of 10 you should be able to stay in the sun before you start to burn. Put simply, factor 30 suncream should protect you for 30 x 10 minutes, or 5 hours - so it needs to be reapplied regularly. It's also worth remembering that the effectiveness of suncream varies from person to person and that UVB rays are at their strongest between 10am and 3pm, so it's a good idea to limit your sun exposure between those hours if you can.
Speaking of UVB, these are the ultraviolet rays emitted by the sun that are responsible for burning the skin. However, UVA rays which penetrate deeper, are also harmful, and can lead to skin aging and wrinkling - so try to find a suncream which protects from both.
The best suncream I've found in recent years is actually a bargain brand called Malibu - specifically their Continuous Dry Oil Spray in Factor 30 (available nationally). Not sticky or greasy, the aerosol makes it easy to apply from any angle so you won't miss a spot.
For those with sensitive skin, The Independent (among others) are raving about La Roche-Posay SPF 50+ Sunscreen - a water-resistant spray-on.
Non-redheads shouldn't be blasé about sun protection either. It is thought that up to 25% of the population carry one copy of the MC1R gene variant that affects the production of melanin in the skin. Which means that although they are not outwardly ginger, they may still be susceptible to the damaging effects of the sun. It's a myth that wearing suncream stops you from tanning, so slap it on, no excuses!
Of course, it's not just about your skin - you've got to take care of your body from the inside too and the best way to do it is by keeping yourself properly hydrated. It's not strictly true that everyone should drink two litres of water a day, it actually depends on your size and age, and I recently came across a fantastic formula on glamour.co.uk which calculates the amount of water you should drink on a daily basis. Try this:
Step 1: Divide your weight (in lbs) by 2.2
Step 2: Multiply that number by your age
Step 3: Divide that sum by 2.83
Your total is how many ounces of water you should drink each day.
Source: http://www.glamourmagazine.co.uk/article/how-much-water-should-i-drink-everyday
And visit howtobearedhead.com for plenty more tips on staying safe in the sun.
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