SHARK TANK APPROVED 
By: Brenna Gray
The other day, I was driving and Christmas music came on the radio. Normally, I don’t start listening to Christmas music until a week or so before Christmas, but for some reason I kept the station on. I began gleefully singing along to “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer”. As I was singing along to the song, I realized how similar Rudolph is to a lot of redheads. I know it sounds like a stretch of the imagination, but hear me out.
Here is the song in case you need to refresh your memory:
1. Rudolph had a “very shiny nose” that was red
…and all of us redheads have very shiny hair that is red!
Referring to Rudolph’s red nose, the song says, “and if you ever saw it, you would even say it glows.” This made me think about how many times in my life I have heard people comment on how my hair glows in the sunlight. My father says my hair looks like it’s on fire when I am standing outside.
READ: Why It’s So Important for Redheads to Wear Sunglasses
2. “All of the other reindeer used to laugh and call him names”
..and they never let him join in on any of the reindeer games. This made me think of how so many redheads are bullied or singled out just because of their red hair, especially in schools.
READ: 10 Comebacks if You’re Ever Bullied About Your Red Hair
3. Rudolph was pressured to cover up his red nose.
If you remember the movie, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, at one point Rudolph’s own father, Donner, covered up Rudolph’s nose with a black covering. Raise your hand if you’ve ever wanted to or actually dyed your red hair. I thankfully never have, but many redheads experimented because they wanted to “fit in.”
When Rudolph wore the black nose covering, it made him talk in a funny accent. This proved he was meant to be a red-nosed reindeer — and nothing else. He was meant to look different than everyone else, and be his unique self. The black nose covering had to go.
And, just like Stephanie (the co-founder of How to be a Redhead), a redhead always realizes it’s best to stand out.
4. ..But he went on to save Christmas!
I think this song has a great lesson because it shows Rudolph was not going to let anyone stop him. He saved Christmas!
He used his red nose to his advantage. Then, all the other reindeer loved him and wanted to be his friend. Santa saw how special Rudolph was, even if Rudolph couldn’t see it for himself at that time.
This made me realize how sometimes as a redheaded child, we hate how we look. We constantly feel different from everyone else. All we want is to fit in with the other kids. As we get older, we tend to realize how special our red hair makes us and how everyone wishes they could be just as unique as we are.
And redheads may not actually save Christmas, but we are strong human beings with a lot to offer the world. The color red will always signify strength and passion, and it’s an advantage.
Let’s also not forget: Rudolph will “go down in history”. And redheads will always be remembered for being beautiful and unique.
So this Christmas season, let your shiny red hair down. Think about how special you really are. Let “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” be your holiday jam. Set one of your New Year’s resolutions to “Love Yourself” for who you really are, and remember to constantly Rock it like a Redhead!
..Now sit back, relax and watch the entire Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer movie below:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iBMzIa794aE
