Why do we say red hair when it really looks tangerine orange with a reddish hue?

Question

Just a question.

Answer 1

It just sounds more appealing and respectful to say that someone has red hair, rather than tell them that their head looks rusty.

Answer 2

Because "tangerine orange with a reddish hue" has 10 syllables, "red" has 1.

Just an answer. ;-)

Answer 3

Not all shades of red hair are "tangerine orange with a reddish hue" so the generic term red is easier. Why do we call Caucasians "white" when their skin is actually various shades of peaches, pinks or light browns, and African-Americans "black" when their skin is various shades of brown? Once you start nitpicking over terminology, when do you stop?

Answer 4

because who would take the time to say tangerine yellow with an orange hue when they can just be extremely lazy and use a three letter word like r-e-d XD

Answer 5

I think its just and easier way to classify a definite group of people. For example, why do we call Caucasians white when the skin color is really peach? Why do we call African Americans blacks when many are brown? If we were that specific we would have to name some really detailed colors just to describe one basic Hue.

Answer 6

People say "red" because its the under-tone they are seeing. Red is the base color for whatever color they have. I have brown hair but it looks red when I go outside.

Answer 7

who knows. we took my cat to the vet and they said her fur was red........ when in reality its yellow!

Answer 8

I dunno. Everyone tells me i have red hair, but i think it's honey & penny colored.