We describe a minisequencing protocol for screening DNA samples for the presence 
of 12 mutations in the human melanocortin 1 receptor gene (MC1R), eight of which 
are associated with the red hair phenotype. A minisequencing profile which shows 
homozygosity for one of these mutations or the presence of two different 
mutations would strongly indicate that the sample donor is red haired. The 
absence of any red hair causing mutations would indicate that the sample donor 
does not have red hair. We report the frequencies of MC1R variants in the 
British red haired population.