Scientists agree that redheads or “gingers” can tan, but they also react negatively to the sun at the same time. Because of this, red-headed folks will need to take extra precautions when out in the sun to avoid burning and increasing their risk for skin cancer. With that said, however, there are a few gingers out there that actually do tan, though it’s rare. This is why knowing your skin type is so important...every person’s skin reacts differently to the sun.