Wearing red clothing is often associated with feeling warmer. But does the color red actually raise your body temperature or just make you feel warmer psychologically? Here we’ll examine the evidence behind whether wearing red really makes you warmer.
The Psychology of Red
There are several psychological theories for why the color red is linked to warmth and heat:
- Red is associated with fire and heat sources like the sun, connecting it metaphorically to warmth.
- Studies show red increases heart rate and blood pressure, creating a physical warmth sensation.
- Seeing red prompts fight-or-flight responses, increasing adrenaline and physical warmth.
- Red evokes psychological arousal and intensity, translating into perceived warmth.
So wearing red may make you feel warmer psychologically by triggering these responses. But does it actually raise your body temperature?
Red Light and Thermal Energy
Visible light consists of different wavelengths, each corresponding to a color. Red has the longest wavelengths while violet has the shortest. Longer wavelengths are associated with higher amounts of thermal energy.
So in theory, red light carries more thermal energy than other visible wavelengths. This extra energy gets absorbed by anything red, potentially raising its temperature.
However, the difference in thermal energy between red and other colors is negligible. It’s doubtful wearing red clothes would absorb enough extra energy to heat you up.
Blood Flow and Skin Temperature
As mentioned earlier, red appears to increase blood flow and pressure. So could it elevate skin temperature by increasing blood circulation?
Studies on this are limited. But there is evidence that wearing red can subtly raise facial skin temperature, perhaps by dilating blood vessels. Whether this effect extends to the whole body is unknown.
| Study | Participants | Red Exposure | Temperature Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hahn et al. (2012) | 24 women | Assign red or blue t-shirts | No change in finger temperature |
| Sakuta et al. (2019) | 12 women | 10 min viewing red light | 0.1°C increase in cheek temperature |
Overall, current research does not provide a conclusive link between wearing red, increased circulation, and elevated body heat.
Red and Thermoregulation
Thermoregulation is your body’s process of maintaining an ideal internal temperature. There are competing theories on how wearing red might impact it:
- Vasodilation: As a “warm” color, red may cause blood vessels to dilate and increase heat loss.
- Vasoconstriction: Red environmental stimuli are linked to threat responses like vasoconstriction to preserve core heat.
Research into red’s thermoregulatory effects is limited. In one small study, red clothing had no effect on core body temperature during exercise in cold temperatures.
Overall, current evidence does not confirm wearing red alters thermoregulation enough to substantially affect body heat.
Red and Metabolic Heat
The theory that red increases metabolism and energy expenditure is not well-supported:
- One study found no metabolic differences between subjects wearing red vs. blue during exercise.
- Another small experiment found red increased cortisol levels, but this doesn’t necessarily raise metabolism.
So there is little evidence for red boosting metabolic heat production enough to significantly warm you.
The Red = Warmth Association
So why is red so strongly associated with warmth if it has limited effects on body temperature?
Some explanations include:
- The innate connection between red and heat sources like fire.
- Red’s link with psychological arousal and intensity.
- Subtle red-induced changes in skin temperature that boost perceived warmth.
While these factors may play a role, the association between red and warmth likely has more cultural and symbolic roots.
Red has developed strong mental connections to heat, passion, and energy through:
- Use in metaphors (“red hot,” “seeing red”)
- Associations with heat sources like fire, lava, the sun
- Ties to intense emotions like anger, love, and lust
Over time, these factors have ingrained the red-warmth link in cultures worldwide. So the perception persists despite limited evidence red physically warms the body.
Conclusion
Research to date indicates wearing red does not substantially warm the body beyond minor changes in skin temperature. While red may evoke psychological sensations of warmth, its physiological effects are modest and transient.
The prevalent belief that red raises temperature appears more rooted in symbolic cultural connections than physical evidence. But the perception of red’s warming power persists, even if the reality remains questionable.
So while fashionably donning head-to-toe red may make you feel toasty, it likely won’t actually heat you up on a cold day.