I've always wanted red hair, but unfortunately it only occurs naturally in 1-2% of the population. 
I actually had red hair as a child, but now I have black hair believe it or not!
I believe it. I was born with red hair, but now it's brown and gray. I've heard it occurs more frequently in people or northern or western European ancestry. 
That is interesting I wonder why that is. My momhas red hair but it did not stick with me I suppose
Maybe because you lacked the high levels of the reddish pigment pheomelanin that makes the hair red. 
I suppose that is it, I did not know they deterioted so quickly though, it was only a few years!
It could be because the levels of melanin can vary over time. That could have caused your hair color to change.