Can you dye your hair when you're pregnant?

Answer 1

No one has enough information to promise with certainty that using chemical dyes during pregnancy is completely safe, so many pregnant women wait until after the first trimester. At the same time, no one has any human data to show these chemicals cause birth defects.

Over the years, people have conducted animal studies trying to shed light on this matter. Some, but not all, studies have shown a few of the chemical compounds in hair dyes to be teratogenic (causing birth defects). However, in many cases the animals were exposed to extremely high doses of these chemicals, doses in no way equivalent to the exposure of the woman who colours her hair every month or two.

Clearly, the chemicals in both permanent and semi-permanent hair dyes are not highly toxic. These chemicals have been around a long time, and no research shows they cause defects in newborns, so colouring your hair during pregnancy is probably safe. Plus, if you apply the dyes safely (using gloves in a well-ventilated room, and not leaving solutions on for excessive periods of time), you don't really absorb much of the chemicals into your system.

One alternative you might consider is highlighting, painting, or frosting your hair. You absorb hair colouring agents into your system through your skin (scalp), not through your hair shaft. So, any process -- such as streaking -- that puts less of the chemical in contact with your scalp reduces your exposure to the compounds in dyes.

Some experts recommend vegetable dyes as a good alternative to synthetic chemical agents during pregnancy. Many of these dyes also contain some of the same synthetic chemical compounds that the major cosmetic companies put in their permanent and semi-permanent dyes. Pure henna, which comes in a number of colours, is the exception. Henna is a semi-permanent vegetable dye considered to be very safe, though not everyone loves the hues it may impart!

It's important for women to feel good about themselves during pregnancy. Whether colouring your hair will make you feel good or cause you to worry needlessly for nine months is something to think about. If you do colour your own hair while expecting, wear gloves and work in a well-ventilated space to minimise your exposure to the harsh chemicals used in the colouring process.

Answer 2

The chemicals in permanent and semi-permanent hair dyes are not highly toxic. Most research, although limited, does show that it is safe to colour your hair while pregnant. Some studies have found that very high doses of the chemicals in hair dyes may cause harm – however, these doses are massive in comparison to the very low amount of chemicals that a woman colouring her hair is exposed to.

Many women decide to wait to dye their hair until after the first 12 weeks of pregnancy, when the risk of chemical substances harming the baby is much lower. You can reduce the risk further by making sure that (if you’re colouring your hair yourself) you wear gloves, leave the dye on for the minimum time, and work in a well-ventilated room.

Highlighting your hair also reduces any risk, as the chemicals used are then only absorbed by the hair itself and not by your scalp and into your bloodstream. Semi-permanent pure vegetable dyes, such as henna, are a safe alternative.

Do remember that pregnancy can affect the normal condition of your hair. Your hair may react differently to colouring or perming, becoming more or less absorbent, frizzy or unpredictable. It’s always a good idea to do a strand test first using the treatment(s) you intend to use. Speak to your hairdresser for advice.

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Answer 3

Yes it causes no harm to the unborn child at all ,, some people do not dye their hair while pregnant because of the change s and imbalance in your body, this causes the dye to not perform as well as normal and split ends along with co lour imperfections can occur,,
good health and good luck to the both of you when it arrives..
x

Answer 4

OMG, I am 8 weeks pregnant and have just seen a new hairdresser to make an appt for Friday for a colour. She told me it was fine to colour hair and that perming can be risky.
With all the advice given, I don't think I will risk it and I'm going to wait till 2nd trimester now.
Thanks for all the advice!!!

Answer 5

That is a myth that you shouldn't dye your hair. I asked my doctor and he indicated that it was fine. I even saw it in a magazine. All the celebrities dye their hair to!

Answer 6

You can do anything you want whilst your pregnant although some schools of thought believe that you shouldn't but I bet many women do and it doesn't do them any harm.

Answer 7

I don't think that's a good idea,chemicals in the dye seek into your pores.

Answer 8

I didn't know i was pregnant and got mine done..........didn't do my baby any harm !!! BUT the do say not to do so in the first 3 months after that it's fine

Answer 9

your not supposed to really as your body can absorb the chemicals that are in the dyes and this is not good for the baby. i usually have highlights and am not going to be able to get them done now until next May - aarrgghh!!

Answer 10

no best not .some women's the hair roots gets weak while they are pregnant. while some women's hair gets stronger