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If you have a major hair transformation planned, consider postponing it until after delivery. A salon service you should definitely avoid while pregnant is chemical hair straightening treatments like relaxers, which have been linked to uterine cancer and other risks. Most research shows that it’s safe to dye or colour your hair while pregnant. Hair dye can stain your hands and expose your skin to chemicals. Your skin is more susceptible to irritation if you're pregnant, so wearing gloves can prevent bothersome stains and bad allergic reactions. Before dyeing your hair, you need to test if your skin will react negatively to the hair dye.
Drugs & Supplements
Many studies have excluded pregnant participants due to the ethical concern of studying drug and cosmetic effects on pregnant women. Choosing a safe, gentle hair dye is one way to protect your baby from chemical exposure. Hair can grow at a faster pace while pregnant, so you may need more root touchups during these nine months. To minimize potential harm to a developing fetus, some experts advise against coloring hair in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy. If you are coloring your own hair, make sure to wear gloves to minimize chemical exposure to your skin.
When Is the Best Time to Dye Your Hair While Pregnant?
You can also try a color-depositing conditioner, like those from brands such as oVertone, which dilutes color in a thick conditioner form, or opt for a demi-permanent formula without ammonia. Of course, you can also skip services altogether and treat yourself to a much-deserved refresh after baby is born. You could try a safer alternative such as a semi-permanent pure vegetable dye, like henna. Pregnancy can cause changes in your skin, like sensitivity and rashes. It can also bring underlying genetic conditions, like eczema, to the surface.
How can I color my hair safely while pregnant?
Hormonal changes during pregnancy can affect the way your hair reacts to dye. As an expectant mother, you’re bombarded with information on how to have a safe and healthy pregnancy. Everything you do and eat can have an effect on your baby-to-be. From the What to Expect editorial team and Heidi Murkoff, author of What to Expect When You're Expecting. What to Expect follows strict reporting guidelines and uses only credible sources, such as peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions and highly respected health organizations.
Have a Professional Do It
It’s a small amount, so the chemical is unlikely to have any harmful effect on your baby’s developing body. “If a dye says that it’s ‘all natural,’ the idea that that’s necessarily safer is not really true,” Sterling says. The most common risk, Dr. Sterling points out, is increased irritation. It raised a few eyebrows; we've all heard mixed advice on whether or not it's OK to bleach and/or dye your hair while expecting. According to the experts, the answer isn't a straightforward yes or no.
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Is It Safe To Dye Your Hair While You're Pregnant? - Health Essentials
Is It Safe To Dye Your Hair While You're Pregnant?.
Posted: Thu, 17 Aug 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]
Copyright 2024 by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Read copyright and permissions information.This information is designed as an educational aid for the public. It offers current information and opinions related to women's health.
You should be able to feel and look your best during pregnancy, Simpson says. That said, don't do anything if it makes you feel uncomfortable. Available evidence also shows minimal dye absorption into the system, although research is limited.
Precautions for Pregnant People
By Elisa CinelliElisa is a well-known parenting writer who is passionate about providing research-based content to help parents make the best decisions for their families. She has written for well-known sites including POPSUGAR and Scary Mommy, among others.
An ardent advocate for inclusive beauty, she is continuously inspiring women to create an authentic self-image. This is another super-easy technique to naturally lighten your hair. Here’s what to know before you call up your stylist for a root refresh while you’re expecting.
According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), previous animal studies have found that high doses of the chemicals used in hair dye don’t cause any serious birth defects. Plus, only a small amount of these chemicals are actually absorbed into the scalp. If you want to be extra careful, but you still want to change up your hair color, there are a few alternatives you can try.
Complete a patch test on your skin before putting the henna in your hair. If there is a black stain, this indicates added chemicals and you shouldn’t use the product. In addition, if you have given birth to a child who has G6DP deficiency, anemia, hyperbilirubinemia, or any blood or immune system-related disorder, then do not use henna to color your hair. This is something that many professional colorists won’t do and isn’t safe for you to do at home.
Usually present as hydrogen peroxide in hair color products, this ingredient has a crucial role in the process of hair coloring. It lightens the natural color of your hair, making your hair more receptive to the new hue. Although peroxide does not generally cause safety issues, some people may be allergic to it. If you are pregnant and unable to find a peroxide-free product for your hair, do a patch test before applying it to your hair. Even though the chemicals in hair dye are likely safe, it's always better while pregnant to use plant-based dyes to minimize your risk of chemical exposure.
Next, wear gloves during the process to minimize exposure as much as possible. There’s no reason you should add the risk of soaking it through your skin. Finally, take a cold shower before bleaching, or at least never bleach after a hot one. When your skin is cold, your pores are more restricted and fewer chemicals will be absorbed through them.
We do not offer individual medical advice, diagnosis or treatment plans. For personal advice, please consult with a medical professional. In poorly ventilated spaces, the fumes from bleach can make you feel dizzy and potentially expose your growing baby to harmful chemicals. Pregnancy-related hormonal changes can make your skin highly sensitive to the ingredients in bleaching products and trigger allergic reactions such as itchiness, redness, or swelling.
Though hair dye is generally safe, there are several precautions you should take. Always talk to your doctor before using hair dye while pregnant. People use it to stand out, maintain their natural hair color over time, or change it up a little. Rather than dye your entire hair, ask your stylist about highlights, frosting, or streaking to avoid applying dye directly to your scalp or skin.