Is Dyeing Hair during Pregnancy Safe

Hair Treatments During Pregnancy

There are many questions that have come up with regards to hair treatments during pregnancy. Pregnancy does not mean looking shabby. Expectant women also want to look good. However, most hair treatments have chemicals and thus many pregnant women are skeptical about using them for safety reasons. One of the preferred hair treatments is coloring which includes permanent, semi-permanent and temporary dyes. Other treatments include curling, bleaching and relaxing.

Dyes and pregnancy

The research into the safety of dyeing hair during pregnancy is quite limited. But most of the research done indicates that the chemicals found in dyes are very minimal. Furthermore, these chemicals are not highly toxic. Also consider the fact that it is only a small amount of hair dye that may be absorbed into your skin. A negligible amount will even reach your fetus. Therefore, it is safe to dye your hair during pregnancy.

Alternatives

If you are still doubtful, consider other alternatives to dyes such as having highlights put on your hair. This significantly decreases any risks because the dye is only placed on strands of your hair and does not touch the scalp. Eventually, no chemicals enter your bloodstream.

You can also consider pure vegetable dyes such as henna. Henna is safe for use during pregnancy.

Still unsure?

Talk to your doctor. It is always necessary to talk to your doctor because they can give you the best opinion from a medical perspective.

Important things to consider before dyeing your hair during pregnancy

If you are convinced about the safety of dyeing your hair during pregnancy, you should consider the following precautions:

Wait until your second trimester to dye your hair because this the critical stage of your baby’s organ development would have ended. The first 12 weeks are very important and though dyes have not been shown to have any effect on pregnancy, they still contain chemicals. So why take the chance?
Opt for a process like streaking or frosting rather than an all-over hair color
Use gentle colors for example color with an ammonia-free base or a semi-permanent color which does not contain bleach
Ensure that you do the treatment in a well-ventilated area
Don’t leave the dye on your hair for any longer period than indicated
Thoroughly rinse your scalp after the process.
Wear gloves when applying the dye to minimize your exposure to the chemicals in the coloring process
Follow the directions of the package
Test for allergic reactions with a patch test before completing the process. You are going through hormonal changes so you what you get is what you may have not expected
Never dye your eyebrows. It can cause swelling or an infection in your eye area.

While dyeing is safe, remember that your pregnancy itself can naturally change your hair’s texture. It may cause your hair to react differently to coloring. You should, therefore, consider waiting until after your pregnancy to treat your hair.

There is no issue with dyeing your hair during pregnancy, it is quite safe. But as we have agreed, consult your doctor beforehand and always go for easier alternatives. A dye is still a chemical.