Safe to get my roots done?

[whitesand]

I've recently found out that I'm 4 weeks pregnant (shocked but happy). Having done some initial research on the do's and don't's of pregnancy, I was surprised to see a question mark over hair colouring.

My (dark) roots are awful (the rest is blonde) and there's no way I can go around with them getting worse for the next 8 months!

Any idea whether it's safe to get my roots done?

Here's hoping....

My mw said there's no evidence that dyeing hair is dangerous, but on the other hand no evidence that it's safe either (only because for ethical reasons they can't specifically test products on pregnant women!) She said to be on the safe side it might be best to wait until 12 weeks, when any theoretical risk would be lower.

My midwife said it was fine, but I agree with lurcherlover and would wait until 12 weeks. I have had my hair done, but it is only ever tinted, and not a proper silver foil, highlight/lowlight, job. I would also check with your hairdresser, as mine were really helpful. Congrats on your pregnancy!

I waited until 12 weeks and then had a semi-permanent colour, but I was going from ash blonde roots to rich brown. I don't know about bleaching roots blonde, instinct says this is a bit dodgy but I have no basis/evidence for thinking that really. What does your hairdresser think?

One option - could you get a semi-permanent (I have something called diacolor (sp?) which fades over 6-8 weeks) over all of your hair which kind of blends the dark roots and the blonde? Might be an opportunity to have a change anyway!

Congrats on your pregnancy!

I waited until 12 weeks too just to be on the safe side. Its well worth the bad hair for a few weeks in exchange for the piece of mind.

Hi - my hairdresser and midwife have both said there's no problem at all with hair dye and I had mine dyed at 4 weeks and at 12 weeks and will be going back at 17 weeks (next week). The hairdressers did say that the hormones can sometimes affect how well the dye takes and how sensitive your skin will be, so I'd second Cluds that you should check with the hairdresser and take their advice on skin tests etc. Mine's been no problem at all. Congratulations by the way! x

Thanks for the advice. Looks like it's best to play safe but I'll still ask the hairdressers.

I'm already really embarrassed about how awful my roots look and I might have to hold off another 8 weeks!!

yes

Just to add...apparantly you should not get your head massaged while pregnant so worth telling your hairdresser if they do massage when they are washing your hair.

my hairdresser has her own shampoo range and she said DO NOT get your hair coloured in the first 12 weeks.
after that you should go for highlights only as less colour in contact with your scalp, not an all over tint. not sure about semi-permanents.

most hairdressers won't know - they are not chemists, just stylists.

when pg with DD1 i had a different hairdresser, (v expensive in central london) and when i asked if it was safe to have my highlights he laughed and said was i having a "non toxic" pregnancy? he hoped i wasn't drinking coffee, diet coke or anything else except organic food and pure filtered water. this is quite a common opinion amongst hairdressers, but not valid according to my current one who having worked with the chemists knows what she's on about.