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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

Is it safe to dye your hair while pregnant?

39 replies

Chanelno5 · 10/11/2001 18:38

Yes, I know this sounds a strange question to ask, but a friend of mine has just found out that she is 5 weeks pregnant and wanted to know if it is ok to keep bleaching her hair. I really haven't got a clue and the thought never crossed my mind when I was pregnant as I didn't dye mine. But now I come to think about it, it is quite a good question to ask, as potentially the chemicals could enter the bloodstream through the scalp and reach the unborn baby. Any thoughts/suggestions/ideas on this one gratefully received.

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
narmada · 08/10/2010 20:25

lilly13 ammonia is poisonous if ingested. It can also be absorbed through mucous membranes. But not through the skin, according to the Health Protection Agency.

See:

[http://www.hpa.org.uk/web/HPAwebFile/HPAweb_C/1194947398510
]

Cher87 · 08/10/2010 21:46

I died my hair while I was pregnant, but be warned the colour didnt turn out as it should! think it was my hormones!

Chynah · 08/10/2010 21:50

Oh please just dye it:

The following from NHS website:

The chemicals in permanent and semi-permanent hair dyes are not highly toxic.

Using hair dye when you?re pregnant
Most research, although limited, shows that it?s 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 compared 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. If you?re colouring your hair yourself, you can reduce the risk further by making sure that you:

?wear gloves,
?leave the dye on for the minimum time, and
?work in a well-ventilated room.

Highlighting your hair, by putting the dye only onto strands of hair, also reduces any risk. The chemicals used are only absorbed by your hair, and not by your scalp or bloodstream.

Semi-permanent pure vegetable dyes, such as henna, are a safe alternative.

Do remember that pregnancy can affect your hair?s normal condition. For example, your hair may:

?react differently to colouring or perming than it usually does, and
?become more or less absorbent, frizzy or unpredictable.

It?s always a good idea to do a strand test first, using the hair dye or treatment that you intend to use. Speak to your hairdresser for advice.

Using hair dye while you?re breastfeeding
Information about hair treatments while breastfeeding is limited. However, it?s very unlikely that a significant amount of the chemicals used in hair dyes will be passed on through your breast milk. This is because very little enters your bloodstream. In the past, many women have used hair treatments while breastfeeding, with no known negative results.

lilmamma · 09/10/2010 11:09

I dyed mine,with 4 of my pregnancys,and my daughter is getting hers done now,the hairdresser,said the only reason not to get it dyed is that,sometimes the colour doesnt take aswell..

moppetymum · 09/10/2010 23:27

I've got 2 kids and in 1st pregnancy I really looked into the hair dye issue but in the end I had to cover the greys!!! I dyed my roots every 4 weeks during both pregnancies - it always came out the correct colour and also had highlights (but I have never tried bleach so can't comment on that). So...I would say don't worry.
You can buy henna dyes that are supposed to contain less chemicals (do a google).

tuttifruttimum · 21/03/2011 16:20

I am not through my first trimester yet, and still have not had my first appointmetn with the midwife, but i desperately need my roots done, as greys are peaking with a vengence. I will keep doing my research, and most likely will settle for Henna to do the job in between.

Chrononaut · 23/03/2011 16:36

i think avoid it in the first trimester, then from then on do what you want with your hair so long as its in a well ventilated area.

I dyed mine pink yesterday at 30+4wks and all is fine!

Beesok · 23/03/2011 17:12

I had a semi-permanent dye (I don't bleach just darken my hair - one colour) and frankly I didn't worry too much about it - the hairdresser said that apparently the manufacturer states that this dye is OK to use while pregnant but even if I only half believe that it would take a huge amount of chemicals to actually cause any real harm..... I guess you have to do what you're comfortable with, I couldn't bear to go through my whole pregnancy without getting my hair done....Blush

liannes67 · 27/04/2011 18:49

hi im 11 weeks pregnant and dyed my hair when i ws 9 weeks i just want to no what the risks are i heard the dye just wudnt take to ur hair didnt no it was harmful thanks x

Vix286 · 27/04/2011 19:47

I've been colouring my hair through my pregnancy (27+5).

The two things they (books, hairdressers etc) say to suggest against it is one that it might go wrong as the hormones upset your hair and two there have been suggestions that it might go through the skin / hair and go to the baby.

However I have been colouring my hair for 15 years now, so whatever has got into my bloodstream won't disppear in 9 months! Also have seen plenty of family pictures that show my mother continued to have a full perm when pregnant with me and my sister!

Its all personal choice but the least I can do to make myself feel better is not to see the bloody grey roots!

user1476359634 · 01/11/2016 19:33

I read that it is better to use natural and organic dyes, and avoid dyeing hair in the first trimester of the gestation period. Check it out: motherhow.com/can-you-dye-your-hair-during-pregnancy/

LHilton4981 · 01/11/2016 22:19

I recently got balayage dye on my hair a few weeks back & im 27 weeks pregnant, took to my hair just fine  but everyone's different I guess! I didn't go right to the scalp tho as balayage is a gradual colouring through to the route x

Becciilouisex3 · 02/11/2016 01:37

There's no solid evidence that it's harmful but there's no solid evidence it isn't which is why it's a bit of a grey area. Really, it's up to the mother to read up on it and make a personal decision on how much of a risk it is to them and whether or not they want to do it.

Word of warning though, before 12 weeks it can tend not to take or do strange things to your hair. I dyed my hair before I found out I was pregnant as I had been for years and it wasn't taking anywhere near as well (I couldn't understand why at the time)! Apparently it's to do with the hormones in your body. After 12 weeks I was fine.

From what I read/was informed of, the less strong the dye the better hence bleach being the worst really. It's also best to make sure the area you dye your hair in is well ventilated so that you have some nice clean oxygen as well as hair dye fumes being breathed in!

HappyCamel · 02/11/2016 03:02

Zombie thread alert - right the way back to 2001!

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