Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Pregnancy

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

Flip

Original poster

The safety in highlighting your hair while pregnant

16 replies

Kanuck · 07/01/2009 19:13

hi - I am trying to get some advice as to whether I can highlight my hair while pregnant in the first trimester (or any other trimester). Midwife told me there have been no studies conducted on this. Has anybody read or been given any advice that they trusted, one way or the other?

I emailed my salon and they said it was only in the 'wash' that some of the solution could touch my scalp. Otherwise they deferred to doctor's advice. They said many pregnant women still do it but those with morning sickness and smell sensitivities can't really handle being in the salon and often have to GET OUT! Luckily I don't have these issues for the moment.

greying in Ealing

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

HeyThereGeorgieGirl · 07/01/2009 19:55

Kanuck I don't have definite information, but there's been many threads on here that have discussed this issue. I think the common approach is that highlighting is better than all over dyeing as the bleach doesn't actually come into contact with the skin.

For what it's worth, when I was pg with DD1 and DD2 I had hair highlighted throughout pg's. Now pg with DC3 and had hair dyed (gone dark due to credit crunch!) when 5 weeks pg. To be honest, it just didn't occur to me not to have it done. Opps.

Think individual decision. But there doens't seem to be any concrete evidence that says it is harmful.

How bad are roots and how pg are you?

BabyBaby123 · 07/01/2009 19:57

i think it's ok from what i've read. had my hightlights done at 12 weeks - i'm trying to do it as little as possible - now 24 weeks will do it once or maybe twice more before i have the baby

noonki · 07/01/2009 20:08

What my mw told me was that there was a small possible link but that it was inconclusive. She said that if it were her she would just wait for the baby to be born as then the risk is zero.

So I didn't bother; my roots didnt look too bad and I was so big I think that was the last thing people were looking at!

also was a nice treat after baby was born

Up to you at the end of the day,

dinny · 07/01/2009 20:15

if they use foils it's not a problem as nothing touches your scalp

ciara07 · 07/01/2009 20:45

i spoke to my hairdresser about this, she said she has never seen anyone having problems with highlights or colours. She siad that some mw's tell you not to incase your hair turns green due to the hormone imbalance or something?? but she has never saw anything like this and if in doubt get them to do a patch test first.

dinny · 08/01/2009 09:31

Ciara - I think it's the risk to the baby the OP means, not to her actual hair

lisbabe · 13/01/2009 09:31

I am 7 weeks pregnat with my 5th child at 42( don't ask). I wondered too if I can have my hair highlighted? I was 35 when I had my last child and didn't have my hair highlighted then as I wasn't going grey!!My hair is greasy too as it has been with them all. Research seems to suggest it's ok but I need some facts , surely someone must know? I usually have them done every 4-6 weeks!! Gill

BabyBaby123 · 13/01/2009 09:36

highlights are fine - it's all over bleaching was not advised but some people do that too! Highlights are different because very little actually touches your scalp. If you are worried put it off until 12 weeks and get it done as little as possible throughout the pregnancy. I will have had it done 3 times by the time by baby is born....

LoveActually · 13/01/2009 09:58

BabyBaby is right, highlights don't touch the scalp, I would wait until 12 weeks though. There have been sudies but nothing conclusive.
I used organic highlights (Aveda in salon or Galvin's organic home highlight kit).

nailpolish · 13/01/2009 10:01

there is no risk to the baby

its an urban myth

the danger is that your hair is very weak when you are pg - a lot of women have hair loss due to the hormones - and bleaching etc can make this worse

AvonBarksdale · 13/01/2009 10:15

I think it's nonsense too. I'd go for it - I did when pg with dd and am pg again and have no quarms about it. It's the only chance I have of getting a few hours of me time...I'd make the most of the pampering now if I were you!

Summerisle · 13/01/2009 10:18

Must admit Im not sure what to do about this, Due to get married in 6 weeks and have grey hairs at temple and scalp that are most unbecoming for a bride! Usually slap on a home dye kit, but am scared to incase it messes up the baby....

nailpolish · 13/01/2009 10:19

summerisle - it wont - see my post below

Summerisle · 13/01/2009 10:22

But what's your source nailpolish? How do you know?

nailpolish · 13/01/2009 10:24

its common sense

would you have a panic if you got bleach on your hands? no course you wouldnt

Diege · 13/01/2009 10:38

From a scientific perspective, on balanace nailpolish is right. There's no real conclusive evidence to say that colouring your hair - highlights or roots - has any effect on foetal development. The studies done on anaimals involved shaving rats and putting dye on their skin up to 300 times the concentration of hair dye, several times a day for several weeks. Even then only 2 'abnormalities' were seen in the sample. The general advice is to wait until after 12 weeks, but even this is based on caution relating to lack of any studies on pregnant women (for ethical reasons). In short, while no-one can say for sure that it't totally safe (because no research has been done) there's no research to say that current dye formulation (post 1970s) have an effect either. Hope this helps a bit

Flip