Hair Dye and Pregnancy

by Ina
(South Africa)

Is it harmful to my unborn baby if I dye my hair while pregnant?

Answer

Firstly, well done for being so diligent as to first check on the safety of hair dye and pregnancy.

Many health care providers recommend waiting until the second trimester before using chemical hair products as there is very little research on this topic.

According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), it is considered safe to dye your hair during pregnancy as apparently very little of the chemicals used are absorbed into your body.

If you have streaks or highlighting done, there should be even less negative effects as the chemicals are not applied to the skin of your scalp, which is where the chemicals may enter the body.

However, you might like to investigate organic hair dye products made of vegetable dyes, which you should be able to find at health stores.

Pure henna is a semi-permanent vegetable dye that is said to be safe to use during pregnancy and it is available in different shades.

Permanent hair dye and straightening products contain a lot of ammonia and this is not healthy, so you should avoid these.

As with any hair dye product, at any time, be sure to read the instructions carefully and to follow the safety precautions diligently: wear gloves, use the product in a well-ventilated room so that you are not overwhelmed by chemical fumes etc.
Don't leave the chemicals on your hair longer than necessary and rinse well!

Voila! Get glamorous and enjoy your pregnancy!