A common question among expectant mothers is, can you dye your hair while pregnant? A lot of the time, the answer to this question is extremely vague and leaves women with more questions than they had in the first place. 30 years ago it is highly possible that the chemicals used in standard hair dye could be damaging to pregnant women. However, manufacturing methods have evolved since then, and nowadays in many cases the small amount of chemical exposure coming from hair dye would not have any damaging effects. Therefore it should not be a problem. However, even though you can dye your hair while pregnant there are some things you should consider to ensure that you are being as safe as possible.

Don’t dye your hair during the first trimester

The rise in hormones during pregnancy will likely make your hair grow faster than it ever has before, and you might find that you need to dye your hair more often. It is also common for women to experience a darkening to their natural hair colour, making roots stand out even more. This is going to be annoying, and you will probably only be around 4 weeks into your pregnancy when you feel that your hair needs a touch up, however it is advisory that you wait until at least 12 weeks. The reason for this is because the first 12 weeks of pregnancy include huge developmental milestones for your baby. The vital organs will begin to take shape, and muscles and vocal cords form. Because of all of these important developments happening during this period, your pregnancy includes a higher level of risk than in the second and third trimester. Therefore, it is best not to do anything that could potentially present danger to your baby, no matter how small the chance is.

Consider the services you will use

You can dye your hair while pregnant and get back to yummy mummy status as soon as you have the go ahead from your doctor. However, you may want to have a think about the treatment you will have done. For example, a full head of colour means that chemicals will be applied to the scalp. When these chemicals are applied to the scalp the pores in your skin will soak them up. A safer alternative would be to use a technique where the colour is only applied to the hair shaft. For example, consider using highlight or lowlights. Although a relatively outdated method, using a cap and pulling the hair through to apply colour is a great method for pregnant women because the cap protects the scalp from being contaminated by the chemicals in the hair dye.

Choose your colour carefully

Salon level hair colours are generally quite strong, especially if you are dying your hair lighter than your natural colour. Consider asking your stylist about colours that are ammonia free, as these kind of dyes will present a low to non-existent risk to you and your baby. If you are working with a home colour then consider using a semi-permanent dye or even a wash in wash out colour. As well as, you should definitely conduct a skin test before using any hair colour, even if you have used it before. It is possible that the change in your body and your hormones could prompt you to experience an allergic reaction. If you are particularly worried about the chemicals in hair dye then you could use vegetable or henna dyes, however you will still need to check the label thoroughly as many of them still contain chemicals.

And if you really don`t want to use any hair dyes, but you still want to have a great color, read more about how to naturally lighten your hair with lemon juice.

Protect yourself from fumes

Although the techniques discussed above will prevent chemicals seeping into your body through your scalp, there is still the matter of fumes to think about. All chemical hair dyes no matter how mild they are will give off some sort of fumes and these can definitely present a danger to your baby. If you are in a salon, ask to be seated in a well ventilated are and try to keep your mouth and nose away from the fumes as much as you possibly can. You can also ask that no other hair dyes be mixed or stored near where you are sitting as an extra precaution. If you’re at home, make sure all the windows are open so you are breathing in fresh air rather than potentially dangerous fumes. You must always wear gloves if you are dying your own hair and make sure you thoroughly wash all of the colour out before drying your hair. If the weather permits, it’s a good idea to apply your hair dye outdoors as this will dramatically lower the risk of inhaling chemical fumes.

Conduct a strand test

Due to the change in hormones, that natural condition of your hair will change throughout your pregnancy. Because of this, the hair may be far more porous and take to colour differently than it ever has before. Therefore, you might not get the result that you expect. In order to prevent being disappointed with the end result, conduct a strand test before you apply colour to your entire head, this should give you a good idea of what to expect once all the colour has been applied. This is the surest path to beautiful hair color.

Using hair dye when breastfeeding

Many women will still choose to forego dying their hair after pregnancy because they are breastfeeding. However, the same advice stands. You can dye your hair while pregnant, and you can dye your hair when breast feeding. There are many scaremongers out there however the majority of research indicates that it is highly unlikely for any of the chemicals included in hair dye to enter the bloodstream and contaminate your milk.

In conclusion, yes you can dye your hair when pregnant as long as you take the appropriate precautions and act responsibility. Do you have any experience of using hair dye during pregnancy? Do you have any hints or tips? If you want to share your experience or ask any questions about the tips given above then let us know in the comment section.