Coloring Hair

TheRealNJhousewife

Hi Guys! I went for my first appoitment yesterday to confirm my BFP. My doctor told me he doesn't want me to dye my hair during the first trimester. I have a lot of grey (I'm only 27, so it's horrible!) and I have really dark hair so it's noticable. My roots are bad right now, but I of course will sacrifice my looks if it could harm the baby!

Do you plan on coloring your hair? Why or why not?

mollymurphy

Your doctor specifically mentioned this?

I highlighted my hair during my last pregnancy, but my appointment coincided with the tail end of 1st tri.

Frankly, I wouldn't be particularly concerned. That said, surely you can hold out for a few weeks, if only to satisfy yourself and your doc from extra worry.

TheRealNJhousewife

Yeah, I asked because I have a hair appt tomorrow. I am going to cancel it and hold out for as long as possible! But my sister is getting married next month and I don't want roots. I think I'm going to look for a natural hair dye. 

adellel

I talked to my hair dresser (who is my sister's MIL), and she said many, many women dye their hair while pregnant and don't have issues. I am going to. I think it is whatever you feel comfortable with.

Amber68W

I didn't dye my hair while pregnant with DS, but it's all in what you're comfortable with. If it were me (I do it on my own) I would get someone else to do it, possibly outside or in a room with open windows and fans, so there isn't that bad of a chemical odor.

JessicaG56

my dr said highlighting is better then all over color bc less chemicals come in contact with the head. she said it was a personal decision. i have gotten my hair highlighted with every pregnancy.

TheCricket

Not only did my OB tell me it is fine (he actually kidded me and said "Pregnancy is no excuse for bad hair"), but he explained why this was historically a no no - they used to use formaldehyde in hair dye and other things that would definitely be bad, but the companies like Clairol and the other big ones no longer use those chemicals. So, I did just touched up my roots, and it was on for no more than 10 minutes.

I wrote to the company too, and got a response from them (full of legalese, of course) that said the same thing.

I found this too: Hair Dye. It's an old myth that's hard to kill, mostly because doctors themselves frequently err on the side of caution by recommending women don't dye or color their hair during pregnancy, particularly during the first trimester, when critical development changes are occurring in the baby. And while there fails to be any definitive research showing direct links between hair coloring and fetal health (ditto for hair straightening chemicals or permanent waves), an animal study published in 2006 in the journal Biotechnology & Biotechnology Equipment showed an increased risk of cataracts, affecting vision, in the offspring of female rats who had dye components injected under the skin during pregnancy.

Still - you may want to defer to what your doc says and you'll probably find more peace of mind than doing your own thing.

 

 

mjcbradley

I colored my hair in the first trimester. My hair dresser said it was safe because they don't use amonia. My hair was really blonde and I dyed it a reddish brown. Well now I can see blonde coming through and I'm starting to think that the color didn't take. My friend told me that she doesn't dye her hair during the 1st trimester because there are so many hormones going on that the color wouldn't take. So either my shampoo washed it out or something but next pregnancy, I'm not going to bother dying it in the 1st trimester.

Mis+Shapes

I didn't dye my hair, but if you are worried, maybe henna would work?  No ammonia or peroxide.

FemmeNat01

I just got my hair coloured on Monday. It was all washed out and gross because I hadn't got it done in months and the sun totally killed it. I did it with my last pregnancy. My OB said it was fine! However, you could try Henna dye!

doglover4

Maybe try an Aveda salon? I've heard their products are all natural.

colflowerM824

I'm in the exact same position- I'm 28 w/ dark hair and I'm REALLY grey.  It suck.  My roots are growing out like crazy, but just to be safe I'm going to wait until I'm out of the first trimester.  Once October hits, I'm going to get it done. 

AliandJimmy

When I met for my first appointment they told me that there was no reason not to color your hair.  I need to make an appointment soon to get touched up.  These prenatal vitamins are making my hair grow like crazy!

sakura

My roots are awwwwffuullll!  Should have highlighted 2 months ago and now I am planning to wait till 2nd tri.  My hair stylist says it is ok to do, my last ob said to wait till 2nd tri especially when doing all over color.  I'm getting my haircut today but totally embarrassed that I'm not coloring it.  Oh well, I'll suck it up for a few months!

daniella2727

I dyed my hair during 1st trimester but what my hair stylist did was use a ammonia free product just on my roots.  She also dyed less of my roots then normal and used a lot of high lights to cover up the gray instead.

kaube

I coloured my hair once already and am doing it again today (I'm 10 weeks). I looked into it before I did the first time and the risk is negligible.I just make sure there is a window open in the bathroom, the fan is on, and I dont leave the dye on longer than it says. I have also read that rinsing with cool water and lightly running your fingers over your scalp while rinsing to remove any residue can help lessen chemical effect on the scalp.

Hair dye composition has changed a lot over the years and this idea that it isnt safe is carried over from the times when hair dye included a lot of carcinogens etc. Nowadays, hair dye is pretty safe. If you are really worried they suggest to try having a professional do a foil technique, like layers, highlights or streaks, so that the dye isnt actually sitting on your scalp.

One doctor I found in my research said that the way a mother feels when she is pregnant is by far a bigger factor than the possibly tiny (unproven) amount of chemical she could have enter the system while colouring her hair. Its very important to feel good about yourself, especially when pregnant, and if looking good helps then go for it.

kaube

As a side note- beware of henna dyes. If you intend to continue using other types of dye after you have used the henna you may run into some pretty scary results. Also, only the true henna colours are natural (reds, oranges) since henna only creates a red hue. The rest have a combination of henna and chemical to achieve the colour. So read carefully

FlashMeyer

I just had doctor appt today and was told coloring is fine.

Eros

I am going to color my hair during pregnancy.  I asked my Dr and my hair stylist.  I would not just use any hair color though.  My salon uses Paul Mitchell color and the type he uses is all natural and safe for pregnancy.  I also only highlight so there is less contact with the scalp.  My only true concern would be proper ventilation in the salon.  If there was a lot of coloring/processing going on around you and no window, you might be subjected to too many fumes.  Try to schedule it during non busy hours.  Good luck. 

lmguerrero

I was in the same boat - I have tons of grey and finally decided to wait until the end of the 1st tri to color.  I used Bumble and Bumble's hair powder to cover my roots when i was going out - it actually works pretty well.  It's a little messy to do every day but it made me feel better when I was going to see a lot of people.  Look it up - it comes in different colors - black, brown, blonde and you spray it on. 

flamingos2010

I am the most paranoid person on earth, so I do not dye my hair during pregnancy.. not worth the stress of worrying for me.

My doc told me not to, just to be safe - and that was all this paranoid momma had to hear!  I've survived 9 months of bad hair twice, I can do it again!!  

I just dye it as close to my natural color as possible when ttc and when it grows out, it's close enough .. mixed in with some grays.. ugly, but oh man does it feel good to color my hair once the baby is born!!  It's the greatest feeling on earth! lol

From everything I've heard though.. my research online and also what people say on the bump, there seems to be no proven harm in doing it.  So, do what you feel comfortable with!

repen

TheRealNJhousewife:

Hi Guys! I went for my first appoitment yesterday to confirm my BFP. My doctor told me he doesn't want me to dye my hair during the first trimester. I have a lot of grey (I'm only 27, so it's horrible!) and I have really dark hair so it's noticable. My roots are bad right now, but I of course will sacrifice my looks if it could harm the baby!

Do you plan on coloring your hair? Why or why not?

I just left you a PM.  I was lurking to see how recent grads of TTC were doing.

DBerry

I am a hairdresser.  Don't you think that if it were harmful to babies, then all of the hairdressers in the world who keep their hands in chemicals and breathe the fumes would have babies with health problems? 

The_Quiet_One

I just did mine last week; I went with an ammonia-free dye.  My only problem has been that all the hormones have really changed the composition of my hair, and the dye dried it out something horrible.  I've had to go ultra-hard core with the conditioner.