hair dye when pregnant?

NaomiClare · April 2015

Hi Ladies,
wondering if you have some advice for a slightly older first timer - blessed with grey hair! - i normally visit the salon every five weeks to get the grey stripe addressed. I am worried about letting it go and looking unkempt at work but also worried about dyes in my first trimester. Had anyone had to deal with this, or have any advice for me?
Thanks so much -

BostonBaby1 · April 2015

I can tell you that the my doctor said he "would rather I not" during the first trimester but we have agreed on a natural vegetable dye (which my salon stocks.) that being said, I have had numerous friends dye their hair with permanent dye throughout with no negative repercussions. Sorry if that wasn't helpful... Basically I'd say it is between you, your doctor and your stylist to work out a plan. My plan doesn't include letting any grey show. 8->

gonzir · April 2015

I got a visit on the 22nd and I'm going to ask.. I color my hair myself, and I can't deal with roots and fading. I'll try to give and update as soon as I know

courtney198078 · April 2015

I have always highlighted my hair and my dr has always said its not an issue

Athomas1341 · April 2015

I colored my hair all through my first pregnancy- baby was perfect! I used ammonia free hair dye though. Not real sure if that helps or not.

I would be devastated if I couldn't dye my hair!!! These grays came out way too early for me- I'm not even 30!

eemiers · April 2015

My hair dresser does highlights but no glazes.

imfunsizeniki · April 2015

Ammonia free is safe. And always in a well ventilated area (DIYers this is NOT your bathroom at home) But also be aware that with your hormones all Wakado your hair color that you've been using for years may not come out exactly the same as before. This is especially concerning for those going with lighter colors. They could come out with funky tints. Orange... Green.... But even darker can take on a hint of these colors. It doesn't happen to everyone... Just don't flip out on your stylist if it happens to you... It's your hormones not her.

weasleyB5 · April 2015

Have had the same question here! 30 with lots of grays coming in! : /

I want nothing more than for this baby to be perfect and healthy, but also think about my emotional well being and how crappy I feel when it looks like this! - problem is, I'm also every 4/5 weeks. I'm thinking I'm going to stop cutting my hair to try to keep it from growing in do fast.

Do any of you know how long the vegetable dye lasts?

I also believe it's better to cover with foils with highlights normal application--is that true?

RRC216 · April 2015

My hair stylist said he had a dye that is pregnancy safe. With that said.... I'm still not taking the risk. I have extremely short hair. Shaved on one side, about an inch on the other, and longer on top, kinda a pixie but shaved on one side. I just shaved off all my dyed hair and letting my sandy blonde come in. I am not in love with my color but... for baby, I will just quit dying! I also stopped with acrylic nails. I haven't checked if they were safe, which I'm sure they are, but getting gel and a fill every two weeks for 30 bucks plus tip is expensive. I need a baby fund going!!

AshleighDB · April 2015

Well ventilated area is key. I was worried with my first pregnancy and asked my doctor and she kind of chuckled and told me it was fine. I go every six weeks or else bits of silver start peeking through lol

danapackla · April 2015

Garnier has an amonia free line. That's what I use. If you're not comfortable dying your own hair, call your salon and ask if they'll do it for you. Definitely no need to walk around with roots!

imfunsizeniki · April 2015

It used to be totally unsafe, at least 1st trimester. But some of the chemicals in hair dye have changed to be less carcinogenic just for general health, and therefore there are now pregnancy safe alternatives out there. And then, like I said earlier, another reason to abstain is your crazy hormones. Who wants to pay that much money and have green hair? lol My mom is a cosmetologist.... though I don't go to her LOL {she's back in GA and I'm in NC thanks to the marine corps}.

weasleyB5 · April 2015

AshleighDB said:
Well ventilated area is key. I was worried with my first pregnancy and asked my doctor and she kind of chuckled and told me it was fine. I go every six weeks or else bits of silver start peeking through lol

Did you go in your first trimester also?

alysiawiebe · April 2015

My best friend is a hair stylist. She told me yesterday she's never had a client stop coming because they were pregnant. She does ammonia free. I'm still nervous though! I think I might just get a cut - and wait until after the first trimester...

AshleighDB · April 2015

weasleyB5,
My first appointment during my last pregnancy was soon after I got my BFP and I continued going through all trimesters. No issues here and I see other pregnant women in quite often. Definitely chat with your stylist and doctor if you have any concerns, I know that always helps me to put my mind at ease.

Goldsgirl9 · April 2015

I dyed my hair beginning at 15 weeks with my first, highlights, lowlights, base and I dye my eye brows as well. We had absolutely no issues and baby was born healthy. My doctor is fine with it after first trimester. Talk to your doc but I have yet to find one study that links hair dye to any birth defects, they may exist but i never found them when I was pregnant with my first a few years ago.

Baby+Kate · April 2015

I am a hairdresser, there is no evidence that colouring your hair will effect your baby. A lot of people say there OB suggest against it in the first trimester just cause it's a high risk time, the reason for this is you are putting chemical straight on your scalp and we don't know what type of toxins could enter through the skin. No Ammonia colours are just as bad because they still have other dangerous chemicals in them, and they don't cover grey hair, If u are worried about it you can alway opt for some highlight just for the first trimester, but if you are not telling anyone your pregnant until your 12weeks your hairdresser will pick it up as soon as u opt away from the usual, which then opens a whole other can of worms

Your hair does change during your pregnacy, it naturally goes darker, so your colour formular also may need to change as your hair produces more yellow and in some cases orange pigment..... It a person choice if u do decided to colour your hair, but hairdressers work up close with these chemicals every day and lots if hairdressers have babies.

NaomiClare · April 2015

Hi ladies, so I got back from seeing Joe my stylist this eve, and here is what he said, and what i decided to do: Joe said that ammonia is one of the few substances that will open up the cuticle so that a hair can be dyed. So, even those dyes that claim to be ammonia free, still contain some form of ammonia equivalent chemical that does the same thing. He said that if I am feeling uncomfortable about it in my first trimester, understanding how delicate things are at this stage, he would suggest toughing it out for six weeks. So, i am going to try using a spray on root concealer that is "natural" and washes out each time i shampoo. It is going to be a bit of a pain! But Joe gave me a tutorial on how to apply consistently and truth be told, I feel quite comfortable spending the extra time for the next six weeks. Then, as soon as I hit the second trimester I will be back in the salon seat, in a flash, I am sure I will look like a hot mess by then, but a healthy one, so that's ok:)

live4something · April 2015

At my first appointment yesterday, my OB told me to wait until after the 16 week mark to dye my hair.

AvenaThax · April 2015

I'm employed at Sally's Beauty Supply. The ammonia free permanent dye by "Ion" is great. Also, a demi-permanent hair dye is a good alternative as well.

jessejasonbaby · April 2015

I am also a hairstylist. Colouring you hair is fine. Remember, there are many many stylists who have to continue to work through their pregnancies and we do not stop colouring hair. I also am a hair colour educator and understand colour on a molecular level. Ammonia free uses MEA's which are man made ammonia. This is still a chemical.

supercoolstephy · April 2015

What are y'all's thoughts on bleach or cream lighteners? I have platinum blonde hair that I dye keep up at home.

jessejasonbaby · April 2015

Bleach and lightener is just as safe. I'm working at a hair show right now and my hands are consistently in bleach, colour, product, you name it. As a busy hairstylist and stage artist I can't afford to give up what I do and neither could my colleagues. This is my second pregnancy, I worked through my first as well and my 6 year old is certainly thriving. Lol. And she has fabulous hair!

megirl81 · April 2015

My doctor said it's ok, as long as you try not to breathe its fumes too much. I once discussed it with my hairdresser and he said if i am concerned we can do only glaze in the first trimester, I did it yesterday and it covered pretty good. The thing is it washes out faster than color. Funny enough, my hairdresser figured out I was prego b/c I did just the glaze.

chanaphaedra · April 2015

I found a study performed in 2008 to address this question:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2567273/

Summary: No adverse effects from having hair colored during pregnancy, since it only happens 3-4 times and absorption of chemicals into systemic circulation is minimal.

jld121715 · April 2015

I dyed my hair last week when I found out. I also dyed my hair with my first and she is perfect.

I think its a personal preference. Hair dresses get KU and still do hair. They are around the chemicals for way longer than we are just getting our hair done. I also feel pregnancy can make you get a lil down on yourself that I can not look like a hot mess with my hair roots and grays coming in.

GalLaura · May 2015

I'm getting my hair highlighted at aveda tomorrow. I'm so nervous about it. I had my hairs dyed during the first pregnancy/trimester and I didn't have any problems. Part of me wants to cancel but it's so rare that I can get out of house! I think I'm being dramatic. However I try to stick to all the rules especially in the first trimester.

Edited:
Soooo I chickened out! Just getting a hair cut tomorrow. Will look like an old lady a little longer.

jessejasonbaby · May 2015

Highlights don't even touch your scalp. What worries you about that?

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