Dying your hair- 1st Trimester

RNMegan0711 · October 2015

Good morning all! So, I have a logical question but I wanted honest opinions. I'm a natural blonde but I dye my roots a more platinum color every 6-8 weeks. I'm 7 weeks and 2 days pregnant as of today and my roots are horrible! My hairdresser says that blonde isn't so much the issue as "color" when you're pregnant. I have no idea if there is any truth to that. I do know that depending on where you search, you'll get a whole bunch of different opinions. Anywhere from woman who went ahead and continued dying normally throughout pregnancy to waiting until after first trimester was over etc. My main concern is healthy baby. So I'll do whatever is necessary. That being said, what is the general opinion? Would you have your roots touched up?

NamelessAria · October 2015

Basically from what I've read dying your hair while pregnant is probably fine. There just aren't that many chemicals actually being absorbed through your scalp. Especially if you're highlighting or something where practically no dye even touches your scalp. Just make sure you're dying in a well ventilated room so you're not breathing in all the chemicals and don't leave the dye on your scalp longer than needed. Not dying for the first trimester seems to be a bit over cautious in my people's opinion.

I read somewhere that bleaching is worse. I know my SIL who has, as she calls, it "dishwater blonde" hair normally bleaches her hair to more of a platinum. For pregnancy she started highlighting instead of all-over so it wouldn't really come into contact with her scalp. It did look a bit different but she said she couldn't even find a hair stylist in her small town that would even do bleach on her while pregnant.

My hair is sort of a slightly red toned, but definitely mousy dark blonde/light brown color that I hate with a passion. I normally dye my hair a golden red to warm it up a bit. I am giving up dying my hair with standard chemical dyes at least for the first trimester. I'm planning to try henna on my hair since thebump suggests plant dyes and insists henna is safe. Hopefully it turns out alright!

RNMegan0711 · October 2015

Yeah that's my concern. I bleach my roots so it would definitely come in contact with my scalp. I could definitely highlight instead. It may look a little off at first but that could be an option that may work for now. My hair stylist seems to not have any problem doing either. My doctors office states that dying is fine after the first trimester on their "info" website for their OB clients. I just don't want to intentially do anything that could harm the baby for selfish vanity reasons. This baby is more important than any of that.

mkemommy · October 2015

I've been going back and forth on this too, honestly. I really want to highlight my hair before I leave for India in a few weeks (my hair is awful right now). I might ask my OB when I meet with her on Friday.

mrstmoose · October 2015

My doctor prefers that I do it after the 1st trimester but I told him we are having family pictures done at 12 weeks and I would like to get my hair touched up at 10 weeks. He was fine with it. Like everything else, in moderation.

pillowdrunk · October 2015

I had let my hair go for a few weeks before I found out I was pregnant and now I'm in desperate need of a touch up. I have what feels like millions of greys. I feel like I'm going to show up to a halloween party looking like I'm in costume as a geriatric. I really want to get a color rinse but I'm so damn paranoid, I'll probably end up waiting another few weeks before I head to the salon.

FutureMrsCAF · October 2015

My next color appointment is right after thanksgiving so I'll be in 2nd tri. It timed out really well, but I wasn't that concerned about it anyways. I go to an Aveda salon so the color is all plant based, and the color area is pretty well ventilated. My colorist just had a baby within the last year, so I figure if it was safe for her to be around it all day, every day, it's safe for me. I do only get highlights, however.

cattuccino · October 2015

I have a friend who's a hairstylist and assured me colouring is safe throughout pregnancy so long as you're getting it done in a well ventilated area.
She did tell me blonde/light colours are a bit tougher, but still nothing horrible - what she did mention though was with hormones that can affect your hair, so the pigments may not stick the same. So even if you use the same colour codes, if you do your hair now, it might not come out to the same shade when you do it again in another couple months. Apparently if you go darker this is less common.

MamaCoffin · October 2015

Hi! Licensed cosmetologist here... For over 10 years.

I've colored the hair of pregnant women, had my hair colored while pregnant, and colored other people's hair while I was pregnant (in turn exposing myself to chemicals ALL DAY long) through all of my pregnancies (this is my third) with no ill effects. Aside from a decade of hands on experience, my knowledge of chemicals and the human body (I studied biology, anatomy, physiology, and chemistry) tell me that it is perfectly safe. The only risks you run are increased skin sensitivity and sensitivity to the smells.

Go for it!

Lyzza350 · October 2015

My hairdresser says it's not supposed to touch the scalp. I had a whole head of highlights done a few months ago so I died it back to my natural color and she just skipped my roots so it wouldn't touch my scalp.

MamaCoffin · October 2015

Lyzza350 said:
My hairdresser says it's not supposed to touch the scalp. I had a whole head of highlights done a few months ago so I died it back to my natural color and she just skipped my roots so it wouldn't touch my scalp.

Touching your scalp is only a risk because of the chance of increased sensitivity. You could experience a rash or other irritation that you haven't previously experienced even with the exact same formula. The trace amounts of chemicals that could penetrate the scalp are no more risky than chemicals you absorb and breathe in just by walking down the street. In order to really cause a problem you'd literally have to drink the color.

HighFive16 · October 2015

I am not a natural blonde but a blonde anyways and I had the same concerns last year. My OB told me it was fine and the hair dresser said the same as above about the ventilation so I colored as normal. I know my friend used to change to a special dye for her pregnancy that was more herbal based or something. I will do the same again this time round.

RNMegan0711 · October 2015

@jenmlangtake2 thank you for your input! I think I'll probably go ahead. The place I go to is very ventilated and my hair stylist seemed to have said the same thing about sensitivity. I wish I knew more about what did and didn't cross the blood brain barrier.

sorarose · October 2015

My OB actually recommended I didn't color my hair all pregnancy. However, this time around I'm in a wedding during 2nd Trimester, and my grays are already out of control. I usually do a red, but will probably go more brunette to match my natural color.

sthomas1222 · October 2015

I will say be prepared for your hair to *possibly* do strange things. My hair during pregnancy doesn't take dye right. We tried chocolate brown streaks along with red & blonde. The brown didn't take at all. The red did something funny, can't remember what, & the blonde was fine but not as light.

likeabel · October 2015

I think as long as you aren't drinking the hair dye, you and LO will be just fine

cattlebride · October 2015

Just adding my 2 cents as a former natural blonde. Baby and pregnancy might change you to a different texture and color of hair. I dyed my hair throughout my first pregnancy in almost the exact same way you describe. After birth my hair went from straight and a darker blonde, to dark brunette and wavy. I think the general consensus is dying your hair is safe.

RNMegan0711 · October 2015

I ended up going ahead and having my roots done. People can judge all they want. Lol. The place was well ventilated and I'm a natural blonde that goes platinum so it only stayed on my head a matter of ten minutes. Thank you all so much for your replies!

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