Opinion on coloring hair while pregnant?

urbanorchidgirl · May 2016

Hey all.
I normally color my hair every 2 months or so, mostly for fun, because I get bored easily. But now that I'm pregnant, I'm kind of worried!

I've read a lot of mixed opinions on using hair color while pregnant. Ranging from its completely fine, to not in the first trimester, to only using ammonia free dye, to not coloring at all.

There doesn't seem to be any hard evidence that the color would get into your bloodstream, but it's not worth the health of my baby if that might be true.

I'm going to ask my doctor next week, and I'd actually looked for ammonia free, but those types are rare in my little town, and they didn't have red!

Your opinions? My yucky brown roots are over an inch long now. Gross. Lol.

mommywesley · May 2016

I cancelled my plans, but I was going to bleach/highlight my hair and I think that's worse lol. I'm just going to wait till next year.

I would just ask your OB and see what they say.

xinran · May 2016

I'm holding off bleaching mine too. It's the fumes that worry me more than absorbing through the scalp.
But definitely speak to your doctor and see what they say.

HairBossMama · May 2016

Well I'm a hair dresser and colored my hair the entire pregnancy last time. Some people wait past the first trimester. Actually if you are worried but still want your hair done, highlighting is the best option because nothing touches your scalp. The worry is the chemicals sitting on your skin for 30 minutes or more. No studies have shown that you "absorb" it or that is has any negative effect on the baby.

cjs260 · May 2016

My OB said that highlighting is fine in the first trimester and throughout, and coloring is fine in the second trimester and on.

HairBossMama · May 2016

Also just because something is ammonia free doesn't mean it doesn't have an active chemical replace what the ammonia does.

canavara · May 2016

My OB said it was fine. I have ombre electric blue hair and just wanted to do a touch-up to the ends... I noticed the brand I normally used had ammonia in it so I took the Internet for some brands that didn't have it, just for erring on the side of caution, and was pretty happy with the variety available on Amazon.

Emma61210 · May 2016

My OB also said highlighting is fine. Lawd, I needed my roots done 2 weeks before I even found out I was pregnant I was like I cannot wait until 12 weeks.. but he said go ahead. Just not to bleach or put anything directly on my scalp.

Wholesome · May 2016

I have fun hair with layers of colors. I was going to get it touched up last weekend (I am months overdue) but cancelled it. Because there are no conclusive studies, we are going to play it safe and not do any bleaching/dying during the whole pregnancy. I'll miss my hair but I'd always be wondering if it was my fault if something happens physically or developmentally down the line. :-/

BriannaE129129 · May 2016

This was a concern of mine since my roots were coming in... so I asked my OB. She said it was no problem at all to dye my hair. My mother in law suggested using an organic or "natural" hair dye like Natural Instincts or something else. Apparently there used to be a chemical in hair dye that is no longer in it and that was the cause for concern. Obviously, it's whatever you feel comfortable doing!

ThePax89 · May 2016

I don't color my hair while pregnant or during the 2ww while ttc. Too chemically, and too smelly for my pregnant nose

Wholesome · May 2016

@canavara
i want to see your hair! I love fun colors!

katesmama0706 · May 2016

I can't handle the smell during the first tri but will color it after I get over morning sickness, did the same throughout my last pregnancy!

urbanorchidgirl · May 2016

Follow up:
Talked to my doctor and he is fine with me coloring my hair. He says there isn't anything to say that it could be harmful, as far as he's concerned. He did warn me that it might not turn out how I expect, but that's usual for me anyway! But I have decided to go with an ammonia free dye, just to be safer. So tomorrow I'll have new color! Yay!

KarliQ88 · May 2016

My doctor told me no. Especially in first trimester as critical parts are developing at this stage and there is little known about how much chemicals are absorbed or how it affects a fetus.

aishmc · May 2016

I asked multiple doctors before going ahead and getting my roots done this week. The dye is topical and only on there for a short amount of time. Shampoo, conditioner, lotion etc. are applied topically more frequently, even if only for a short amount of time. If we worry about one, we should worry about all.

canavara · May 2016

@Wholesome : I just saw your reply lol.

It's a bit dingey looking right now since I haven't been able to touch it up recently so this is a few months old:

Image: https://scontent-frt3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/t31.0-8/12087938_10103527279540447_2829440586538015690_o.jpg

aishmc · May 2016

@canavara I love that your blue matches the ocean! Great pic!

Wholesome · May 2016

So fun!

Knottie1443924966 · May 2016

I heard that another option is to highlight. This way the stylist can stay away from the scalp.

I wonder how this affects breastfeeding?

HairBossMama · May 2016

There is no research that states you absorb anything in your body. Like a PP said before it is topical. If you are afraid of the unknown do highlights. Hair Dressers have babies all the time. I think it's totally fine and most doctors don't have a problem with it. Pregnant or breastfeeding.

LastMango · May 2016

Both my OB and my hairdresser (who is pregnant with her second) said it was absolutely fine.

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