Artificial Nails and Hair Coloring in Pregnancy? Is It Safe?

Some people do one or the other or both, but It's not something I would do. I was so thrilled to finally be pregnant after 4 years of trying, the pregnancy just came first before everything else.

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My OB said most things were okay. I didn't do either because it bothered me with the smells. She even said coffee was okay as long as I brought her one too. I went to every appointment with two Starbucks coffee's :).

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I think if there is a question about whether it's safe or not, I think the answer is not to. I mean, why take any risk? The truth is that no one really knows whether it's safe or not because there's no real way to know how the child would have turned out if the nails hadn't been done or the hair hadn't been colored. There are a million ways that the development could be affected by the fumes and chemicals created by either or both of these things.

I would say that if you feel you ABSOLUTELY can not live without fake nails and colored hair, wait until at least after the 1st trimester, choose a semi permanent or natural hair color product and a salon that has very well ventilated areas for doing nails. Remember that the pregnancy itself will make your nails strong and beautiful, and the gray, well... it's not really that long. There are tricks to cover it up for a little while. Do you look good in hats?

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NaturColor found at Whole Foods or Central Market supposedly does not have lead in it which can be absorbed through the skin, into your bloodstream, and then into the baby's bloodstream. No one KNOWS what the toxins we are exposed to everyday in our personal care products does to a teeny, tiny developing fetus. Most moms are exposed to 123 toxins per day. Toluene is a cancer-causing chemical that is in almost all nail polishes, and so is formaldehyde. What do those chemicals do to a developing little brain or liver once they enter the baby's bloodstream from the placenta. If I were you, I'd avoid the "Dirty Thirty" - - the most harmful thirty chemicals that manufacturers are still allowed to put in our hair dyes, nail polish, shampoos, shower-gels, deodorants, sunscreens, make-ups . . .

www.teensturninggreen.org >> Get Educated > > The Dirty Thirty

Also, check out The Daily Green an online e-zine >> search for their article on "Tips to Avoid Breast Cancer" which also point out more toxins

I think I just stumbled upon wise advice that all of us moms should know. It is a FREE replay of an interview with Donna Gates, who wrote "The Body Ecology Diet."
http://www.theawareshow.com/connect/gates/

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I would avoid the nails b/c you will be exposed to the chemicals in the salon. There is, of course, the risk for infection but you shouldn't breathe that in for too long! Do you really need the artificials? If you are taking prenatals your nails will grow very quickly and it will be difficult to keep-up with them!

As for the coloring, I went to my stylist and spoke with her about the "safety" and she said that anything that stays on the scalp is not considered safe, but highlights are. You could also inquire about "natural" coloring- it's vegetable-based so it doesn't last as long.

Being pregnant means foregoing these processes for a while (like the next year or so), but you can find safe alternatives.

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1 With any questions regarding your pregnancy should always be run by the OB you are seeing during your pregnancy.

My mom always said if you knew all the chemicals in hair dyes you would not do it while not being prego so I never did whille being prego(mind you both her and I color our hair)

The nails I would ware a mask and make the 1st appointment of the day so the air is not so full of the chemicals and nail dust from others.

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I work in the industry and did artificial nails during both of my entire pregnancies. If I thought for a second it was harmful, I would tell you. There is nothing harmful.

Hair Color is also safe.

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No, too much exposure to harmful chemicals. They may be a natural hair solution that would be safe I'm not sure. My suggestion, choose something else to pamper yourself. Until baby is 3 or 4 months old you don't want to expose them to all those chemicals either.

hi!
i have heard coloring your hair during pregnancy is perfectly safe BUT your color may not turn out exactly how its supposed to because of all your hormones!

my dr told me gettin my nails done is safe unless your in your first trimester its not safe for you to inhale the fumes in your first trimester!!!

i'm a stylist.. i personally colored my hair throughout my pregnancy. If you are that worried, do highlights(the color wont touch your scalp) Check out AVEDA.. there hair color is 97% natural, and they also have a non permanent color.

As far as nails, i'd be careful. If the tools aren't cleaned properly and they nic you or pull a cuticle and you bleed, there is a risk.

Good luck!

You should consult with your doctor about these concerns. I feel that you can have both done suring pregnancy, but you should always consult your doctor first.
The hair color does not seep in to your blood stream, but people seem to think that this happens for some reason. You can have an allergic reaction to the hair color or it may not take the same way it did before pregnancy. Talk to your hair designer and ask her what she thinks.
As for nails, it is possible to get fungal infections or an infection from a cut at any time when you nail enhancements. If you are really concerned abou tinfection, then I would have to say that you need to go to a salon that you can trust and get away from the one you don't. You may react to the products used for the nails differently than you did before pregnancy, talk to your nail tech about your concerns.
Good Luck and have a happy healthy pregnancy:)

I don't know about the nail thing since I never get mine done, but I colored my hair monthly during both of my pregnancies. My doctor told me to wait until the second trimester to color my hair which I did, but with my first pregnancy I didn't know I was pregnant until I was about 8 weeks along, so I had colored it the week before not knowing but both of my kids are fine!!

The nails are fine, but due to the keen sense of smell you may want to go during a less busy time for the salon to get them done. Hair color is safe too but typically the color comes out WRONG. I did not bother but my girlfriend went in for her normal root touch up of her normal brown and got ORANGE!! Another went in for the blonde highlights/touch up and she turned White and Red ... basically the hair often does not die corectly when you are preggers, so good luck.

I'm not sure about doing your nails only because of the stuff they use. I waited until I was past my 1st trimester and I colored my hair. You can do whatever you feel is comfortable. Go ahead and ask your doctor too, depends on them they may be ok with it. Good luck on your pregnancy.

I don't know about the nails. As far as hair color goes, most people will tell you it's okay, especially if you do foils or whatever so you don't actually have the dyes sitting on the scalp.

Personally, I didn't do any highlights or dyes while pregnant. I even had my hair cut less than normal to avoid sitting in a salon and breathing in the fumes. It just seemed to me that anything that let off a noxious, chemically smell couldn't be GOOD for me breathe in and expose the baby to. The same goes for industrial-strength cleaners, etc. I was probably unnecessarily careful, but I wanted to err on the side of caution when it came to my baby.

What does your doctor say? I always listen to them. My MD was always reasonable - the first trimester is always the tricky part when baby's neural tube is developing.

I got my nails done my entire pregnancy. =)

Talk to your doctor. Some people do either or both and don't seem to have a problem; however, it is never good (even for us) to breath those fumes. They are chemicals and everyone should treat them as such.

It's a myth that pregnant women should not get their hair dyed. I have 5 kids and got my hair dyed several times during each of my pregnancies. My doctor used to tease me that she never knew what color it would be from one appointment to the other. She had no problem with it.

As for your nails. Go ahead and get them done. Don't worry about infection. You could get a worse infection getting a paper cut opening the mail.

I was told to wait til 2nd trimester to color hair, just in case. But I am sure getting your nails done is not going to cause any harm. I had my nails and toes done all throughout pregnancy. Just be careful of inhaling to many fumes at the nail salon.

Hi! Loads of women do it with no problem, but I didn't (gray and all!). My sister posed it to me this way: if, God forbid, something DOES go wrong, would you want to second-guess yourself the rest of your life? It was enough for me:)
Consider other experiences and make the best choice you can. Good luck and be well.