Coloring Hair During Pregnancy

Hi T.,
I am a stylist and am also a new mom again. If you ask 100 doctors they will all have a different thought. But there is no proof of it hurting the baby. They just suggest it. I always tell my clients to ask the doctor, but it is really up to them. I colored my hair during both pregnancies and have 2 perfect kids! If you are really concerned you can always hilite to blend the gray, and it never even touches your scalp. Good luck!
Desiree

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I know it will drive you crazy, but the best advice really is to wait... the first 2-8 weeks of your pregnancy are very delicate because this is when your baby's organs are forming any thing that you put in or even on your body gets absorbed into the bloodstream and can pass to your baby. So please just hang in there!

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My OB colored her hair while pregnant, so I did too for both of my pregnancies. All was perfect. The stress you are feeling can affect the baby, so relax and treat yourself to something that makes you feel pretty!

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The problem with coloring your hair when pregnant is NOT that it is "poison", nor is it that one can get brain damage from it. The problem is that most dyes contain chemical(s) which do NOT interact well with the increase in minerals which are delivered via Pre-Natal Vitamins. The chemical change in the body of a pregnant woman is substantial (you are growing a whole person), and while you are free to color your hair, the results will, most likely, be less than favorable, i.e.; bright orange where you wanted highlights, etc. I had the same problem - I dyed my hair though - without telling the cosmetologist that I was taking pre-natal vitamins, got BAD results. Good news - it is fixable! Tell your hairdresser that you are pregnant, measures can be taken with de-medicating your hair prior to chemical treatments. See? It is not just pregnancy that inhibits great hair - it is any medication, because of the chemical reaction!

As far as the smell or ingestion of chemicals - what can you do? It is no worse, if not better than getting gas in your car, cleaning your toilet or kitchen sink, for that matter, with a cleanser.

I have twins that are 18 yrs. old and a 9 year old. I can't plan either!

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Hi,
I colored my hair all through pregnancy and know many, many women who did and it was not a problem at all. My baby girl came out healthy and perfect. I have very gray roots and couldn't imagine going three months with that look.
Yes, I was very, very cautious about everything while pregnant and was very healthy. Would not take even a tylenol or drink coffee. But I did dye my roots about every six weeks. Good luck. I am sure you will have a beautiful and healthy baby.

The ingredients of many of the dyes used in hair coloring attribute towards cancer, Phenylenediamine, Alkylphenol ethoxylates (APE's) and the risk of childhood cancer could be increased tenfold for children whose mothers use hair coloring shortly prior to conceiving or during pregnancy. Just go naturale' it's healthier for you anyway. There is a reason why docs tell moms not to color their hair in that first trimester due to the chemicals involved. Your unborn baby doesn't care about your grey. Enjoy life - it's too short anyway! Worrying about looking grey, makes you more grey and let your inner beauty shine forth!

Hey T.,
I really thought hard on this topic and decided to go for it. I'm not sure about the 1st Tri, but I think that if you are leading a healthy life, good nutritious food, hopefully organic, not using toxic cleaners, including laundry detergent and so on, you will be fine, coloring your hair. I highlighted mine a couple of times during my preg and it was fine. I figured the placenta does a really good job filtering stuff. I just talked to my hair stylist and he did his best to keep the chemicals off my scalp until it was time to wash it out. Do what makes you feel beautiful. The OB just has to tell you what the medical standard is.
L.

Hey T.-
I colored my hair with HerbaTint or one of those health food store dyes before, during and after-- it's true that herbs are powerful but there are no toxic fumes to inhale (which are intense in brands like Clairol) and I think the absorption through my scalp was probably fairly minimal. My OB didn't have much to say- but my daughter is fine and it sounds like it would make a big difference for your state of mind.

If it was "so damaging" why don't wwe get brain damage from coloring our hair as it is so close to our brains and we "absorb" the dye supposedly? I think tellling mom's not to color their hair during pregnancy is a ploy to make us feel uglier than we already feel! I think it's a crock and some docs say it as a cop out because if they say you can and something just so happens to go wrong, they can possibly by sued for "hair color brain damage" to the baby or something. So they play it safe and say "no" to everything. I say do it and the feeling of high self-esteem and endorphines rushing through your body because you feel so beautiful will be more beneficial than a supposed, unproven microscopic amount of hair dye that could have possibly penetrated your head. Best wishes and get beautiful!

Hi T.,

I had similar gray hair issues during both of my pregnancies, and my OB said it was ok to color even during the first trimester. My hairdresses didn't massage the color in too much and took it off sooner than normal, so it didn't last as long, but was perhaps a little safer? i also tried to space out my colorings as long as possible.
good luck!

Hi T.,
I took the following info off the internet, as with every hair dye, you need to do a strand test. Henna can take hours to process, so are you sure you left it on long enough?
"A Few Words of Caution Do not use henna over commercially colored hair. It's safest to wait at least 2 months after a commercial dye job, before using henna. Some women have had no problems waiting only 1 month, but again, that's what the strand test is for."

I would suggest going to a professional, especially since you've done the henna thing. What you don't want is to mess up your hair and be stuck with it for a very long time,or have to cut your hair extremely short. Be strong and courageous, this too will pass ;)

i think coloring your hair is really not a big deal. i did it during both pregnancies and we're all normal and healthy. if it's once during the 1st tri.... it's just not going to do anything. i think if you were a hair colorist and working with those chemicals 8 hours a day it would be a different story. treat yourself and don't sweat it.

I have naturally dirty blond hair that got an even dirtier shade of blond w/my second pregnancy & I was miserable. I asked my OB & was told that most of those studies on hair dying during pregnancy are inconclusive, ie, they don't know what's harmful or not harmful so they tell you to be cautious. I think the concern is inhaling the smell of the products. So, like another mom said, I used temporary hair color w/my first pregnancy but my second, I got a little ballsy & used one of those 'paint-on' high light kits. There were no problems w/our second son. It held me over til the summer when my hair lightens naturally due to being outside more. We have a big gap in our boys, too....4.5 yrs. Number 2 was planned but, as w/the first time around, we serious needed medical intervention to get preggers. Part of the gap was indecision on having a sceond & then feeling ready to go thru all the infertility drugs again. But, w/all the struggle it's been for our older son, I'm glad we had a second baby & that they each have a sibling to count on in years to come. Congrats on #2 & good luck!

Dear T.,

Well, I don't know about hair coloring, and should have colored my mousy gray hair a long time ago, I know what you mean about not looking perky. Just put a bit more rouge on your cheeks, I feel like it is making me look more healthy anyway. Then asap go back to your hair dyeing. C. N.

I used the "Natural Insticts" which is available at Target. It looked great, made me feel great, and is a temporary color. The down side ~ only use old towels, as the color bleeds out every time you wash. The up-side ~ nothing to worry about during pregnancy, per my OB and homeopathic fertility expert. Just an aside ~ most herbs are only problematic during pregnancy if taken internally; the majority can't penetrate your skin through your scalp in any harmful way, but do check with your OB if you're concerned. I loved the "Natural Insticts" way more than the Whole Foods/Health foods varieties; the color looked more natural, and it was gloriously shiny. Good luck, and happy health! Wendy

I would say go ahead and get your hair colored. I had this issue with my daughter and my OB said it was no problem to color my hair. I'm pregnant again and had my hair done in my first trimester again with the go ahead from my doctor. You need to do what feels comfortable for you, but my advice would be not to worry about it.

I have a 5 1/2 month and colored my hair (professionally) throughout my pregnancy. He couldn't be healthier. I color about every three weeks.
It is a choice. There is no research to say either way, if coloring your hair effects your fetus. You need to make the choice.

I colored my hair throughout my whole pregnancy with out question! Especially in the first three months because I felt so bloated and tired that having my hair look nice was really something for me to feel good about. My Dr. said that it really wasnt a big deal and that if it made me feel better than to go for it. My suggestion would be to have it done in a salon or with professional products because a lot of the store dyes have ammonia in them which is a much stronger/harsher chemical. Good luck with whatever you decide and CONGRATS on your soon-to-be new addition to your family

Hi,

I work with a hairdresser & have been told by her for years that coloring your hair while pregnant is safe, but it's just the smell that usually bothers the pregnant ladies. If you go to a small shop, where there are not a lot of chemical processes going on at one time, that helps, too.

However, she has told me that using Henna can be tricky if you want to color over it; I would recommend going to a professional for at the very least, a consultation.

Our studio, Dynamics, is in Davis, you would be welcome to call & talk to Suzanne, our hairdresser. Our phone # is ###-###-####, & she is in on Tuesdays, & Thursday thru Saturday, usually 10 to 6pm. She is the best, has been doing hair over 30 years, and uses Paul Mitchell color line, with no ammonia (so no yucky smell).

Hope this helps!

T., I colored my hair through two pregnancy's and all with my doctors blessing. It felt good to have my hair "up to date" when the rest of me was feeling large and cranky!

Hi T.,

I colored anyway. I couldn't take it. I wonder if it's one of those things that is super-precautionary like not eating soft cheese, wine, or sushi. My philospohy is "just in moderation or as infrequently as possible." Good luck with making your decision.
- J.
=-=-=-=-=-=-
J. Hibbits
Arbonne Consultant
____@____.com
###-###-####
...enhancing the lives of women and thier families.

I colored my hair during my entire pregnacy. I also have gray hair and didn't want to look like I didn't care about my appearance. Some say the chemicals can get into your blood and may cause issue. But what about those women who color their hair b4 knowing they are pregnant. You have to go with your gut feeling, but I know so many women who color from day 1. Good luck.