Is Perming or Dying Your Hair After Birth Safe?

Updated on November 04, 2008
A.P. asks from Schaumburg, IL
12 answers

I want to get my hair done so that it's low maintenance and not in a ponytail everyday. Is it harmful for the baby if chemicals are used in my hair since he could smell the fumes while I'm holding him. Not sure???

Just to clarify...the baby will not be going to the hair appointment with me. He will be at home being watched by my husband. My main concern was when I come back home and have to hold him. Sorry if I confused anyone, and thank you for all the great advice! :)

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C.T.

answers from Chicago on

No, it's not harmful. The odor goes away after a couple of days. If it doesn't, I would seek out another hair stylist.

C. T.

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M.W.

answers from Chicago on

I would definitely do something nice for yourself that will make your life easier. Find a babysitter so you do not have to take the baby with you. It will be good for you to get out for a little while too.

1 mom found this helpful
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D.P.

answers from Chicago on

take someone with you to hold the baby, remember it's better to be safe than sorry later

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K.S.

answers from Chicago on

Hi there... I currently perm my hair but do not get it colored. My stylist said the chemicals in the coloring have been know to get in the breast milk.

Hope this helps.

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J.W.

answers from Chicago on

My sister is a stylist and told me to wait until I was done b-feeding and I did. I did not feel comfortable getting my hair highlighted during pregnancy or during b-feeding. I did get a makeover before my daughter's first b-day, which was a nice treat! There are safe dye out there made with hemp, but other conventional dyes, the fumes will last up to weeks after. Once your baby starts reaching for things, you'll be pulling your hair up b/c it surely hurts when they grab and pull it, ouch!

Good luck!
J.

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S.D.

answers from Chicago on

I would listen to what Karen the hairdresser said about the perm. But I colored my hair while pregnant and after. I wouldn't hold your baby during the hair appointment. Don't even bring him to the appointment because any procedure has steps and you don't want to have to interrupt the process to change a diaper. After your hair is done it won't smell, so you have nothing to worry about.

K.L.

answers from Chicago on

I have been a hairdresser for about 23 years. First of all, perming your hair right now is not a good idea. Did you have an epidural? That medicine along with drastic hormonal changes after birth, do a significant number on the hair. You never know what will happen with a perm. You may get fuzz, or it may not take at all! The really bad news is that this may last for about 6 months! Coloring is different, though, and I am not sure why, but I colored my hair right after giving birth and it turned out fine. I would suggest you not try and perm your hair, for the simple fact that you don't know if it will take or not. If you do decide to color it, please don't hold the baby! The smell is not "bad" for him, but it may be too harsh for his nose and you may drip so of that chemical on him. I ho pe this helps you with your decision!
Good Luck!

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A.G.

answers from Chicago on

First of all, congrats on your new baby.It should be perfectly fine. I did perms and colors all through both of my pregnancies, as well as returning to work and coloring my own hair after they were born (I did not color throughout my pregnancies because it turned my hair funny colors due to hormones, not safety). I had the go ahead from my doctor as well, which leads me to my next two points, if you are very concerned, call his pediatrician, and just ask, there are no stupid questions when it comes to being concerned for your child's well being, and I would wait until the three month mark to color or perm to let some of the hormones subside in your body to allow for the processes to take correctly. It doesn't matter in most instances, but in some, hormones can wreak havoc (like myself) and cause color to take incorrectly, or perms to under or over process. If you absolutely cannot wait (as most new mothers are up for a change :), then have them do a test curl, or test strand. If this makes you feel any better, you would have to about be saturated in colors for days at a time for it to have harmful effects, and it is not so much fumes as it is dust, which there has been great headway been made in that area to protect not only consumers, but those of us that work with chemicals on a daily basis. Another thing you can do is make sure that your hair is washed two, preferably three times before leaving the salon...I do this for all of my color clients. To remove residue when you get home, make sure your hair is dry first, then wash it, then make an apple cider vinegar rinse (3-4 tblspns. of vinegar to one cup of water) apply in a spray bottle, comb through and let sit for 3-5 minutes. Rinse and apply your favorite deep conditioner. This will not smell so great while doing it, but afterwards no chemical odor left :) Hope this helps.

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N.A.

answers from Chicago on

A., maybe. Do you have to take him with to get your hair done? I would try to leave him with someone just so you could get your hair done.

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G.H.

answers from Chicago on

It's generally safe but fumes are not great for any of us. I wouldn't bring baby to the shop (especially where nails are done;those are the worse chemicals). If your hail holds the smell of hair color for a few days then you could wrap it in a towel or shower cap when you hold baby...just temporarily. Good luck mommy.

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G.T.

answers from Chicago on

I would guess that you wouldn't be holding your baby during the dye process since that would be dangerous. Afterwards, when your hair's been washed, dried and styled, I would think the chemicals would no longer be an issue.

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A.L.

answers from Chicago on

Hi, I am a hairdresser, not working at it right now but anyway perms don't always work because of the hormone changes, but I don't seem to ever have any issues with coloring. I had a woman once who wanted to make her life easier by cutting her hair short after baby. I told her to go with a medium style so she could still put her hair up in a hurry. She came back and thanked me, short hair can sometimes be more trouble because you don't want it to be just flat and then you have to style it. If you can get away lookig good with a quick ponytail try taking a few inches off and add some highlights for now. It will make you feel nice and try something new later when your hormones are back in gear. Take care A.

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