Is it safe to dye my hair during pregnancy?

Just because you’re pregnant doesn’t mean you can’t mix things up a bit. Maybe for you, that includes mixing up your appearance (besides the obvious addition of your baby bump). If you’re thinking about dyeing your hair during pregnancy, you might have already wondered whether or not it’s safe to do so. If this is the case, then there’s good news for you and your future ‘do.

According to Mayo Clinic, there isn’t any research that links hair dyeing during pregnancy and problems with fetal development. And because hair dye doesn’t contain a very high concentration of certain chemicals that may in higher doses be concerning, pregnant women would need to use a lot of hair dye to have a significant impact on their baby’s development.

Staying safe

Before you dive into your life as a red or purple, or whatever else you’re imagining for your luscious locks – make sure that you know how to safely dye your hair, if you’re doing it yourself. Make sure to closely follow all the directions. Wear gloves the entire time – don’t use your bare hands. Once the dye has set and the instructions say to rinse it from your hair, make sure that you do a thorough job of getting all the dye out so that none stays on your scalp.

Dyeing your hair while pregnant hasn’t been shown to be dangerous during pregnancy, but there hasn’t been that much research done on the subject, so some healthcare providers recommend waiting until after the end of the first trimester of pregnancy to use hair dye. If you still have concerns or questions, though, don’t be afraid to reach out to your healthcare provider, because he or she can tell you more about the process and what it means to your specific pregnancy.


Sources
  • Yvonne Butler Tobah. “Is it OK to use hair dye during pregnancy?” Mayo Clinic. Mayo Clinic, July 13 2017. Retrieved September 5 2017. http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/pregnancy-week-by-week/expert-answers/hair-dye-and-pregnancy/faq-20058484. 
  • “Frequently Asked Questions for Obstetrics Patients.” Baylor College of Medicine. Baylor College of Medicine. Retrieved September 5 2017. https://media.bcm.edu/documents/2014/98/obstetrics-patients-frequently-asked-questions-01-02-2014.pdf.
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