Hair Coloring and Pregnancy

M

Manmohini

Cathlete
Dear Ladies,
I'd like to hear your thoughts on this. I've done some research, and mostly I've learned that there is no link between hair coloring and problems to the fetus, but then again, there are no conclusive results since there have been no tests done on pregant women to confirm this. It's just not ethical to take a bunch of pregnant women and expose them to hair dye to see what happens. Consequently, most doctors err on the side of caution and advise against coloring during the first trimester.

Except for hair coloring (my one deviation), I am the organic, anti-chemical, environmental type. I've been eating whole organic foods and limiting toxins in the environment, even moreso during pregnancy. But I am extremely prematurely greying, so the past five years, I have succumbed to the temptation of the bottle. In about ten years, I hope to give this up. Right now though, I like to color. (I'm still not ready to be mistaken for my kid's grandmother.) Currently, I am ten weeks pregnant. Do you think it's safe to color in the second trimester? Did any of you use color throughout your pregnancy or did you abstain? My hair is looking pretty crummy, and I've been wearing hats to hide the grow out. My hair is a blend of red, brown, and blonde streaks, and my colorist usually paints these into the part so that the newly sprouted white blends in with the rest. This means I'm not using any intense, dark colored dyes. What do you think? Should I just suffer for another nine months? Or is it okay to feel better about myself now? In the long run, it's the baby who matters most. Thanks for your consideration.

Sincerely,
Manmohini
 
I dyed my hair thru 2 pregnancies, even during the first trimester. My OBGyn told me it was okay.

Have you talked to your doctor about it?
 
They usually say as along as the dye doesn't touch your scalp it should be okay. So like highlights are okay. Did you look into dyes made with natural products like vegetable/food based coloring?

Lisa
 
I know many women that have continued to color their hair through their pregnancies with no issue whatsoever.

I think we've gone way overboard with things that can harm the baby. As far as I can tell, pregnant women are supposed to live in climate and temperature controlled bubble for 9 months.

We tend to forget that women have been having healthy babies for thousands of years and have been exposed to far worse conditions than any of us ever will be.

Color on, I say!
 
Of course, you're telling me exactly what I want to hear. My hair looks like crap right now--a little chemical solution can certainly solve that problem.
Manmohini
 
I dyed my hair with all 3, just waited until 2nd trimester. Good luck!

~Melanie~

Jadon born 11/23/05
Justin born 1/17/04
Jory born 4/9/94
 
With both #1 (now 2 1/2yrs old) and #2 (35 wks along - almost there!!) I colored. In fact, I have one more appointment scheduled before I deliver. I did a full color once during first trimester and then alternate full color and partial color from there on. Partial is just having my stylist color the part and other areas that show first (like around the forehead, etc.). It reduces the exposure to the skin doing it that way.

If you haven't seen this before, this website has great information about preventing birth defects and has published research regarding hair colors/dyes as well as a lot of other pre-natal concerns. Look under fact sheets. http://www.otispregnancy.org/

Enjoy your pregnancy! Diana
 
I colored my hair through all three of my pregnancies, and waited until the second trimester each time.
 
I colored and highlighted my hair with my two pregnancies... first trimester. Talk to your OB/Gyn. They have the most current information... well, they should though this isn't always true ie. exercise and pregnancy. :)
 
Thanks, Diana, for that great site! I read almost every article on it, particularly the one about hair dye. In a week or so (God willing), my second trimester starts. I think I'll treat my white hairs to a color lift.

Manmohini
 
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