Dying Hair or Highlights During Pregnancy?

I have lots of grey and have colored my hair for years. I continued to color it through my two pregnancies and my kids, now 12 and 9 are just fine. I don't know of any child who had ill effects from their mother dying her hair and I know a number of people who have dyed their hair while pregnant. I'd say to do it. Take care.

Hi V.,

When I was pregnant with my last child, I asked my Dr. if it was ok to color my hair. He said as long as I waited until the 2nd trimester and did it in a well ventilated room, there should be no problem. That's what I did and everything was fine. My beautiful daughter was born perfect and healthy.
T.

Hair dye is hair dye. Whether you choose whole head or highlights, the chemicals and the fumes are being absorbed in to the body. Just let it grow out and go natural. Your hair is going to grow so much faster during pregnancy than it did before... I had my hair highlighted before i knew i was preggo (around 6 weeks) and by the time I hit 11 weeks it looked like a 6 month grow out.

Hi V.,

Hair dye poses great concern to those of us in the alternative medicine field because of possible links to ovarian and other cancers. I would pass on all artificial coloring during your pregnancy. There are several more natural colorant products available through your health store; contact them for some recommendations if you don't think your natural color is "good enough!"

As soon as I foubd out I was pregnnt with my third I stopped all the coloring. I didn't think my unborn childs health was worth me looking cute lol! But what I did find something at the beauty salon that worked perfect. It comes in the same size and shape of a lip gloss stick, kinda of like mascara. Then you simply highlight your hair with it. And it is temporary. Comes out when you wash. It was simple and in no way did it harm the baby! (or damage my hair). Hope thishelp just go to the beuty supply store and they should be able to find it for you. Good luck

I'm 33 and this is our first pregnancy. I'm now 26 weeks and everything is so far so good! I have been dying my hair since the beginning. I have a lot of grey and have been coloring my hair for years about every 5/6 weeks. Most books I read dying was ok they prefer no bleach (at least on the scalp). I got the feeling from most people that it's really a personal choice. Just be careful because of the hormones the hair color may come out a little off.

Hope that helps you and congrats!

I was told that highlights are better because they don't touch your scalp. I'm sure nothing is the best way....but you have to do what you have to do.

Do it! Both my hairdresser and DR assured me there were no risks. Plus, you want to feel good about yourself when you're pregnant, and that helps! =) Congrats on the pregnancy and anjoy every moment!

I believe the issue might not be the safety, but that because your body is changing so much from the pregnancy that the hair color may not "take" as well or have adverse affects. So I believe that either would have the same issue.
Congrats on newlywed status and baby status.

I wouldn't take the chance. Hair dye is full of chemicals - I have had hairdressers say it is safe, however they have a significant conflict of interest. I was told by my midwife and pediatrician to hold off.

I would not highlight or dye hair during pregnancy. Your body is all out of whack because it is changing. Things don't get back to normal until after pregnancy. Be very careful about this. My son was a month old when I decided to color my gray hair. My entire head turned out Ronald McDonald orange red and I had to go through a lot of expense to change it back.

Congratulations on your upcoming birth. I know you will be great parents.

Best wishes,
J.

I agree with TA and Kasey. There is no good reason to do this during pregnancy, and plenty of risk. A lot of times people try to downplay the risks, saying, "I did it or my friend did it and turned out fine"... Yeah, THAT time. And maybe for now. It is hard to measure what the real long term effects are. Now, I'm not a total "all naturale" person, but pregnancy is a different matter, and a really important time. It is is like it is all concentrated. Keep the toxins out of you and away from you, at least for now. You and your partner will be fine. I'm guessing he loves you and he loves that you are going to be with his child. When you are pregnant, you don't have to be "sexy", just healthy. I thought you might appreciate hearing from a guy. ;-)

Hey V.. Well dying and highlights is the same because it has chemicals in both dye and highlight so neither is good while being pregnant. Because chemicals going to the roots goes in your scalp to the blood system to the baby. Anyway good luck

coming from a mom who did haircolor and applied on her clients through both pregnancies.I would suggest using a semi or demi color. I was told along time ago, the darker the shade is not good for the baby in the 1st trimester.like levels med brown and darker. whether it's a old wives tale or not, I still applied that rule. call me paranoid. also when hilighting, the color is not in contact w/ your scalp, so no issues there.but always listen to your OBGYN. and research like your doing. oh, and besides my 9 and 6 years constantly giving me attitude, they are beautiful, intellegent and all around "normal"! lol

I only had highlights done in my 3rd trimester. My hair stylist was really carefully not to touch my roots! I was comfortable with that. Make sure the room or salon is well ventilated. You don't want to be breathing in strong odors. :)

I am expecting our second and I had highlights during the first one and getting ready to make an appt for highlights in about and I will be 12 weeks. I only waited due to horrible morning sickness. I didn't want to be sitting there and needing to run to the bathroom while they did foils.
My dr just gave me a list of things allowed and not allowed. It said hair coloring and perms are permissable.
Good luck, whatever you decide.

Hi V.,

I asked my DR. this while I was pregnant and she told me I was safe as long as it didn't touch my skin. It's when it sinks into your skin that it can transfer through to the baby. Highlighting to touch up your roots is the safest because it doesn't touch your scalp. I hope this helps.

S. H.

Hi V..

When you are pregnant you must be fully aware of the toxins you put in, and on, your body. Everything you ingest (even though the skin) will go to your baby. Hair dyes have got to be the most toxic product on the market. Even the fumes you inhale can cause damage. Do some internet research on the subject.

Also be aware of the household cleansers you use. There are known toxins in most all of them. Bleach can be absorbed through the skin (osmosis). And if you have a cat - never clean the litterbox. The parasites and pathogens in the fecal matter can be fatal to your unborn baby.

I always like to refer pregnant women to a fully organic lifestyle - therefore insuring the healthiest child. What's more important - the way you look or the health of your baby? You utmost concern should be what is best for baby right now.

Wishing you a very happy pregnancy and healthy baby!

Hi V., I colored my hair during all 3 of my pregnancies
with no problems, in some cases the color does not take as well while pregnant, but other than that it was fine. J. L.

Hi V.,
It's true that highlights are supposedly better since they don't touch your scalp. However, since it sounds like you are not yet pregnant, you might want to go a smidge more natural by using a natural hair color product like Herbavita and color your hair close to your roots and then let it grow out natural while you are pregnant. This is actually what I did, and when I look at the pictures from my baby shower, my hair was pretty amazing - totally natural by that point (I used a natural temporary color that washes out in 6-8 weeks). I also started using more natural hair care products to avoid the hormone disrupters in most cosmetic brands - check out the website www.ewg.com - they have a cosmetics database where you can research products. I liked Giovanni - available at Whole Foods. Anyway, good luck on your new path - wishing you all the best!

Hi V.,

I just had a baby 4 months ago iand i highlighted my hair the entire time and by baby came perfect no problem at all. Only did it every 3-3 1/2 months where i usually highlight it ever 2 months. they say that the bleach should touch the scalp. so if you tell your hair dresser that she should understand. other than that you should have no problem bleaching your hair. I hope my advise was helpful.

Best Regards,
S.

My doctor said there is no risk from highlighting or coloring your hair while pregnant. I only highlight, but continued to do it during both my pregnancies.

From what I have heard it is not that it is not safe it is that because of hormones it may 1: not take and 2: may not be the color you dyed it. As I always said...when in doubt call your dr and ask them.

Good luck

Ha ha. Welcome to the wonderful world of motherhood. This is only the beginning. :)
Do it!........Don't do it!.......Your self image is important....Your precious growing baby is MORE important........It's harmful.......It's fine.

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH! Run screaming.

I have two perfect baby boys (now 1 Y.O. and 2 1/2) and I stayed blonde throughout both pregnancies. I did wait until after the first trimester, per my doctor's recommendation, and then felt anxious and guilty when I did it (probably just those crazy hormones getting the better of me), but it was absolutely fine.
I think we breath worse stuff when we're on the road than the hair dye. You can't put yourself in a bubble for 9 months.
I craved tuna and beer throughout my first pregnancy. God loves to laugh!, I say.
Just wait until the baby's born...then you wont even have to ask for every stranger's opinion...they just give it up freely!

Congratulations on your pregnancy (or is it your upcoming pregnancy?)

I colored my hair during all 3 of my pregnancy's. My dr told me that it was only on the scalp, so it was safe. eatting the dye was a bad idea. I felt better after that. and, who needs bad hair when they already feel the pregnany exhaustion?

This is one issue on which there is complete consensus from all reputable sources - there is no danger from dyeing your hair while pregnant.

I am a hairstylist...here is what we are told. It is okay to highlite your hair because the product does not go on your scalp. The only thing that may bother you is the fumes.
It is NOT okay to use permanent color. There are a lot of semi permanent colors to choose from, they have no ammonia and are not absorbed by the scalp because the size of the molecules. The only downfall is that the color fades with every wash. So the procedure will need to be redone every 4 weeks or so. Also, with hormones, your results may not be as predictable.
Hope this is helpful! Good luck.

HI V.,
I'm a former hair stylist. I would not do on-the-scalp color. Stick to foiled highlights, which do not touch the scalp. When I was pregnant, I kept up with my highlights and all was well. Also keep in mind that anything you put on your body, from lotion to shampoo to nail polish remover to chlorine in a pool DOES get absorbed by the body. And from a previous post, for a doctor to say that "it's just your scalp" is really mis-informed. Anyway, that's my soapbox...I'm really into healthy living these days (well, except for my highlights, ha! :) But like I said, those don't sit on the skin. Good luck!!

Hi That's simple, use henna all natural products, available at whole foods and other nature stores