Is It Ok to Highlight Hair While Pregnant?

Per my ob/gyn doctor, it was okay to highlight/color after the first trimester. But do ask YOUR ob/gyn first. I also painted a room or two while I was pregnant. The doctor said that was okay too as long as the room was well ventilated. Again, did that after the first trimester. Don't know about bronzers and such.

It really is best to wait until after the first trimester to do anything like highlighting/coloring. Actually almost anything! You also have to watch carefully when using things from the health food/natural store. They can also contain chemicals that you'll want to avoid. Sometimes a new haircut and getting it styled will do wonders for you. Get a manicure and pedicure too! That always makes me feels so much prettier!

I heard that anything is safe after 1st trimester. That said, I think there is a product in the Pantene line that will help fix your hair..It could be safe enough to use because it is not so strong. Then again "back in the day" people wouldn't even know they were pregnant yet and they had their hair done..I had my hair done before I knew I was pregnant. And my kids don't have any extra arms...:). I would google self-tanners and see what you get...

Hi D.,

I agree with the other ladies about highlighting your hair. If you want to be on the safest side, you can go to the health store and gets some "natural" hair color. I started using it a couple of months ago and believe it or not, it colors and lasts better than the Revlon Colorsilk I used to use.

Also, I have a natural bronzer that comes in a spray and also a towelette. If you're interested, shoot me an email and I can send you the ingredients. You can run them by the doctor if you're unsure.

Congratulations on the little one coming. Ryan is a lucky kid!

Regards,

M.

Hey D.! I have used the Loreal tanning wipes and really like them! You can get them at Walgreens, Target, etc. Definitely worth a try! Good luck!

Hi D.,
my mom always colored her hair w/her 3 pregnancies, so when i got pregnant i talked to my doctor she said it was okay...but i waited a little bit just in case..ended up doing it when i was 7 months i colored it and highlighted it at the same time. And thank god everything was fine. W/this pregnancy, i did it when i was 5-6 months and hopefully everything is okay. You will always be scared but if you are not completely assured don't do it...if not hey get beautified!!! Ha!! Good luck!

While I was pregant my hairdresser wouldn't allow me to get my hair colored (as bad as I wanted it) to due so many changes in hormones she didn't want to risk my hair falling out. One of my friends even told me once how her hair turned green so I would hold off on the hair color (as hard as it is). I just had my daughter in January of 2008 and right afterwards I was in the salon getting my hair dyed.

I've heard mixed reviews on this. I have had grey hair since I was in my early 20s. :( With my last pregnancy, I dyed my hair every time I saw grey roots. My daughter (thankfully) was fine when she was born. With this pregnancy (I'm 5 weeks now) I've opted to not dye my hair until the 1st trimester is over. I've heard that if you are going to dye your hair and want to be super safe about it, wait until the 1st trimester is finished. I'll have a lot of grey by that time but thankfully I work from home and don't have to go out much. :) When I do, I'm looking into some sort of stylish hair wrap that will cover some of my roots. Good luck to you!

Hi D., I'm a mom to 3 month old Daniel. I adore him and think you're brave to have kids so close together. We're going to try for more this october when dan's almost 11 months old so the kids will be just about 1 1/2 - two years apart! I can't wait to hear how it works out for yoU!

Okay, here's a group I joined that is way awesome for socializing - http://moms.meetup.com/1400/ I love it and recommend it. Right now I"m part time and can only do monday and thursday activities but when I have #2, I will resign permanently.

anyway... i had my hair highlighted once when pregnant, i was about 6 months pregnant.

I think highlighting is better than full color but i think i'd wait til out of the critical 1st trimester.

Oh - and there's a great story time at the library for "pre-walkers" on thursdays at 1115 - the library on 40! Look for me, I'm M. and my son is Danny!

Cheers! ____@____.com

It is ok to high light your hair after your first and midway through your second trimester. You dont want to do it while it is forming all the major organs. I highlighted my hair when I was 6 1/2 months prenant with my son...the only problem is getting someone to do it for you b/c a lot of people don't like to work on a pregnant woman b/c of her hormones. (mood swings) As far as the self tanners go..I don't see why it would hurt the baby. Isn't it just like a lotion? Good luck and I hope I have helped you.

Felicia Wallace

D. its not the dye that can harm your baby its the baby that can harm your dye :p your pregnacy hormones can make the color come out wrong and turn it weird colors. that being said i don't know anyone personally who has had the issue during pregnacy if your worried check with your OB about it.

You would have to wait for the first trimester to be over, that would be 12 weeks, then you can highlight your hair, just to play it safe ask you ob doctor, I am sure I am right I work for the field.

My doctor had absolutely no problem with me coloring my hair. He said this used to be a concern, but the products they use today are less harsh. My hair dresser said if I was very concerned, she would make sure to keep the bleach/color off the scalp. Also, look into "tanning towels" on HSN.com. Obviously, ask your doctor first.

I will tell you, I colored my hair every 5 weeks during each of my 3 pregnancies and my OBGYN said it was fine. I know I read a lot of material saying don't do peroxide or use only vegetable-based products, etc. I'm 85% grey at 35 years old, and have been since my late 20s so I feel I have to color my hair. I do not use peroxide, but have it professionally colored very regularly and my children all turned out fine. Check with your doctor to get their take, but you will find out, some are more conservative than others.

i'm not entirely sure what kinds of problems coloring your hair during pregnancy would cause but most doctors will tell you not to do it while you are pregnant.

It's not worth the chance of damage to baby. Call doc and ask.The nurses should know.
People won't be looking at your face,not with a beautiful belly. Your hair depends on what you eat get your milk, veggies and fruits, meats. If you need a diet get a copy of the Diabetic Assoc diet. Don't worry about the amounts jst what mkes a balanced meal.
If anyone says anything about your looks blame the baby's health and drop that person off your friend list How gosh!

yes you can after 1st trimester is best to do it . let you hair dresser know that you are pregnant when you go though. most chemicals for hair coloring now are safer to use while pregnant.not as strong as they used to be.

go with the advice already given about being in a well-ventilated area when getting your hair done. re: tanning you could try the spray tan at the tanning salon or go with the self tanner lotion/wipes.
good luck!

I did my hair both times I was pregnant and had two very healthy kids. My doctor told me to avoid ones with a certain ingredient and I can't remember what it was but I'm sure your doctor can tell you. My suggestion would be to do it in a fairly open area so the fumes you breath in aren't very strong, otherwise I wouldn't worry much about it. The tanners I'm not sure about. Your best bet is to ask your doctor. Good luck.

I would not put any bleach products on your hair while in the early stages of pregnancy. Too many things can happen as the fetus is so vulnerable right now. IF you have a regular hair stylist in which you trust with the utmost of trust, call him/her and ask them what if anything can you do. There are hair paint products that may not contain any chemicals that can be put in with a flat iron, which wash out in a few weeks. Maybe you could go that route. Self tanners and bronzers shouldn't hurt anything as long as there is nothing in it that is dangerous for the baby. Your obgyn should be able to help you with a safe product. There are many all natural and organic self tanners and bronzers that may just fit the bill. I know Dior and Clinique both make one. You might find something cheaper that is just as safe in Target or Walmart, but make sure you wash your hands really really good and up to the elbow just to prevent streaking or over aplication on that area. Good luck! ~T.

NO! I know plenty of people who do it. But I have always been told NO by doctors. They say, "Whatever goes into or on your body may get to the baby".

Eventhough people and their babies have been fine when they did highlight during pregnancy I chose not to take the chance.

D.,
I colored my hair during both of my pregnancies and both children turned out great!!!! My daughter is 3 and my son just turned 1. Please e-mail me if you have any other questions. I may not have all of the answers but I'll certainly help in any way that I can!
Sincerely,
A. Clough
____@____.com

I did mine both times that I was pregnant. The doc had told me that I could not do all over color, but that since highlights don't touch the scalp they were ok.

I have five kids and have always colored and or highlighted mt hair and I never stopped during pregnancies. Thus far, my kids all seem normal (whatever that is). I'll get back to you in about 20 years and let you know about any long term effects! :-) ~C.

Yes. Highlighting your hair isn't going to damage the baby in any way. The only thing is, chemical processes may not "take" while pregnant because your body chemistry changes - and that includes your hair! Almost anything that is topical is OK (except for products that contain the active ingredient in aspirin) because they aren't absorbed through the skin.

Bronzers and self-tanners aren't problematic either, but you should be OK just sporting your pregnancy "glow". Airbursh tanning would be my recommendation since it's not going to cook your insides like a tanning bed would and the color will be much more even and last longer than a self-tanner.

Edited to add that I've colored AND permed my hair while pregnant and had excellent results with both. Of course, your mileage may vary.

I know the more conventional ways will say "yes". But the fact is that hair dyes (chemical, not natural ones) contain carcinogenic chemicals which do enter your bloodstream. Anything you put on your skin enters your bloodstream and organs. Hair bleaching, specifically, becomes concentrated in the bladder and has been lymphoma

D.:

It sure is okay....I am a licensed cosmetologist. Some people (EXTREMELY rare) have a slightly different outcome when coloring during pregnancy due to hormonal level changes (just as when taking different meds/doing drugs)...again, very rare. You will want to make sure you are in a well-ventilated area so you are not breathing in the strong fumes. If a friend is doing your highlights, maybe sit on the patio in the fresh air. If in a salon, your stylist can put a plastic bag on your head, or wrap you in plastic wrap to help contain most of the fumes, and decrease your processing time.

I do not know about the safety of tanning products while pregnant, so I will not make a comment. However, if found to be unsafe, remember you can always dust a little bronzing powder on yourself...especially shoulders, nose, cheekbones...and cleavage...LOL....to give you that boost!

Good luck to you!

D. C.