Is It Safe To Dye My Hair During Pregnancy?

There are differing opinions as to whether it is safe to dye your hair whilst you are pregnant. Only limited research has been carried out so there is not much evidence to prove that it is dangerous. It is generally advised to wait until your second trimester when your baby’s development is less vulnerable. In some of the few animal testing studies taken place it was discovered that even with one hundred times the dose of potency used by humans there was no noteworthy changes in the animals’ foetal development. The Organisation of Teratology Information Services (OTIS) says that hardly any of the chemicals found in hair dye are actually absorbed into our systems. It may be that the fumes produced by some hair colouring techniques could be a greater concern as they can make you feel sick but still not thought to be particularly dangerous to your unborn baby. Many pregnant women do carry on colouring their hair and OTIS say that they have not had any significant levels of reports that the process has caused their developing babies any problems. However, if you want to be as careful as possible then there are safety precautions you can take. You can consult your doctor for advice before making any decisions. When you are having your hair coloured make sure you are in a well-ventilated space to reduce the risk of you feeling nauseous. If you are colouring your own hair then wear gloves to stop any of the dye being absorbed by your skin. Once you have finished with the colour rinse your scalp with cold water as this can limit the amount of dye being absorbed into your system too. Highlighting your hair, if carried out properly, will not let any of the colour touch your scalp but do remember to stay well-ventilated as the fumes are still an issue. Vegetable permanent and semi-permanent hair dyes are not necessarily a safer option. Check the ingredients on the packaging because even the ‘natural’ and ‘herbal’ products can contain synthetic chemicals such as dihydroxybenzene, p-phenylenediamine and aminophenol so should be used with the same care and caution. Henna has been used for thousands of years as a semi-permanent hair dye. It is considered safe but is incredibly messy and has an orangey hue that does not look great on everyone. It has to be left on for quite a long time to take effect. Pure henna is also called Lawsonia inermis but if you find a henna that comes in a different colour then the likelihood is that it is not pure and contains synthetic chemicals or potentially dangerous metallic compounds. It is understandable that you want to feel and look good during your pregnancy as you do when you are not pregnant. If the lack of evidence and research worries you when it comes to hair colouring then perhaps think about whether the worry it may cause you outweighs the need to dye your hair and if so wait until after you have given birth. If you decide that you do want to colour your hair then just remember to wear gloves, wash your scalp with cold water before and after the process, do not leave the colour on your hair for longer than necessary and make sure you are in a well-ventilated room. If you are asking someone else to do the colouring tell them you are pregnant so they take the necessary precautions too. By Eirian Hallinan