Pregnancy and hair coloring is a hot topic for many mothers, and often even a problem. They say that pregnancy makes you beautiful. But many women may disagree with this. Overgrown hair roots often spoil the appearance and mood... Is it possible to dye your hair during pregnancy - this is a question that worries many expectant mothers. Like other details of a pregnant woman, hair coloring during pregnancy has acquired a lot of superstitions and “omens”.
I suggest you take a realistic look at the state of things.
Those who say that you can’t dye your hair during pregnancy unanimously talk about the hypothetical possibility of toxic effects on the fetus from the chemical components of hair dyes. However, these assumptions have not been confirmed either by science or practice. Having delivered births to hundreds of thousands of women, obstetricians have never drawn parallels between the mother’s dyed hair and the pathology of the newborn child. If, at an appointment at the clinic, your doctor does not recommend dyeing your hair during pregnancy, then most likely he does not have information to sufficiently substantiate his advice, but uses the golden rule of medicine - “do no harm” just in case.
Of course, not every pregnant woman can use hair dye - the individual characteristics of the course of pregnancy influence it. Whether it is possible to dye your hair during pregnancy - each woman decides for herself, depending on the state of her body.
For example, if the expectant mother has a heightened sense of smell and some smells make her feel faint, then there is no need to test her body’s strength. There is no need to dye your hair during pregnancy or in case of allergic reactions to the components of the dye, because this will create an additional burden on the immune system. This also determines whether pregnant women can dye their hair.
It is worth noting that due to hormonal changes in a woman’s body, hair coloring during pregnancy can give an absolutely unexpected effect - not one manufacturer guarantees you the preservation of the declared tone on the expectant mother’s hair. Uneven coloring and the appearance of “spotting” are possible.
Regardless of public opinion, the question of whether pregnancy and hair coloring are compatible depends on the woman’s personal preferences and aesthetic taste. If you are afraid of possible harm, choose paints based on natural ingredients, do highlighting, coloring (the paint does not get on the scalp).
Every pregnant woman wants to look beautiful and attractive. She will determine for herself whether she needs hair coloring during pregnancy. Do not forget that the state of mental comfort that a well-groomed appearance provides, among other things, has a beneficial effect on the course of pregnancy as a whole.
Since ancient times, the period of bearing a child has been surrounded by a lot of precautions and superstitions: do not cut your hair, do not touch your face with your hands, do not paint your nails. Most fears have no basis, and today’s women, with the onset of pregnancy, take even more careful care of their appearance and do not refuse to visit beauty salons.
When going to the hairdresser, expectant mothers are concerned about whether it is possible to dye their hair during pregnancy, and this has nothing to do with prejudice. The problem is how safe the procedure is for the well-being of the woman and her fetus.
Superstitions about why you can’t cut and dye your hair during pregnancy come from old times. Our grandmothers considered hair to be a kind of amulet, in modern terms – a carrier of “karmic” information. Therefore, any manipulations with strands, and especially haircuts during the birth and gestation of a baby, were perceived as interference in “subtle matters”: “cutting hair means shortening the child’s life.”
This fear also has a pseudoscientific explanation: trimmed hair begins to actively grow and thereby draw on vitamins and minerals from the mother’s body. As a result, the fetus experiences nutritional deficiencies. From the point of view of doctors, this approach does not stand up to criticism: all the mechanisms of the pregnant body are aimed at preserving and developing the child, and the building material for hair, nails and other “minor” needs of the mother is synthesized according to the residual principle.
Doctors' opinions on hair coloring during pregnancy are divided: some do not consider it necessary to limit hairdressing procedures in any way, others advocate reasonable precautions, at least in the first trimester, during the formation of organs and systems of the embryo.
At the end of the 90s. last century, American scientists expressed concern that some ingredients in permanent dyes have a carcinogenic effect and triple the risk of cancer in women who regularly dye their hair. Later, alarming information appeared for expectant mothers: researchers suspected a connection between the use of permanent dyes during pregnancy and the development of neuroblastoma in the child. Further experiments did not confirm either the first or the second hypothesis. To date, all charges of serious consequences against hair dye have been dropped, but the risk of teratogenic effects cannot be completely ruled out.
The ability of harmful substances to penetrate into the blood through the hair and scalp, and then into the fetus, is somewhat exaggerated. Even if toxic elements circulate through the maternal vessels, the placenta does not allow them into the baby’s bloodstream. The danger is posed by the first 12 weeks from the moment of conception, while the main protective organ of pregnancy, the placenta, has not yet formed. During this period, even the most loyal gynecologists recommend refraining from permanent dyeing and using ammonia-free and natural dyes.
Permanent paints contain aggressive chemicals that come into contact with the skin and respiratory tract:
- ammonia - has a strong-smelling toxic fumes that cause headaches, lacrimation, nausea, and can lead to fainting;
- hydrogen peroxide – in high concentrations it can cause burns and an allergic reaction;
- resorcinol – irritates the skin, mucous membranes of the eyes and nasopharynx, provokes a severe cough, suppresses the immune system;
- paraphenylenediamine – leads to inflammatory processes in the respiratory system.
How to dye hair for pregnant women?
Pregnant women at any stage should avoid products containing ammonia. Before painting, be sure to do an allergy test. Even the usual dye can cause an inadequate reaction, since due to a hormonal surge the structure and sensitivity of the skin, hair and mucous membranes change.
What dye to dye your hair during pregnancy? As an alternative to persistent ammonia products, tinted shampoos, tonics and mousses are suitable. They do not penetrate the keratin core and tint the hair superficially. Tint products are quickly washed off, but they are harmless and do not affect the well-being of the expectant mother or the health of the baby.
During pregnancy and breastfeeding, pay attention to natural dyes. Natural pigments are safe, but they have disadvantages:
- instability;
- it is difficult to get the desired shade;
- possible unpleasant odor;
- Individual reactions to plant components cannot be ruled out.
The most popular plant dyes are henna and basma. They provide fairly bright and stable colors and have a beneficial effect on hair growth and structure. Many women prefer these herbs of Indian and Iranian origin, refusing to use chemicals.
If you decide to dye your hair with henna for the first time during pregnancy, try it on a separate strand first. The final result depends on the natural color and structure, and due to the “hormonal storm” in a pregnant woman, it is completely difficult to predict. Keep in mind that after henna you cannot apply regular dye until the first one is completely washed off or cut off.
How to dye your hair during pregnancy
From the point of view of hairdressers, hair coloring during pregnancy is a real lottery. The result can be surprising: from “failed” paint to a completely unexpected shade. Raging hormones are to blame for this. In addition to a skin allergy test, be sure to apply the product to a strand of hair to avoid unexpected effects.
At the hairdresser, be sure to warn the hairdresser about your interesting situation. He will try to reduce the contact of “chemicals” with the scalp. Sign up for the procedure in the morning, while the air in the salon is not saturated with vapors from previous dyeing.
To paint at home, buy a gentle product after carefully studying the packaging. It should not contain ammonia, phenylenediamine, aminophenol and other harmful substances. Perform the procedures in a well-ventilated area, protect your hands with gloves and your respiratory tract with a mask. Follow the instructions and do not leave the product on your hair for longer than the recommended time.
Don't forget about these precautions:
Hair coloring with folk remedies
If you decide to give up chemical dyes during pregnancy, try giving your hair a tint using herbal remedies:
Unlike permanent dyes, natural dyes act gently, improve hair condition, and eliminate dandruff. To get a rich color, repeat the procedure several times, and then maintain the shade regularly.
Watch the video: Is it possible to dye your hair during pregnancy?
Watch the video: Is it harmful to paint your nails and hair during pregnancy?
Most modern women are not subject to superstitions during pregnancy, and in matters of health they rely on the recommendations of specialists. Since the harm from hair coloring or its absence has not been 100% proven, the final decision remains at the discretion of the expectant mother. Here's what participants in a women's online forum think.
Women who color their hair constantly during pregnancy are faced with the question: “Is hair coloring dangerous during pregnancy?” There is an opinion among women themselves that it is impossible to cut and dye your hair, as this will bring bad luck. If we leave these superstitions and turn to the opinion of experts, the explanation will be different.
Is it harmful to dye your hair during pregnancy?
Experts have different opinions about dyeing hair while pregnant. Doctors who oppose dyeing claim that permanent dye is harmful to the health and normal development of the fetus. The substances that make up the paint have a negative effect on the eyes, larynx, and skin.
It is impossible to say that paint is dangerous for the development of the fetus, since research on this topic has not yet been carried out.
Some doctors are of the opinion that substances that enter the body through the skin during staining are not at all dangerous for the child, since their quantity is minimal. However, pregnant women should be aware of hormonal changes in the body, which can easily lead to an allergic reaction to paint. Proper coloring and high-quality dye makes coloring during pregnancy acceptable.
Coloring Tips:
- Doctors advise against painting in the first trimester, as this is a very important period of fetal formation.
- Do not partake in dyeing. It’s good if a woman dyes her hair no more than once every three months.
- Before painting, you should do an allergy test.
Dyes must be natural and semi-permanent. It is not harmful and even useful to use vegetable dyes: basma and henna. When painting in a salon, you should inform the specialist about your situation so that he can carry out the painting as carefully as possible.
Hair dyeing during pregnancy: what to consider
Many pregnant women want to remain attractive and well-groomed, so they are concerned about the issue of coloring. Many people doubt that they can dye or lighten their hair while pregnant. Some doctors actually believe that lightening is harmful for pregnant women.
Some doctors agree that high-quality paint is not capable of causing any harm to the fruit.
It is very important at what time a woman performs coloring. In the first trimester, henna is best suited for coloring: it is gentle and natural. Modern dyeing technologies are gentle on the skin, so it is better to do the dyeing in a salon.
Things to consider:
- Changes in hormonal levels;
- Paint may cause allergies;
- Highlighting, bleaching, dyeing and perming can ruin your hair.
It is best to dye your hair with natural products that are not only not dangerous, but have a healing effect on the hair: walnut, coffee, chamomile. However, natural dyes will be effective if the hair has not previously been dyed with chemical dyes. Every woman decides for herself whether to dye her hair or not. The main thing is not to be nervous and to be in harmony with yourself.
Possible consequences of hair coloring during pregnancy
Some women categorically do not dye their hair during pregnancy because they are worried about the health of the child. Indeed, in the early stages, coloring is contraindicated, since the future son or daughter is just being formed. Substances included in the paint can enter the body through the skin and affect the fetus, but the likelihood of this is very low.
Before buying paint, you need to familiarize yourself in detail with its composition: the paint should not be toxic.
When dyeing, the most unpleasant moment is the smell of ammonia, which can also penetrate through the lungs to the fetus. Its effect on the body has not been proven, but women better take care. The scalp and mucous membranes can be damaged by hydrogen peroxide, which is used to bleach hair. All these manipulations can harm not only the mother, but also the child.
Possible consequences:
- Inflammatory processes in the nasopharynx;
- Frustration from unjustified expectations;
- The occurrence of allergies.
A pregnant woman is very vulnerable. Before applying makeup, she should seriously weigh all the positive and negative nuances of coloring. A woman must ask herself: does she really want this too.
Doctors' opinion: hair dyeing during pregnancy
How many years have passed since the invention of the first chemical paint, and detailed studies of the effect of paint on fetal development have not yet been carried out. While pregnant, a woman still wants to look attractive. But the question is whether the paint harms future children.
In the first trimester, a woman should not wear makeup, even in the eleventh week: paint negatively affects the normal formation of the fetus.
If a woman decides to touch up her makeup, doctors advise using ammonia-free paint, the highest quality and natural. It is important to avoid inhaling toxic substances. A woman can use professional dye, preferably in a salon, where a specialist minimizes paint contact with the scalp.
Doctors' opinion:
- The paint should be gentle;
- It is better to avoid staining in the first trimester.
During dyeing, a pregnant woman should try to breathe less in the dye. If possible, it is better to do the painting outdoors. Some young mothers dye their hair with fucorcin - this should be avoided, since it is unknown how this component affects the fetus.
Is hair coloring harmful during pregnancy (video)
Hair coloring during pregnancy is a controversial issue even among doctors. Some consider this procedure very harmful, others – possible. Contains chemical paints. Of course, these are not the most useful components. But if a pregnant woman chooses high-quality ammonia-free paint for coloring, her health and the health of her child will not be at risk. It is important to avoid coloring during the first trimester. But all experts agree that it is better to dye your hair with natural ingredients.
