Your body comes under a lot of stress during pregnancy and your appearance changes in a lot of expected – and unexpected – ways. That also includes your hair, especially when it comes to hair colour that contain chemicals. Here we answer the question, “Is it safe to dye your hair during pregnancy?
Are hair colour chemicals harmful?
Some studies have shown that exposure to high doses of chemicals found in hair dyes could cause harm. However, when you are dyeing your hair you are only exposed to very low levels of chemicals, so the potential risks are much lower. Both permanent and semi-permanent dyes are not considered to be highly toxic or dangerous to your health.
Is it safe to colour my hair during pregnancy?
Taking the above information into account, it is perfectly safe to colour your hair during pregnancy. However, you may still have some concerns or want to take extra precautions, and there are some things you can do. For example, some women choose to wait until after 12 weeks of pregnancy (the first trimester) as there is an even lower risk of the chemicals affecting the baby.
For example, some women choose to wait until after 12 weeks of pregnancy (the first trimester) as there is an even lower risk of the chemicals affecting the baby.
What can I do if I am still worried about hair colour affecting my baby?
Some extra precautions you can take include:
- Wearing gloves whilst colouring your hair
- Washing the colour out after the minimum time has passed
- Opening windows to reduce exposure to chemical inhalation
- Rinsing your scalp after the colour has been applied
Are there any alternatives to using hair colour?
If you still have concerns about using hair colour during your pregnancy, you could try semi-permanent pure vegetable dyes, such as henna. There are also organic hair dyes available that could work as an alternative. Which we use in Kartee M Salon.
Perhaps the best alternative is to have your hair highlighted by a professional hairdresser, who can expertly apply the foils to ensure that the chemicals used to lighten your hair only affect your locks and not your scalp or bloodstream.
Is it safe to colour my hair whilst breastfeeding?
Currently, there is not much solid research related to hair colour and breastfeeding, although it is generally considered to be fine. As only a very small portion of hair colour chemicals enter your bloodstream, there is not much chance that it will be passed on to your baby though your breast milk. No known negative effects of using hair treatments have been established whilst breastfeeding.
It’s totally natural to be concerned about the health of your child and being cautious is always the best approach. If you would like to discuss your hair colour options with our team, we’d be more than happy to have a chat to see what works best for you.
Get in touch
At Kartee Salon, we are truly lucky to have amazing customers who love what we do, with some even calling us the best hair salon in Tooting (some have even called us the best hair salon in London!).
You can also find regular updates on our social channels that offer free, helpful tips and insight into common hair issues: Facebook or Instagram.
You can find us on Colliers Wood Road, SW19 and we are open Tuesday to Friday, 10-7.30pm and Saturday 9-6pm. Give us a call on 020 8540 4664 or email hello@kartee.salon and we’d be more than happy to arrange a free hair consultation. Best hair salon in London / Best hairdresser in London.
