Flag as Not Acceptable?
We review flagged content and enforce our Terms of Use, in which content must never be:
- Profane or sexually explicit
- Disrespectful or abusive
- Infringing of copyright
Parentpedia
Hair Perms and Dye
Not only are you growing bigger every day, but so are your roots. So what's the deal with hair dye and other chemical treatments for your hair? Is it OK or a big no-no when you're carrying?
Hair Dyes
Not much is known about the safety of hair dyes during pregnancy.
It's likely that chemicals in hair dye are absorbed into the body, though it's not clear how much, if any, reaches the fetus. Some studies suggest a connection between hair dye and childhood cancers, but the evidence isn't strong.
Highlighting that doesn't involve direct application of chemical dyes to the scalp is generally considered safe. Some studies have hinted at links between some of these chemicals and birth defects, but scientists have found that it would take extremely high doses to be dangerous.
If you do decide to color your hair, the FDA offers these recommendations:
- Don't leave dye in your hair any longer than needed.
- Rinse your hair thoroughly with water after using hair dye.
- Wear gloves when applying the dye.
Perms and Chemical Hair-Straightening
The scant evidence available suggests that perming or chemically straightening your hair is fine. The fumes might be annoying, perhaps even nauseating, especially during the first trimester, but the exposure probably isn't enough to affect your baby.
If you're concerned, talk to your doctor. He may suggest that you either use a toxin-free hair dye, such as henna, or that you put it off until after the first trimester.
Even if your doctor says it's safe, you may want to think about waiting for another reason: Hormonal changes can cause your hair to react differently to the dye or perm, and you could end up with an unwelcome result.
In general, dying or highlighting your hair is considered safe.
* IMPORTANT NOTICE: Parentpedia contains the opinions and views of other users and not of Disney or its affiliated companies. Given the interactive nature of Parentpedia, we cannot endorse, guarantee or be responsible for the accuracy, efficacy or veracity of any content on this site, including the content generated by users, article authors or article reviewers.The contents of Parentpedia are intended for informational purposes only. Such contents provide general information that is not specific to any individual. The contents are not intended to, and do not, substitute for or constitute medical or healthcare advice, diagnosis or treatment, and may not be used for such purposes. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition and before acting on information obtained from this site. Never disregard professional medical or healthcare advice or delay in seeking it because of something you read on this site. Parentpedia does not recommend or endorse any specific tests, physicians, products, procedures, opinions, or other information that may be mentioned on this site. Reliance on information presented on Parentpedia is at your own risk.
Thank You!
Thank you for helping us maintain a friendly, high quality community at Family.com. This comment will be reviewed by a community moderator.
