The idea of not dyeing your hair during pregnancy has been around for a long time; however, this typically relates to natural hair tones, not bright rainbow hair. So let me try to shed some light on this topic.
The reason why people say that you can’t dye your hair during pregnancy in the first place stems from two issues. The first is the theory that chemicals in the dye may affect the developing fetus. The second is that the hormones in your body during pregnancy can make your hair resistant to dye, and you may have trouble achieving the desired result. So let’s take a look at these two problems…
The theory that the chemicals in the dye may affect the developing fetus…
I believe this theory came about in the 1980’s when hair dyes were much harsher and contained chemicals (like 4-MMPD) that penetrated the skin and caused cancer in lab animals. But today manufacturers have stopped using such chemicals, and some brands even produce ammonia-free hair dyes, such as the L’Oreals INOA range.
When it comes to hair dyes and bleaching products, there hasn’t been a lot of research in this area. The limited research available is based on animal studies and suggests that it is safe to dye your hair during pregnancy. As a hairdresser, I know that many of my clients choose to color their hair during pregnancy, and I have yet to meet anyone who has had a problem.
Dr. Miriam Stoppard (parenting expert) said: “The very powerful pigments in the darker shades of hair dye penetrate the scalp within minutes and can be detected in white blood cells within a few hours,” continuing saying “…this means the body is dealing with the pigment efficiently. The white blood cells are cleaning it up and getting rid of it so it can’t do any harm.” Still, most doctors suggest waiting to dye hair until the second trimester, when the developing baby is less vulnerable.
However, doctors recommend that you stay away from chemical fumes during pregnancy and for this reason perms are not recommended.
So what about punk rainbow temporary hair dyes?
Bright and funky alternative colors (such as Manic Panic, Special Effects, Raw, ‘N Rage…etc.) do not have peroxide, ammonia or fumes. This type of dye is synthetic, so it simply stains the hair cuticles in the same way that clothing dye stains material. This means that it does not use harsh chemicals to penetrate the hair like standard hair dyes do. In fact, some rainbow hair colors have some of the same ingredients found in conditioner. Although there is no research in this area, I think it is probably safer to use this temporary punk type of color instead of standard permanent hair dyes as it is much kinder to the hair and skin. But if you’re still not sure, I suggest you talk to your doctor.
Now, while you can use these types of alternate colors directly over your current hair color, you’ll find that they only give your hair a slight hue. This is because these dyes are designed to work on pre-bleached hair.
So if you’re looking for real, vibrant colors, you should pre-bleach your hair. Many pregnant women will use bleach on their scalp with no problem, but if you’re still concerned, there are plenty of ways to bleach your hair without skin contact. (Any chemicals absorbed into your system would pass through your skin/scalp, not through your hair.) So instead of doing a full head bleach, I suggest you try one of the following techniques as an ‘off the scalp’ alternative:
- Foils (also known as ‘highlighting’ or ‘highlighting’) – when small strands of hair are placed on foils with bleach.
- Balayage (also known as ‘freestyle painting’) – where bleach is painted onto random strips of hair.
- Shoe Shine (aka ‘glaze’) – When bleach is brushed onto the ends of short hair.
- Dip Dying – Where only the ends of long hair are bleached to appear ‘dipped’ in colour.
I recommend going to a salon for this, but if you want to bleach your hair at home I suggest getting a friend to help you mix and apply the bleach. The ammonia in bleach can give off some vapor if you inhale it directly while mixing the bleach powder with the peroxide. So work in a well-ventilated space to help minimize inhalation of vapors.
The theory that hormones in your body during pregnancy can cause your hair to become resistant to hair dye…
Some women have reported that hair dyes do not adhere to their hair during pregnancy and hair colors turn out differently than expected. This is possible due to hormonal changes in your body, however this is a minority of cases. Most women have no problem achieving their desired hair color. However, hormones have other effects on hair during pregnancy and even after childbirth. Many women will experience their hair becoming fuller, stronger and shinier during pregnancy as the body retains more protein. But after giving birth and particularly while breastfeeding, some women find that their hair becomes brittle and weak, some even experience hair loss. Hormones can do crazy things to your hair during pregnancy. Dry hair can become oilier, oily hair can become dry, curly hair can become straight or vice versa.
Also, during pregnancy, your immune response changes, so you may be more vulnerable to having an allergic reaction to hair dye, even if you’ve never had one before. So if you intend to dye, I would suggest doing a skin test first, as most hair dye products recommend anyway.
At the end of the day…
To the best of my knowledge, and based on my experience as a hairdresser, I would say that it is safe to dye your hair during pregnancy. However, there is still no hard evidence for this and at the end of the day, it is your decision and that of your baby. I would always recommend that you discuss this with your husband/partner and your doctor before making a decision.
I think it’s important for women to feel good about themselves during pregnancy, whether it’s with natural hair colors or the rainbow Mohawk. But whether dyeing your hair will make you feel good or worry you unnecessarily for nine months is something you should think about.