Is it safe to dye your hair during pregnancy?

Adding, she wrote that considering there are so many hair dyes available in the market, one must refrain from purchasing one from unknown/unbranded suppliers as they might not have the ingredients clearly listed. “Plus, they might have not undergone proper safety and control quality checks and may contain harmful substances. And pregnancy is definitely not a time to risk all this, not that it is okay other times too,” she added.

 

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So what should mothers-to-be keep in mind while dyeing their hair in pregnancy?

*It is preferable to dye your hair after the first 12 weeks of pregnancy. The amount of hair dye that is likely to enter the mother’s bloodstream, and therefore potentially reach the baby in the womb, is expected to be very small then.

Adding, Dr Ritu Sethi, Senior Consultant, Gynaecology, Cloud Nine Hospital, Gurgaon said, “Getting our hair dyed while pregnant is considered safe, especially in the second and third trimesters. Since most hair dyes have little contact with your scalp, the chance of any chemicals reaching your bloodstream, and therefore your baby is low.” The expert, however, pointed out that women should refrain from getting their hair coloured in the first trimester because it is a time of rapid growth and development for the foetus.

*The guidelines say that the chemicals in permanent and semi-permanent hair dyes are not highly toxic and safe, but its best to wait until the baby’s organs have formed to be on the safer side.

*Highlighting your hair or putting the dye only on the strands of hair is a safe and good option. This way, the chemicals used are only absorbed by your hair, and not your scalp or bloodstream.

*Semi-permanent pure vegetable dyes, such as henna is also another safe alternative.

*Hair should be dyed in a well-ventilated room. This helps reduce inhalation of any dye-associated fumes.

*Semi-permanent pure vegetable dyes, such as henna is considered to be a safe alternative. (Photo: Getty Images/Thinkstock)

*If you happen to dye your hair yourself, make sure to:

-Wear gloves while doing it
-Apply the dye on a small area of hair first to check for any allergic reaction
-Read the instructions carefully and do not leave the chemical on hair any longer than the time indicated
-Rinse your hair thoroughly after putting the dye

On similar lines, Dr Sethi recommended sticking to the same hair dye you have used in the past to lower your risk of any unexpected reactions.

Concluding, Dr Khalid noted, “Please do not use the hair dyes if you have any abrasions or injury over your scalp,” explaining that one should also avoid using dyes too frequently during pregnancy.

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