Dying for Fabulous Hair

For many of us - enhancing our hair color is a regular part of our beauty routine. Many of my patients considering pregnancy wonder if they are going to be doomed to long roots and dull hair for 9 months. You don't have to feel frumpy or dumpy, fabulous hair is an absolute necessity in pregnancy!!!

I am asked on at least a weekly basis about the safety of hair coloring in pregnancy. The medical literature is again limited and not consistant on this issue.

The articles I reviewed exposed rodents to very large amounts of the chemicals - much larger doses than would be expected in human exposure during hair coloring AND the results were inconclusive at best.

Remember that they baby's organs are finished forming around the end of the first trimester - so most physicians will agree that waiting until AFTER the 12th week is advisable.

Is coloring safe after 12 weeks? Most likely yes. Some practitioners will tell you no - but likely they don't have to deal with roots or grey hairs. The amount of hair dye that is absorbed into the scalp is minimal and most likely not harmful to a growing fetus.

If you decide to go for it - use your common sense. Make sure the room is well ventilated and the product is only left on as long as is absolutely necessary. Remember that highlights only cover the shaft of the hair and not the root where the chemicals could be absorbed - so theoretically it is safer than all over color. There are some hennas and vegetable dyes that are considered to be safer in pregnancy as well.

Yes, I colored my hair in both of my pregnancies. Due to premature greying, I have colored my hair since I was in my 20's. Knowing I would abstain from coloring during the first trimester - I tried to make sure that my roots were in tip top condition before attempting pregnancy. That way, the three month wait was more bearable.

A few more words of sage advice:

If you don't color your hair - pregnancy is certainly not the time to start! Your body is going through enough changes - and a drastic new hair color may be ill advised. The hormonal changes in your hair may not take to a new color very well and you might be very disappointed.