Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Stages

Dying your hair while pregnant: Is it safe?

By

Pregnancy comes with a few questions, one of which involves dying your hair while pregnant. To a slight degree, you can let go of your worries since the chemicals might not pose a major hazard to the developing baby. At the same time, you’ll need to keep in mind that very few studies have been conducted relating to this matter. Therefore, information is limited.

Nonetheless, we have looked into this topic further to bring you the answers that will help you to make the best decision for you and your baby.

a lady getting her hair dyed
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Is it safe to dye my hair while pregnant?

According to Dr. Yvonne Butler Tobah, M.D. of the Mayo Clinic, the scalp absorbs a limited amount of chemicals when you apply hair dye or any other cosmetic product. Despite the sparse amount of information about the effects of dying hair while pregnant, Dr. Tobah mentions that in general, the chemicals themselves are not perceived as being harmful to the developing baby. Furthermore, only small amounts of the chemicals get absorbed into the body through the skin during dye application, thus making the exposure less harmful to your little one. In other words, researchers and practitioners recommend that as long as small quantities get into your skin, then both mom and baby should be safe.

Recommended Videos

Safety tips

Despite the mixed reactions concerning the topic, some experts agree that pregnant women should minimize exposure to the substances found in hair dyes. Whether you’re looking at products off the store shelf or the ones from your favorite salon, most contain chemicals such as

  • hydrogen
  • peroxide
  • ammonia
  • parabens
  • sulfites

Luckily, there are ways to mitigate exposure to these substances. Here are some tips from Healthline that have been reviewed by Nicole Galan, R.N.

  • Make sure you have no cuts on your scalp or surface irritation. Either one of these conditions can increase the risk of chemicals absorbing into your skin and then getting into your bloodstream
  • Find a room that’s well ventilated. It helps you to avoid inhaling the fumes from the dye which can be bothersome if not harmful.
  • Read all instructions on the package before use. Closely looking at the recommendations will help you to make a more informed judgment call about whether to go through with it
  • Wear plastic gloves when applying and rinsing out the dye
  • Consider waiting until after your second trimester. During the first trimester, the baby is rapidly growing and undergoing the most neurological development. Hence, after the second trimester, the risks are minimal.

Also, you should not leave the dye in for longer than the recommended amount of time. Additionally, you’ll need to rinse your scalp thoroughly after dyeing your hair and wipe any stained areas of your hairline, neckline, and ears to remove the excess dye completely. Remember that minimizing your exposure to the dye is the best safety measure.

a pregnant lady with highlighted hair
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Alternatives to dyeing hair while pregnant

Instead of using an all-over color, you can opt for hair treatments that require less exposure and less time. Some of these options include:

  • Streaks
  • Highlights
  • Frost

Also, you can go for a look that’s similar to the ombre effect where you start about halfway down the hair shaft. Basically, the idea is to decrease your scalp’s exposure to the dye or even avoid it altogether.

Related

Another alternative is choosing natural plant-based dyes like those made from henna or other herbs. These options might still contain a small amount of chemicals, but the volume would not be as high as other types of dyes. Plus, you wouldn’t have to worry about plant-based products containing ammonia, parabens, or any of the other previously mentioned chemicals. Better yet, some of these products don’t require a developer and can simply be mixed with water or come already pre-mixed. And while most of the organic products come in semi-permanent formulas, these are still safer compared to synthetic dyes.

All in all, being pregnant does not mean that you have to take a break from your personal beauty regimen. Instead, you will simply alter your routine. Fortunately, exposure to the dye doesn’t appear to pose too high of a risk—though further study needs to be done to determine what degree. However, you can always use plant-based products when dyeing your hair while pregnant.

Editors’ Recommendations

Topics
Leslie Anderson
Leslie Anderson
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Leslie Anderson is a freelance writer/writing coach from Roswell, N.M. She enjoys gardening, cooking, and helping students…
5 natural ways to boost energy while pregnant: It’s not that difficult
How to get through pregnancy fatigue
Pregnant woman on couch experiencing cramps

Any person who has ever been pregnant knows that pregnancy-tired is a whole other level of exhaustion. It's only natural that your body would be extra tired, after all, it's growing a little human being, which takes a lot of work. That doesn't make the sudden lack of energy any less annoying, especially in the first trimester, when you’re not sleeping as much, you may not be able to keep food down, your hormones are working overtime, and your body is using all of the nutrients possible to do this new job that you’ve tasked it with.

In your pre-pregnancy days, if you felt this tired you may have immediately reached for a cup of coffee or an energy drink. But since those are mostly out of the question now, how can you fight through the tired, so you can go about living your daily life?

Read more
Should you be concerned if your toddler walks on their toes? Experts weigh in
When to call your doctor about your toddler's toe-walking
Toddler sitting down with toes pointing towards camera

Walking is a developmental milestone that is exciting not just for parents but for your little one as well. There's a sense of independence your child will gain once they begin walking that opens up a whole new world of exploration. And once your little one has gone from crawler to walker and has their legs firmly beneath them, you may notice another development — toe-walking.

While it may seem like your new walker is destined for stardom as a ballerina, there could be an underlying physiological or developmental cause for why toddlers walk on their toes; instead of just a quirky preference. Here are just a few reasons your little one might toe-walk and what you can do about it.
Why toddlers walk on their toes

Read more
We love these boys’ fade haircut ideas (and your kid will, too)
From toddlers to teens, a boys' fade hairdo could be the new style your child loves
A boy with a faded haircut wearing headphones

We get so excited about all the options for haircuts for girls, that sometimes the boys' styles get overlooked. A clean, neat haircut can raise confidence and show off his adorable face, which is slowly changing into the young man he is becoming. Don't worry — no bowl cuts here, just popular and unique cuts that use the fade to bring out your child's personality. Find a boys' fade haircut to fit your child's style or go for something new to see how it fits when you give these cuts a try.
Basic boys' fade haircuts

Classic short undercut
One of the most versatile and easiest fades is the undercut. It looks cool, is easy for parents and kids to maintain, and offers a bit of flexibility in styling. If the top is shorter, you could spike it up or style it to the side if the hair is left a bit longer.
Taper fade
If your child wants something a little more basic but can look put together in just a few seconds of styling, the taper fade leaves you with a few options. It's a classic cut but with an effortless edge to it, where the fade starts at the bottom but seamlessly blends into the hair early on, leaving the rest of the head to be styled how you want.
French crop
This cut is for the child with a little more edge and personality. It's still a low-key cut with little maintenance to style it, but its endless looks are modern and fresh. Start with the classic French crop cut, and then add a high fade to the sides and back. This will give more attention to the top, which you could leave longer, slick back, or cut shorter and spiked.
Faded buzz cut
Every boy in the '90s and 2000s had a buzz cut. Now, there is a modern twist on that old military cut your child can try on. It still gives a clean look but adds a layer with the fade on the sides. If your child doesn't like to get ready in the mornings, this cut will save everyone time while still leaving him looking sharp.
The pompadour
The pompadour is such an adorable cut that dresses up any look when styled with a bit of product. Throw in a fade on the sides and back, and you have the ultimate look. The classic sweep and slick back of the pompadour clean up any kiddo, but the added fade along the edges is a fresh take.
Faded comb over
Don't worry -- no one will look older than their years with this faded comb-over look. It's a cute take on the original comb over, with the fade blending into the section that gets combed over. Add a shaved line at the part where you have the longer hair on top to the side to bring the homage home.
Faded side part
Close to the fade comb over, the faded side part works so well with kids who have a natural part on the side. It gives the natural lay of the hair a style that can be done in seconds, which is great for kids and parents, and plays off how the hair goes normally. Keep the top as short or long as you want and do a higher fade on the side of the part to allow for quick styling.
Faded mohawks

Read more