Hair Dye Safety For Pregnant Women: Part II
Hair dye safety during pregnancy
The idea of creating life can be a wondrous miracle. Although, the swollen feet, nausea, and mood swings may not exactly feel miraculous. You can’t stand your favourite food, you don’t fit into your jeans, and to top it all, no wine.
When your sole stress reliever is off-limits, what is the next best thing for salvaging from the hormone overdrive? Booking a salon appointment.
Now, pregnancy hormones may cause some major changes in hair growth, texture and colour. While some expecting mothers may experience their best hair months, few others may struggle with unwanted silver streaks. This gives rise to the biggest dilemma of a pregnant woman, is it really safe to dye your hair during pregnancy?
Several hair dyes contain chemical compounds like ammonia, PPD, parabens, resorcinol, and peroxides which supposedly seep into your skin’s layers and could mix into your bloodstream.
Although with limited evidence, studies have concluded that very less to no chemicals actually penetrate through the scalp and into the bloodstream. Let alone the possibility of a harmful concentration reaching the foetus. Moreover, there have not been any reported cases to validate the concern.
Studies have also shown that a very high concentration of these chemicals in the hair can be rendered harmful. However, the ballpark is much higher than what a person is subjected to while getting their hair dyed.
A luscious mane is crucial to compliment that pregnancy glow. So, if you need a touch-up for your hair that’s growing oddly quickly, based on the research, we’d say go for it.
Yet, you know what they say:
Science hath no conviction than a mother’s instinct
Hold your horses before booking that salon appointment and take a quick look at all the precautionary measures you should take before dying your hair.
Is it too early?
Call your gynecologist before calling your salon. It is highly recommended that you colour your strands in your second trimester, i.e. your fourth, fifth and sixth month.
This is because the first twelve weeks are when your fetus is turning into a little human. The baby’s organs and muscles are taking shape, along with the development of vocal cords and hair follicles.
Thus, the first trimester is considered highly crucial in the baby’s development. Even though chemical seepage is negligible, to avoid risks, wait until the second trimester.
Testing is crucial
After adding a spoonful of precaution into your dye mix, do an allergy patch test.
Pregnancy hormones may cause your hair to react differently to the ingredients of the mix.
We recommend that you do a patch test before going global. Apply your product on only a strand of hair first, to check that your hair doesn’t turn into ‘mermaid green’ instead of coffee brown.
Mind your setting
Whether you’re going to a salon or summoning your on-call bestie to go DIY, make sure that you are in a well-ventilated area. It is always advisable to take extra measures to ensure safety and precaution.
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Let your stylist know that you are pregnant. If you’re in a salon, ask to sit next to a blower in a fairly open area.
At home, open up those windows and allow the air to drive away with it, the chemical fumes swirling around your head. It’s important to be breathing fresh oxygen.
Follow the rules
The ‘directions of use’ section on all products ensure the highest amount of safety and a notch while bringing out the best results. Don’t keep the color any longer than mentioned. Wash your scalp thoroughly after the process is done.
Preferably take a shower right after, so that there are no lingering ingredients on your body.
During the colour treatments, make sure you’re wearing full- length sleeves for extra coverage. Also, make sure to put on gloves if you’re applying it yourself.
There are alternatives
If you still don’t feel convinced, there’s no need to feel pressured into going for it yet. There are a ton of alternatives that work just as good. Ammonia-free hair dyes have carved themselves a segment in the hair styling market.
Use hair dye products that are free from ammonia, paraben, PPD, resorcinol, and silicones. Their base is usually that of natural oils from flowers or other natural ingredients
Another alternative is the use of herbal hair products. Herbal hair colours have a natural ingredient base. Some of these ingredients include Brahmi, Amla, Henna and Indigo among others. Make sure to do a patch test before trying your hand on these alternatives.
At-home solutions
When all else fails, good ol’ grandma recipes save the day. Use henna to give your hair a brown to red dye. To darken it further, follow the henna dye with Indigo, a dark blue dye derived from the indigo plant. Black Walnut hull powder can also help catalyze darkening the shade of your hair.
However, to lighten your hair, spray some lemon juice into your strands and let it dry in the sun. Don’t forget to apply sunscreen.
A thirty-minute soak of tomato juice or beetroot powder can be used for a more purple to a red shade.
Still feeling doubtful? Don’t worry, there’s still hope. You can always opt for alternative techniques and abolish the use of single process techniques altogether. Highlights, lowlights, frosting and streaking will never run out of style and you can still pair that precious baby bump with a gorgeous piece of mane
Takeaway
You can most certainly dye your hair as a welcome change when you are pregnant. However, ensure that you have taken all the necessary precautions and use chemical free hair dye.