Hair Dye & Perm Safety During Pregnancy: What You Need to Know

Hair Dyes and Perms During Pregnancy

It's hard enough to feel beautiful when you're pregnant, but then along comes the warning that hair dyes and permanents might be harmful to a fetus. This subject causes great debate among hairdressers, doctors, researchers, and expectant mothers. In the end, all we know is that not much is known about the effects of these beauty products on the fetus.

Certainly there are chemicals in hair dyes and permanent solutions that are toxic and known to cause cancer and genetic mutations. The question is, how much does it take to cause this damage? Studies on animals that show harm to the fetus have used doses 100 times higher than would ever be used on your own head. As the debate rages on, you can safely keep your hair dyed and permed if you use a bit of caution.

• Avoid perming or dying in the first three months of your pregnancy.
• Choose semipermanent dyes over permanent dyes. Better yet, stick with natural henna products.
• Wear gloves and open the windows if you apply the solution yourself.
• Because the chemicals are absorbed into the bloodstream through the scalp, not the hair itself, it's probably safe to have your hair highlighted, frosted, painted, or streaked. These methods keep most of the dye away from the scalp.