Fashion Blog Tue Jan 26 2021
A mother-to-be is bombarded with information on how to keep the baby healthy. Your daily routine affects the life of your baby. During pregnancy, your body undergoes many changes. It feels like an out-of-body experience. As the baby develops, the body weight will increase, and you might have random food cravings. Apart from this, you might also suffer from exhaustion, swollen ankles, and heartburn. These physical changes are not in our control. But one thing that we can control is our hair color. Fresh new hair color can brighten our mood and give you a new look. But is it safe to dye your hair during pregnancy? Many of us are afraid of using color during this period. The colors available in the market contain chemicals that are not good for a baby’s health. Your concerns are valid. Hair dyes are not dangerously toxic, so you can apply them stress-free.
The Organization of Teratology Information Specialists (OTIS), which collects information on potential reproductive risks, has researched and provided us with some facts on- Is it safe to dye your hair during pregnancy?
Whether it’s a permanent dye or a semi-permanent dye, it is safe to use both of them. During treatment, a small amount of dye may get onto your forehead. The skin absorbs the chemical present in it that is of a minimal amount and not harmful for the developing baby's body. However, there are several ways of applying the color safely. These methods are the precautions that you can take to minimize the risk of causing harm to the baby. Go through them in brief.
During the period of pregnancy, hairs grow at a faster rate. So, you may need to go for more root touch ups in these nine months. Some experts advise avoiding coloring in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy to minimize the harm caused to the developing fetus. In the first trimester, rapid growth and development of the baby take place. Muscles and vocal cords form; organs are taking shape, hair follicles and nail beds start to develop. This time it’s necessary to provide a protective environment to the baby. So, you should wait until your second trimester to get your hair color done.
There is no harm in being cautious while doing hair color during pregnancy. Potential harmful effects are the most that every woman is concerned about. So, you can choose gentler treatment to minimize the risk. Rather than dying the entire hair, you can opt for frosting, highlights, or streaking that will prevent applying the color directly on your scalp or skin.
Permanent hair color is not the only option to choose for dying your hair. However it gives the best results, it may prove to be dangerous. When the color is applied to the entire scalp, the pores soak up the chemicals that can enter your bloodstream. You may go for semi-permanent hair color. It will not last as long as the permanent hair color but will reduce the exposure to chemicals and toxins from the scalp. For a safer treatment, you can choose bleach-free or ammonia-free color also. Natural vegetable and henna hair dyes are also the better options. Further, this can provide you peace of mind while you are pregnant.
When you remove the hair's color, make sure that you rinse your hair thoroughly with water. Use your fingers and move them slowly between the strands to wash out the scalp's chemicals. In this way, the number of chemicals that get absorbed in the skin will decrease, reducing the risk of harm to your baby.
Applying hair color will not cause any harm but applying bleach on eyebrows and eyelashes might prove dangerous. It increases the risk of infection and causes swelling in the eye area.
These were the main five precautions to keep in mind while chemically treating your hair. Apart from this, the hair changes its texture naturally during this period, which is the main reason for many women asking the question- Is it safe to dye your hair during pregnancy? You are not aware of how your hair may react to coloring or perming. So, you can also wait until your pregnancy period gets over to treat your hair.
To protect your baby from chemical exposure, there are other ways also you can opt for. Choosing a gentle, safe hair dye is the one way. Due to toxic chemicals, hair dye can create fumes. Make sure to apply the color in a well-ventilated area so that the number of fumes you breathe in gets limited. You can also keep the window cracked open.
Another way is to wear gloves while applying the color. Usually, this will help you to reduce the amount of color absorption in the skin. Read the instructions before applying the dye and do not keep it for longer than necessary. Rinse your scalp and forehead properly after completing the hair treatment to remove any dye traces from the skin.
In case you are a hairstylist, it’s challenging to limit chemical exposure. Use extra care when applying bleach and hair color as too much exposure to harsh chemicals can increase the risk of miscarriage. Hairstylists should take the following precautions during pregnancy.
Now, you would have got an answer to the frequently popping question in your mind- Is it safe to dye your hair during pregnancy? And the answer is- yes, of course. If you think you will feel better after changing your hair color, go for it. But be aware not to apply color throughout your entire head. Firstly, test the dye on a few strands and confirm the color you want. During this period, hormonal changes occur a lot. So, the hair can react in different ways to the dye. Take the patch test, observe the result, and then apply hair color.
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