silly, but i need some opinions

[dotcommama]

Okay here is my really foolish questions -

Should I color my hair?

I've never colored my hair while pregnant before b/c I worried that it might harm the baby. However while in my mw office a few weeks ago I read an article that said it's never been proven that there is any adverse effect on the baby when a mother colors her hair - so I started to consider it.

The reason I want to do it is that my hair is naturally brown, but was dyed blond when I accidentally got pregnant - so now (8 months later) I have huge brown roots (several inches long) and then blond the rest of the way and it looks so stupid. This is my last pregnancy and my dear friend is coming up next weekend to take some photos of me big and pregnant for my scrapbook. I hate the thought of all those pictures having my silly two colored hair in them. (That's rather vain - I know)!

Anyway, if it would harm the baby there is no way I'd even consider it, but if it's safe I figure why not. So what do you all think? To me it seems that even if there was a slight risk while the baby was developing in the earlier trimesters at this point the baby is fully developed and it couldn't harm him.

All opinions welcome! Thanks

[Annais]

I am considering getting highlights/lowlights next month. Of course my hairdresser said it would be fine, though she wouldn't recommend it in the first trimester just to be safe. And then I read an article, too, that said it was fine.
But I guess it's what you are comfortable with!
Good luck!

[Kirsten]

Well, my thirty cents is this - I didn't color my hair ever as it just seemed like it could be a bad idea even though I hadn't seen any scientific proof. Grew up blond then it got progressively darker until I was truly brown. Still didn't color it. Started getting LOTS of gray hair here and there as well as a big gray patch in my bangs. :( Still didn't color it. My friends were BEGGING me to color it. At 31 or 32 I finally decided to go ahead. LOVED it! Guess I will risk a little scalp cancer (or whatever the problem could be) for vanity....

BUT I don't color while pregnant. The gray is all there and I hate it but will wait til after baby comes to do anything about it. But I do agree that at the end of pregnancy would seem to be a safer time than earlier when baby is forming, not just growing.

For your pregnancy photos, how about black and white? The color differences in your hair would be much less noticable if at all and I think B & W is very classy.

Know what I like to do (in the name of vanity) that makes me feel so much prettier - and has no risks of anything? Go in and get your eyebrows done! It just makes me look a hundred times better. Just having the little stray hairs under and between your eyebrows waxed away is such a change - you will not believe if you haven't tried it before. Really cheap to do too. $14 or so.
Kirsten

[Erin Pavlina]

I had the same issue. My hairdresser suggested using an herbal die instead of the ones with peroxide. There are all-vegetable dyes in the health food stores and online. it may not be perfect, but it might get you through to the end of the pregnancy with hair that is closer to the shade you want it to be.

[Czen:)]

I did it with my last and am doing it again. Guess you just have to make the call yourself. I refuse to be gray while I'm bearing children! Yes, vanity & shallowness are powerful things!

[Leddie]

I didn't dye with my dd but I've done it already with this pregnancy. I spoke with my midwife extensively about it and he said not to worry in the least. I also spoke with my hairdresser, who, of course, said their is no problem with it!

Jen
Korina 10.04.01
edd 12.10.03

[sagewinna]

You can also get highlights/ lowlights without worrying too much, since the chemicals won't actually be on your scalp.

I am using a vegetable based color while pregnant.

[Chelly2003]

I would go for it. But make sure you're in a well ventilated area so you're not breathing in any fumes, if you're in a closed in salon with a bunch of other women who are getting perms and color treatments - you would be breathing in a lot of junk.

Good Luck

[Summer]

I have and would again in a heartbeat. In fact, I'm starting to get some roots and I'd love to get them touched up, but sitting in a chair with goo on my head that has to be washed off is about the best way I can think of to have my water break. :)

[Czen:)]

I agree with the ventilation. I'm doing mine myself and keep windows and patio doors open and wander in and out off the deck as it is "setting". Makes me feel better about it. I've always thought of the danger being in the chemicals being inhaled.

[tinyshoes]

Go ahead!!!!!

My goodness...if I were a hairdresser I would worry about exposure, but I would say 2 hours in a smoky restaurant is 'worse' than a dye job.

Esp. foils/highlights, where the chemicals are only touching your dead hair, and you won't really inhale much of the aroma.

:)

[Meribeth]

My understanding is that not enough of anything harmful could be absorbed through the scalp, so there isn't really anything to worry about! I just waited until I was safely out of the first tri (I believe I did it at about 19 weeks) so JUST in case, I wouldn't harm his development. I agree with the others, though--if you do it, definitely do it in a well ventilated area. The fumes are strong and even if they aren't harmful would probably bother you more than usual. :thumb

[Stacymom]

I say go for it! :thumb

I have an appointment tomorrow morning to get my hair cut and highlighted, and get my eyebrows done, and I'm so excited that I don't have to have ugly hair anymore! :) It's a real expense for us, so I had to wait until I got paid, and we had to arrange it when dh could be home with dd (no way am I taking her to a salon for that long...)

Seriously, my hair has been in a ponytail for the last two weeks, and I have dark roots galore... I find I feel so much better about myself when my hair is freshly done and looks nice. Sounds shallow, but at 31 weeks pregnant and counting, I think anything that makes me feel better should be allowed, right? :D

[Ravin]

I've seen lists of the chemicals used in many dyes, and many of them can be harmful and can be absorbed through the skin. If I wanted to eliminate my roots problem, (I, too, was dyed blonde when I got pg and now have long, sharply contrasting roots but I don't really care.) I'd use a natural dye to dye my blonde back to something closer to my roots. This would be better than bleaching the roots out again for two reasons: you wouldn't get the chemicals (and even herbal dyes have chemicals in them, just because it came from a plant doesn't mean it's not a chemical substance) so much close to your scalp, and also they dyes used to dye blonde to brown aren't as harsh as the ones that strip color/bleach hair.

[frogertgrl]

I wish there was a definitive answer on this! For my twelve years of highlights, the dye/bleach was always applied to the root/scalp b/c that was the point. To make it look natural, not chunks of dyed hair beginning one quarter inch from the scalp.

I see pregnant women like Kelly Ripa practically living in hair dye throughout their entire pregnancies and then others like Madonna who let their roots go and don't dye.

Even the most mainstream OBs I've talked with recommend waiting until past the first tri.

I'm torn myself. But I need a good four to five hours in the chair for a full head of highlights and with a toddler now, it's gonna have to be done at home like a moviestar or nothing at all!

[onediaperinmama]

What about something fairly temporary like a brown mousse to cover up the blonde for the photo if you're worried & decide against coloring?

[dotcommama]

Thanks for all the opinions. I decided to do it. I was going to do henna originally, but when I went to buy it the woman told me on dyed blond hair it may turn green :eek - so I just went for the regular dye. I figure I'll only do it this one time during the pregnancy and the baby should be just fine.

[Czen:)]

Hope your pictures are beautiful!

[dotcommama]

Thanks if they come out well maybe I'll post some :)

[Elphaba]

are you doing it yourself or having a professional do it?
i had highlights done during my pregnancy, so no chemicals would touch the scalp, and like you i had it done LATE in the pregnancy, at about 36-37 weeks.
it was the MOST uncomfortable thing i have ever endured. like gum surgery. seriously. having to lie back for her to rinse the stuff out, oh my god, i kept having to get up every minute just so i could have air in my lungs!
i never want to do that again. it has now been 8 months since i have colored my hair any color at all, which is a record for me. this is the first time i have seen my natural color in 16 years. and i'm only 28!
anyway, i think if it's just one time, and you try to keep it off your scalp you'll be fine.

[JLav]

If you dye your hair while you're pregnant be careful not to get any dye on your scalp...crazy pregnancy horemones can affect the dye and turn your hair funky colors. Bleaches and peroxides can turn green and reds and browns can turn orange. Good Luck!