hair dye question?

[mamamoogs]

does anyone or has anyone dyed their hair while pregnant, i personally dont dye my hair while pregnant but my girlfriend is around 18 weeks pregnant and wants to dye her hair blonde ( she does it herself) and was wondering if it is safe her o/b states that it is but i wanted to get other opinions for her. I am a nervous nelly cant say that i would although i have used benzoyl peroxide on my pimples so i have no room to talk...:bag:

thanks

[NightRose]

http://www.pregnancy.org/article.php?sid=1193
I recently ran across this article. It made me stop and think a little, but I remembered when I was pregnant with my son one of my first 'indications' of pregnancy was when I tried to dye my hair a color I had used many times, the color came out completely different. A gal at the salon said she had seen that happen before to other women due to all of the hormones from pregnancy. So while I don't know for certain how safe it is or isn't to dye your hair while pregnant, I've learned funny things can happen. :o

[2cutiekitties]

I am using pregnancy as a excuse to see what my natural hair color is, but when you do use dye, you need to go to a professional. You cant get it on the scalp, and that is hard if you do it yourself.

[frenchie]

My professional opinion...I've been a colorist for 13 years. I have colored hair on many pregnant women over the years, and colored 5 days a week through my pregnancy with my son...and continue to do so in this pregnancy. I have worked with, and known many women who are colorists as well. They all worked through their pregnancies, coloring hair all day long 5 days a week.
My point, IF it did have an adverse affect on pregnancies/fetuses....shouldn't studies have been done on people like me, who are elbow deep in color as a living? You'd think...but the studies that have been conducted haven't had much to with people like me, and more to do with consumers (who have their hair colored every 4-6 weeks). The result was POSSIBLE bladder cancer. That study was terribly flawed and not controlled. Aside from that study, I haven't read anything conclusive.
Chemically, the color your friend gets from the market, and the color I use in the salon is quite the same. Hers might be higher in amonia...and mine has all kinds of buffers. She'll be fine, her baby will be fine, if she chooses to color her hair.
Realistically, the body wash we use, the shampoo, the household cleaners...all of that is just as "harmful" as haircolor. They have many of the same ingredients, or ingredients that are just as toxic....in LARGE amounts.

[Beth Ann]

I got my hair professionally high-lighted when I was 19 weeks. She just used a cap so it stayed off my scalp.

[frenchie]

I got my hair professionally high-lighted when I was 19 weeks. She just used a cap so it stayed off my scalp.

I recommend foils (a cap is the alternative) for those who are reluctant, because the color doesn't touch the scalp.:thumb

[Jilian]

I wait until the second trimester to dye, there is no real reason for this it just makes me feel safer. I did dye my hair a color I usually use and it came out a little bit different this time around so watch for that.

[Emma's_Mommy]

I am using pregnancy as a excuse to see what my natural hair color is, but when you do use dye, you need to go to a professional. You cant get it on the scalp, and that is hard if you do it yourself.

I got my hair professionally high-lighted when I was 19 weeks. She just used a cap so it stayed off my scalp.

:yeah:
i colored my hair during my pregnancy with DD and she came out fine! my hairdresser used a cap

[doudat]

I've dyed my hair in this pregnancy and the last as well. I use semi-permanent color since it's a bit milder. But as Frenchie stated, it's kinda bizarre to judge hair colouring but not the use of all other chemicals we surround ourselves with in our daily lives... Window cleaners, bleach, even our handsoap is full of chemicals we breathe in.

[courtenay_e]

My professional opinion...I've been a colorist for 13 years. I have colored hair on many pregnant women over the years, and colored 5 days a week through my pregnancy with my son...and continue to do so in this pregnancy. I have worked with, and known many women who are colorists as well. They all worked through their pregnancies, coloring hair all day long 5 days a week.
My point, IF it did have an adverse affect on pregnancies/fetuses....shouldn't studies have been done on people like me, who are elbow deep in color as a living? You'd think...but the studies that have been conducted haven't had much to with people like me, and more to do with consumers (who have their hair colored every 4-6 weeks). The result was POSSIBLE bladder cancer. That study was terribly flawed and not controlled. Aside from that study, I haven't read anything conclusive.
Chemically, the color your friend gets from the market, and the color I use in the salon is quite the same. Hers might be higher in amonia...and mine has all kinds of buffers. She'll be fine, her baby will be fine, if she chooses to color her hair.
Realistically, the body wash we use, the shampoo, the household cleaners...all of that is just as "harmful" as haircolor. They have many of the same ingredients, or ingredients that are just as toxic....in LARGE amounts.

Yup. My mom has been a colorist for forty two years. She colored her hair while she was pregnant with all three of her kids(actually, has had it colored non-stop for forty-four years), and the same as frenchie said, all of her friends did the same...and we all turned out fine. On top of that, as frenchie also said, there is no evidence that shows that the outcome will be otherwise, and actually some more recent stuff that supports our anecdotal stories! BUT, that said, my mom's mantra is always, "It's perfectly safe...however, if you're worried, we can do foils, which will keep it off of the scalp, or if you're really worried, listen to your primary care practitioner, as you're paying them a LOT of money to worry for you!"

Oh, and this is just a picky hair snob thing? Dye is for shoes and fabric. We put color on hair...

[frenchie]

Oh, and this is just a picky hair snob thing? Dye is for shoes and fabric. We put color on hair...

I love you! I always say this...We DYE clothes and COLOR hair. We WASH clothes and dishes, and SHAMPOO hair. PLUCKing is what we do to dead chickens, we TWEEZE eyebrows. My biggest peeve is when people call it a "dye job". *steps off of soapbox*
Anyhow...on to our regularly scheduled program.......

[tofutti]

well ladies, thank you for this thread....my sad little gray roots are starting to show (i highlighted the cycle before i got PG, on purpose thinking "this could be the last time")

i cant resist any more!

to be safe i will wear one of DH's safety masks, the paper ones that go over your face, to guard against fumes. my bathroom has no ventilation :wink


deb

[columbusmomma]

So along the same lines what about the safety of a perm or straightening relaxing treatment, anyone, anyone??:scratch

[greengrey]

I am waiting until the first trimester is over and then using my Tints of Nature from the health store.

It's an ammonia and resorcinol free colour and I forwarn it probably doesn't cover grey as well as it should b/c I've tried it before and it definitely faded faster than Garnier. But there is no odour etc.

http://www.tintsofnature.co.uk/index.html

And apparently Robert Craig hair colour is good for pregnancy women if you're worried about chemicals but alas I can't get this in Canada:

http://www.robertcraig.com/php/index.php?location=aboutcolor

[cynde]

I am not coloring during pregnancy. it s just not worth it and instinctually the odor seems very awful to me right now. and for other cleaning agents etc. - I won't use those either! the are lots of natural cleaners out there so you don't have to have ammonia and lysol fumes in your house.
strong chemical odors make me get headaches and feel sick normally but now I fell even stronger about it.
People are so concerned about ultrasounds and vacs's and I don't blame people for wanting more info on these but I think we give the chemicals in most poeples lives a pass and don't even consider them questionable.
BTW - a paper mask won't do anything for you in an unventilated bathroom.

[frenchie]

I am waiting until the first trimester is over and then using my Tints of Nature from the health store.

It's an ammonia and resorcinol free colour and I forwarn it probably doesn't cover grey as well as it should b/c I've tried it before and it definitely faded faster than Garnier. But there is no odour etc.

http://www.tintsofnature.co.uk/index.html

And apparently Robert Craig hair colour is good for pregnancy women if you're worried about chemicals but alas I can't get this in Canada:

http://www.robertcraig.com/php/index.php?location=aboutcolor

Robert Craig.....I didn't even think to suggest that!! Pregnancy brain :lol

[frenchie]

So along the same lines what about the safety of a perm or straightening relaxing treatment, anyone, anyone??:scratch

Again, the safety is the same as color...however, the chemical reaction with your hormones are more likely to have an effect on the final outcome. Perms tend to just go flat....and the fumes are hard to tolerate. I usually refuse to do perms while pregnant because *I* can't handle the smell. Straigthening solution is much the same as perm solution (depending on the product) so the outcome can be effected by your hormones. Color doesn't always work out either.