Can I Color My Hair While I Am Pregnant

Updated on September 03, 2008
J.B. asks from Lexington, NC
26 answers

so i i colored my hair before igot pregnant and now that i am 19 weeks along my hair has grown out alot and it looks terrible i bought some at home color but i amnot sure if it is ok to use. it is amonia free is it safe for me to use while pregnant?

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So What Happened?

thanks everyone for the advice, i called my ob and they said it was fine. i should of bought more boxes of hair color though because 2 was not enough for all my hair!! ahhh i have to much hair!! thansk for the advice!!

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E.W.

answers from Louisville on

I colored my hair with all three of my pregnancies, after the 12 week mark I tried to hold off as long as possible between colorings so I didn't do it too much also do it in a well venilated room, all three of my babies were healthy!

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W.M.

answers from Nashville on

NO! Don't know the reason but I do know that you cannot color it! I read it and the doc said so. :o)

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M.E.

answers from Lexington on

as a hairdresser and a 2nd time new mom, i would say go ahead and color. it is mostly recommended nowadays to wait till youi're out of the 1st trimester, since that is the "danger zone" for something to wrong. and since you are using an amonia free formula it should be fine. but you might want to give your ob a call just to be on the safe side.

1 mom found this helpful
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G.G.

answers from Charlotte on

I would go ahead. When I was pregnant, I just colored my roots at my part and around my face. It made me look presentable and I felt good for only using a bare minimum of chemicals! Just stay away from the wind!!!

Good luck!

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K.W.

answers from Lexington on

Hi, J.,
I am pregnant with my second child. Both my first obgyn and this one have told me it's okay to color my hair so long as it does not have ammonia and you do it in a well-ventilated place. You can use peroxide (if you lighten your hair with highlights like I do, just no ammonia).

No reason to have 4" roots and feel like a whale. That's just not fair. Good luck!
K.

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C.M.

answers from Raleigh on

I have heard you are not supposed to, BUT I colored my hair all the time when I was pregnany with both my girls. We had no probelms with this at all. My hair just looked good in alll the pregnancuy pictures. So my advice is if it makes you feel good do it :)

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A.D.

answers from Charlotte on

I had mine highlighted during pregnancy to avoid it coming in contact with the roots/scalp area. My OB recomended not having it soak into the scalp/root. I would use a professional not an at home product so they can closely monitor the chemicals. Congrats on the new bundle to be!!

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D.J.

answers from Greensboro on

I just went to my first OB visit (9 weeks along) she said yes but AFTER 12 weeks.

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L.T.

answers from Fayetteville on

Dear J.,

Better safe than sorry. I would not color my hair at all while pregnant. It really isn't worth the risks. Also, with all of the hormones going on in your body while you are pregnant, the color can change after you have applied it amd there's no telling what color you will get! I already had haircolor on my hair when I became pregnant and weird colors would just appear out of nowhere! I would assume that at your age, you just don't like your hair color and that you're not trying to cover any grey. At least you have a "real" haircolor. Be happy with the color God gave you for the next few months and then go to the salon after you have the baby and give yourself the "gift" of new haircolor. The strong chemicals in haircolor, even the so-called "non-toxic" ones can cause birth defects. The hairdresser will tell you that it's ok - they want to sell you something. Ask your doctor, maybe they've come out with something new that is safe during pregnancy, but I really doubt it. Congratulations and Good Luck! L.

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J.W.

answers from Memphis on

hi J.,

as long as the dye is ammonia free, it is not harmful to your baby. I am a mother of 4 and my babies are fine, it is only the fumes you would have to worry about. If your still concerned though wear a mask.

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T.P.

answers from Nashville on

This is a tough one. I asked around about this when I was pregnant. A lot of doctors say no because they don't know how much of the chemicals get into your bloodstream -- since pregnant women rarely volunteer for medical experiments, there's so much they don't know. My personal doctor said it was fine, though.

I waited until the baby was born and about 6 months old because I was nursing. Good luck!

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E.W.

answers from Chattanooga on

J.,

When I was pregnant with my daughter, I was told no. Check with your doctor. I was able to get a perm so I don't see what the difference is. I had a wonderful hairdresser who said to be prepared that the treatment to the hair may not take properly due to hormones. I was lucky and had no problems except that it didn't last as long. I would check with the doctor first.

E.

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M.H.

answers from Rocky Mount on

I don't know if you can use that kind of hair color, but there are all natural hair coloring systems that are sold at health food stores like Whole Foods and Earth Fare that are fine.

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A.R.

answers from Knoxville on

My OB said unless I planned on eating the hair dye to go for it.

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A.J.

answers from Jacksonville on

Yes. When I was pregnant I colored my hair myself. I just made sure that I did it in room with windows. Or you could just do it outside. My daughter came out fine. And I agree that there's no reason to have 4' roots and feel like whale. So congratulations and good luck!

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L.S.

answers from Lexington on

I've heard conflicting info. on this one. My solution was to highlight only so the solution didn't actually sit on my scalp.

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M.T.

answers from Nashville on

yes. I would wait till after the first trimester which you already are. It won't hurt. I would try not to breath it as much as possible.

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S.M.

answers from Raleigh on

I am a licensed cosmetologist and a mother of three. Coloring your hair should not hurt you or the baby. Sometimes your scalp might be more sensitive, and sometimes the color can turn out differently than you'd expect, other times all will be fine. If you don't want the color to touch your scalp get your hair foiled/highlighted. The color will then only be in the foil packets. I colored my hair during my pergnancies and had no problems.

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K.E.

answers from Raleigh on

Hi J.-

Congratulations on your pregnancy! During both my pregnancies my doctor told me it was ok to color my hair, but they were a little more leary if I was going to get a perm or something (which I don't do that). The first pregnancy everything was fine whenever I colored, but with my second my skin must have been much more sensitive because where the color got on my forehead a little bit it actually gave me a burn. I didn't do anything different nor did I use a different brand, but the hormones in my body must have made my skin more sensitive. The burn was not severe but you could definitely see it. However, since that pregnancy my skin is more sensitive overrall (I've had three bouts of poison ivy, etc. which I never was bothered by before). Ask your doctor to be sure what they feel. Oh, and I've also read that the color you're expecting may come out differently (even if its the same color you've used before) due to the hormones in your body.
Good luck!

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D.B.

answers from Charlotte on

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S.U.

answers from Raleigh on

I colored my hair through three healthy pregnancies. I think they say to wait until after the 1st trimester. I wouldn't worry about this at all, making yourself look better makes you feel better!

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T.S.

answers from Fayetteville on

I just read an article the other day in Real Simple Magazine that said research says that it is okay.

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A.K.

answers from Huntington on

Yes, you can totally color your hair while your pregnant. Years ago this may have been an issue, but with with today's products, (and a little ventilation) it is not harmful to your baby. Color away!

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S.L.

answers from Chattanooga on

I had a doctor in ATL tell me not to have my hair or nails done. I moved to Chattanooga about 2 1/2 months into my pregnancy and the OB/GYN doc I have hear now said it was fine for me to have both done. I had my hair colored at least 3 times while pregnant and my nails done every 2 to 3 weeks and my daughter is completely fine. Unless you are having some sort of complication, then I might be leary but if not, I would think you would be fine.

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K.R.

answers from Louisville on

Yes you can, but I have always heard you should be a certain amount of weeks along. I think it is as long as you are over 12wks, but not for sure. I was asking a hair dresser one time about it cause I was thinking about having it and that is what she said.

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C.M.

answers from Wheeling on

Hi J. B
Check a healthy food store - they usually carry soy base hair coloring. This one should work for you.
As a Naturopathic Dr - I've seen several people that have has
BAD hair - due to chemicals.

Best of luck. Dr C.

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