Ontario

Safe Hair Dyes For Pregnant Women

Don't drink caffeine. Sleep on your left side. Don't lay flat on your back. No soft cheeses. Limit seafood. No jogging. No more skydiving. And definitely no dyeing your hair! Seriously? No, not really. Most studies, though limited, have not shown any serious consequences to pregnant women dyeing their hair. But to be on the safe side, there are some guidelines you can follow, most simple to execute, and some alternatives you may want to try instead of dye.

The chemicals in hair dye are known to seep into the body through the skin, which is evidenced by their presence in urine. For this reason, it's best not to dye your hair during the first trimester of pregnancy while the baby's neurological system is developing. After the first trimester, look for hair dyes with the lowest number of chemicals present.

The European Union has completely banned many chemicals commonly found in hair dye (for a complete list of these questionable chemicals, explore http://www.canada.com/globaltv/ontario/news/sports/story.html?id=9922643d-045b-4abc-8078-d1abed46b02a&p=2 ). Because the safety of these chemicals has not yet been established, look for hair dye that does not contain any of these chemicals. The dark brown and black dyes have been associated with the most problems, so if possible, avoid these colors in particular.

Further, look for a hair dye with as few chemicals as possible. Look for a low- or no-ammonia formulation, without peroxide added. In particular, avoid hair dye products that contain both ammonia and peroxide, as combined these can be risky. When dyeing your hair, do so in a well-ventilated room, using gloves, and avoid at all costs getting the dye directly on your scalp. Highlighting may be your best option, using a cap through which you pull hair strands or foils, both of which protect your scalp from chemical contact. Use gloves throughout the dyeing process to avoid getting the product on your hair. If you prefer a salon job, call and arrange an appointment first thing in the morning, during the least busy time, to limit your chemical exposure.

If you prefer to stay on the safer side and not dye your hair at all, you still have other options. You may try using a color enhancing shampoo, which deposits a bit of color with each wash, without the risks of chemical dyes. You can also find spray-on temporary colors or temporary colors in tubes that are applied with a wand (similar to a mascara wand). These can be used on the regrowth area only, or throughout your hair, as desired.

Finally, if even temporary coloring unnerves you, try a more natural alternative. If you aren't afraid of vivid color, Manic Panic comes in a wide variety of brilliant shades made from natural vegetable dyes. Henna is another natural alternative, although you cannot use a standard chemical dye for a full year after using henna.

For the most natural coloring alternatives at all, use something you already have in your kitchen. For blondes, rinsing with chamomile tea can remove product buildup and brighten hair. Spritzing on lemon juice and sitting in the sun (wearing sunscreen, of course) can also lighten your hair a bit, although it may take several sessions. Redheads can try using beet juice to rinse, or mixing a small amount of Manic Panic in with their regular conditioner. Brunettes can use strong coffee or black tea, rinsing their hair several times with the liquid, to deepen color.

Dyeing your hair while pregnant is not quite the catastrophe it's often made out to be, but it can, and should, be made safer, and more comfortable, for you and your baby.