A little help with Hair dye and Pregnancy

There are many examples of hair dye being absorbed in to your body, but there is not enough information to promise with certainty that using chemical dyes during pregnancy is absolutely safe. So many expectant women wait out the first three months. As no one has any human data to show these chemicals cause birth defects we assume it is safe in the later part of pregnancy.

This is a topic which human testing would be unethical so it remains largely unproven and we have to look to other affects that may be present in the body for people who regularly use hair dye.

Animal studies were undertaken trying to illuminate this matter. Some, studies have shown a few of the chemical compounds in hair dyes to be carry a risk of birth defects. However, many of these animals are exposed to extreme doses of these chemicals, doses far exceeding the exposure of the woman who colours her hair every six weeks.

The chemicals in both semi-permanent and permanent colours are not highly toxic in small doses applied externally. These chemicals have been used for a great deal of time, and no investigations show they cause defects in unborn children, so colouring your hair during pregnancy is may be safe. Of course if you follow the safety instructions for application and are familiar with the MSDS (ie: using gloves in a well-ventilated room, and not exceeding application f times), you don’t really absorb much of the chemicals into your body Only a small amount will enter your blood stream, About 60% of the variety of colour ingredients are absorbed in small quantities when using a high volume developer above 6%.

A great alternative you might consider is foils, balayage, or Cap highlights your hair. You absorb hair colouring agents into your system through your scalp, not through your hair folicle. So, most highlighting procedures only allow you to only contact the product while it is rinsed off. Thus reducing the time of exposure to your skin and diluting the products during the contact time.

This does not prevent any of the inhalation exposure and if the area is poorly ventilated or irritating your eyes or nose even if you are finding it unpleasant the airflow or exhaust is most likely insufficient.

Some experts recommend henna or vegetable dyes as a good alternative to synthetic chemical agents during pregnancy one of the best professional products is made by farouk systems “Chi” which has been rated by the US body the FDA as one of the safest professional hair dyes.

Something to observe is the packaging on home brand or DIY colours these dyes also contain many of the same synthetic chemical compounds that the major cosmetic companies put in their hair dyes and they will have a trade marked name that implies a natural colour, so read the ingredients to be sure. Pure henna, which comes in reds and browns, is an exception. Henna is a semi-permanent vegetable dye considered to be very safe, though not everyone loves the results like poor coverage of grey hair or a lengthy application process and processing time!

It’s important for you feel good about your pregnancy and that you are happy with the choices you have for your baby while he or she is growing. Whether its colouring your hair to make you feel brighter or getting a facial it is best not cause yourself stress for nine months find something you enjoy that you are satisfied is safe. If it is important to you, seek advice from professionals like your OBGYN or GP, your hairdresser may have their own motivation. So read a few articles speak to a knowledgeable professional but make a decision for yourself and enjoy this time.