Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsIs It Safe?When Is the Best Time?Skin Condition PrecautionsOverall PrecautionsDyeing and BreastfeedingBleaching and Pregnancy
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Is It Safe?
When Is the Best Time?
Skin Condition Precautions
Overall Precautions
Dyeing and Breastfeeding
Bleaching and Pregnancy
While certain activities should be avoided during pregnancy, using hair dye probably isn’t one of them. Based on available research, coloring your hair while pregnant and breastfeeding is considered safe.
However, you may be more susceptible to irritation and sensitivity if you haveeczema,psoriasis, or a skin condition.
This article explains everything you need to know about hair coloring and bleaching during pregnancy and breastfeeding.
Maskot / Getty Images
So, Is It Safe to Dye Your Hair While Pregnant?
Based on available research, the short answer is yes; it is safe to dye your hair while pregnant. You can consider dyeing your hair up to four times whilepregnant.
A concern some people have is that hair dyes may contain toxic chemicals and these chemicals may be absorbed into the bloodstream via the scalp, causing miscarriages, congenital disabilities, or other complications. However, there isconflicting researchabout the toxicity of hair dye.
One study mentions that an expert panel assessed the safety of chemicals in hair dye and subsequently banned carcinogenic chemicals (those that cause cancer) in dyes, but a comprehensive review of all dye ingredients has not been documented.Any hair dye chemicals in question are used in such small doses during application compared to the toxic levels in mass quantities that they are generally considered safe.
Available evidence also shows minimal dye absorption into the system, although research is limited.
Many experts believe the chemicals in semipermanent and permanent dyes are not highly toxic and are safe during pregnancy.
Applications such as highlights and hair painting pose even lower risks because the color is applied only to the hair, not the scalp. Pure vegetable dyes, like henna, are also safe alternatives.
How to Get Hair Dye Off Without Irritating Your Skin
When Is the Best Time to Dye Your Hair While Pregnant?
Can You Dye Your Hair During the First Trimester?
Precautions for People With Skin Conditions
Another factor to consider is how your skin reacts to dye. Pregnancy can cause changes in your skin, like sensitivity and rashes. It can also bring underlying genetic conditions, like eczema, to the surface.You may be newly allergic or sensitive to a dye that never bothered you before.
If you have existing skin conditions like eczema or psoriasis, you may be more susceptible to irritation and sensitivity at this time.
An average of 38% of people who use hair dye reported having an allergic reaction.Allergic reactions are typicallylocal to the scalp, face, and neck and can cause itching and burning.
Precautions for Pregnant People
Whether you’re at home or at a salon, ensure these safety precautions are exercised when you dye your hair:
Can You Color Your Hair While Breastfeeding?
Currently, no data on hair treatments whilebreastfeedingis available.
According to experts, a small amount (if any) of the chemicals from the dye would make it into the bloodstream. Therefore, the chance of it entering the milk is unlikely.
Like everyone, pregnant people are unknowingly exposed to toxins daily. Bioaccumulation from othertoxic chemicals, like PFAS (per- and polyfluorinated substances), will likely appear in breast milk, so limiting all known and potential risks, such as hair dye, is something to consider.
Can You Bleach Your Hair During Pregnancy?
If a healthcare provider is on board, bleaching your hair during the second or third trimester of pregnancy is most likely safe.
Summary
8 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Chua-Gocheco A, Bozzo P, Einarson A.Safety of hair products during pregnancy: Personal use and occupational exposure.Canadian Family Physician. 2008;54(10):1386-1388.He L, Michailidou F, Gahlon HL, Zeng W.Hair dye ingredients and potential health risks from exposure to hair dyeing.Chem Res Toxicol. 2022;35(6):901-915. doi:10.1021/acs.chemrestox.1c00427American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.Is it safe to dye my hair during pregnancy?.Cooke GM.Biomonitoring of human fetal exposure to environmental chemicals in early pregnancy.Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health, Part B. 2014;17(4):205-224. doi:10.1080/10937404.2014.898167American Pregnancy Association.Hair treatment during pregnancy.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Pregnancy and skin changes.Patel D, Narayana S, Krishnaswamy B.Trends in use of hair dye: a cross-sectional study.Int J Trichology.2013;5(3):140-3. doi:10.4103/0974-7753.125610National Center for Biotechnology Information.Hair treatment.
8 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Chua-Gocheco A, Bozzo P, Einarson A.Safety of hair products during pregnancy: Personal use and occupational exposure.Canadian Family Physician. 2008;54(10):1386-1388.He L, Michailidou F, Gahlon HL, Zeng W.Hair dye ingredients and potential health risks from exposure to hair dyeing.Chem Res Toxicol. 2022;35(6):901-915. doi:10.1021/acs.chemrestox.1c00427American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.Is it safe to dye my hair during pregnancy?.Cooke GM.Biomonitoring of human fetal exposure to environmental chemicals in early pregnancy.Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health, Part B. 2014;17(4):205-224. doi:10.1080/10937404.2014.898167American Pregnancy Association.Hair treatment during pregnancy.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Pregnancy and skin changes.Patel D, Narayana S, Krishnaswamy B.Trends in use of hair dye: a cross-sectional study.Int J Trichology.2013;5(3):140-3. doi:10.4103/0974-7753.125610National Center for Biotechnology Information.Hair treatment.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Chua-Gocheco A, Bozzo P, Einarson A.Safety of hair products during pregnancy: Personal use and occupational exposure.Canadian Family Physician. 2008;54(10):1386-1388.He L, Michailidou F, Gahlon HL, Zeng W.Hair dye ingredients and potential health risks from exposure to hair dyeing.Chem Res Toxicol. 2022;35(6):901-915. doi:10.1021/acs.chemrestox.1c00427American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.Is it safe to dye my hair during pregnancy?.Cooke GM.Biomonitoring of human fetal exposure to environmental chemicals in early pregnancy.Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health, Part B. 2014;17(4):205-224. doi:10.1080/10937404.2014.898167American Pregnancy Association.Hair treatment during pregnancy.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Pregnancy and skin changes.Patel D, Narayana S, Krishnaswamy B.Trends in use of hair dye: a cross-sectional study.Int J Trichology.2013;5(3):140-3. doi:10.4103/0974-7753.125610National Center for Biotechnology Information.Hair treatment.
Chua-Gocheco A, Bozzo P, Einarson A.Safety of hair products during pregnancy: Personal use and occupational exposure.Canadian Family Physician. 2008;54(10):1386-1388.
He L, Michailidou F, Gahlon HL, Zeng W.Hair dye ingredients and potential health risks from exposure to hair dyeing.Chem Res Toxicol. 2022;35(6):901-915. doi:10.1021/acs.chemrestox.1c00427
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.Is it safe to dye my hair during pregnancy?.
Cooke GM.Biomonitoring of human fetal exposure to environmental chemicals in early pregnancy.Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health, Part B. 2014;17(4):205-224. doi:10.1080/10937404.2014.898167
American Pregnancy Association.Hair treatment during pregnancy.
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Pregnancy and skin changes.
Patel D, Narayana S, Krishnaswamy B.Trends in use of hair dye: a cross-sectional study.Int J Trichology.2013;5(3):140-3. doi:10.4103/0974-7753.125610
National Center for Biotechnology Information.Hair treatment.
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