Hair Treatments while Pregnant

From highlights and perms to coloring and hair dyes, a review of what is known about hair treatments during pregnancy.

Dec 5, 2006 Brenda Lane

There is little known about the potential risks of chemicals in many forms of hair treatments today. However, mothers can reduce the potential risk to their baby.

If you are pregnant and wondering whether you can safely get highlights or a perm, the truth is that very little is known about the effects of specific chemicals in many of the hair treatments in your favorite salon.

Here is what we know. All hair treatments (perms, dyes, highlights) have chemicals which can be absorbed into the mother's body through her scalp. There is also the potential risk from the fumes in the salon, even if the treatments are being done on someone else.

Some good rules of thumb about colors, highlights and perms during pregnancy are:

  1. Avoid all hair treatments when the growing baby is most vulnerable in the first trimester.
  2. Reduce exposure from fumes as much as possible (sitting near an open window in the salon for example.)
  3. Use only highlights and foil colorings since the dye does not have as much contact with the mother's scalp as an all-over coloring.
  4. Use a vegetable-based coloring such as henna.

Would you get a perm or coloring during pregnancy? Share your opinion.

For the complete set of articles on what to avoid during pregnancy, click here.

The copyright of the article Hair Treatments while Pregnant in Pregnancy & Childbirth is owned by Brenda Lane. Permission to republish Hair Treatments while Pregnant in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
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Comments

Jan 2, 2007 12:34 PM
Carolyn Chambers Clark :
I've been using henna for years, ever since my hair started to thin and fall out. The henna thickens hair shafts and stopped my hair from falling out.

You can get henna at many health food stores or online, too.

Best,

Carolyn
http://addadhd.suite101.com
Sep 9, 2008 5:42 AM
Guest :
So why then have I heard that you can't get dark henna tattoos when pregnant?
Dec 16, 2008 4:39 AM
Guest :
So why then have I heard that you can't get dark henna tattoos when pregnant?
Mar 4, 2009 12:41 PM
Guest :
well ima motha-2-be and i get perms would that really harm my baby im only weeks!!!
4 Comments