Should you dye your hair when you’re pregnant?

There’s been an unwritten rule (and ongoing fear) that women shouldn’t dye their hair during their pregnancy. This is usually because of the panic around the undue harm to the baby in-utero caused by harmful chemicals in hair dyes.

Why are pregnant women warned against dyeing their hair?

Ammonia and peroxide are hands down the main culprits of this fear-mongering. The classic side effects of overuse of these products being burning eyes, lung damage, itching and extreme redness. However, it’s noted that these effects are often only associated with regular, constant use - meaning hairdressers are more in the line of danger than clients who are getting their hair dyed a couple of times a year. 

Beyond that, there are a few studies that link the use of hair dye to an increased risk of certain types of cancer, but unfortunately, there hasn’t been extensive medical research into using hair dye during pregnancy. 

That means that most expectant mothers need to rely on the advice from experts in the field, so to help out we’ve collated all the info out there so you can make the best decision for your pre-natal health.

If you’re expecting, when should you dye your hair?

Most experts advise mothers-to-be to hold off until their second trimester to dye their hair. And, to be honest, you’ll be ready by then for a top up - what with all the pregnancy hormones running through your body and stimulating extra hair growth. Plus, there’s a chance your hair may have changed texture too, so having some one-on-one time with your hairdresser to download some new haircare tips will super helpful too. 

Why the second trimester? Well, this is because in the first 12 weeks of your pregnancy are a point of major development for your baby. Organs are taking shape, muscles and vocal chords are forming and even things as tiny as nail beds and hair follicles are growing. So if there was a time to stay away from harmful chemicals, it would be in that first, precious trimester.

That being said, the recommendations for waiting until the second trimester are all tied to the problematic chemicals in hair dye products, so if you follow the last tip in this post then you’re all good!

What treatments can I get done if I do want to dye my hair during pregnancy?

Opt for highlights, lowlights and balayage over a full dye jobs and root touch ups

Root touch ups and a root-to-tip colour changes are classified as a ‘single-process colour’ which means the dye is directly applied to your hair and scalp. The scalp exposure means the pores in your skin may soak up some of the chemicals, and they may enter your bloodstream. Therefore the safer alternative is going for techniques that are painting directly onto the hair shaft rather than the scalp. Think highlights, lowlights, balayage or even frosting (though we know that hasn’t been a popular chose since the 90s!). 

If you still want to fully dye your hair during pregnancy, make sure you’re using safe, gentle dyes

All of these scary side effects are diminished when you dye your hair with safe, organic colouring products - just like the ones we use at ENOUGH Studio. Ammonia-Free bases, gentle products and pregnancy-safe options are all available at Adelaide’s only holistic hair salon and that’s because owner and founder, Lisa, has prioritised using these safe, environmentally-friendly in her salon. 

This means that dying your hair throughout your pregnancy (yes, even in the first trimester) is safe at ENOUGH. So if you’re looking for a healthy way to top up your colour, book in an appointment with us today.