[slygirrl]

I realize this question is going to make me tread on murky waters but I really need to know because it is driving me crazy!!

Are there really any risks associated with dying your hair while you're pregnant? I know they say don't do it in the first tri, but what about later on? I have no intentions of doing myself, I was going to go get it professionally done because I know hair dye sometimes won't react well because of the elevated hormone levels, so I figure a salon can help make it so it doesn't look quite so horrendous (as it would I'm sure if I did it myself). My mom's hair dresser said she would do it. This is just embarassing but I do have some gray areas in my hair and I really need to get them taken care of (I'm only 27 I'm too young for this, lol), maybe for selfish reasons-- like I feel not so pretty right now and maybe this would help, but I don't want to place my pregnancy at risk...... Most of you ladies seem to have the answers to everything how about this one?

[JeanLynn81]

The reason you are not supposed to dye your hair in the first trimester, is not beccause it will harm the fetus, but simply because there's a chance the color will not stick becuase of your hormone levels.

It's perfectly safe and do-able now. Go pamper yourself-you deserve it!

[twinzplus3]

See now I would disagree with Jean. Totally safe but my hair grows like unwanted weeds when I'm pregnant. If I were the dying hair type I would have to do it at least three or four times to maintain it during the pg. But definitely pamper yourself!

[MommaColleen]

I have been dying mine (did with my 1st 2 PG’s as well). I figure if I can't get it permed like I so desperately need (any my natural hair is straight as a board), I at least want my dull, yucky roots gone.

[slygirrl]

So then would it honestly matter if I did it myself??? I know breathing in the ammonia is bad no matter whether you're pregers or not but if I can do it myself and not have it really matter... or do they use safer stuff at salons? I'm just dying it a darker shade of brown (it'll fade out anyway to a lighter color in a few weeks) so I'm not aiming for anything difficult...

[MommyDee]

My best girlfriend is a master stylist in the salon chain where she works (I'm all proud of her for it lol). She says that salon color is gentler on the hair and I can actually vouch for that -- I've used box colors before, and in comparison to the salon color, they really roughed up my hair. Box color also tends to build up more on your hair, making it difficult to strip out or color over. Also, a professional can mix the colors more precisely to get the desired result. You're still going to get the fumes to some extent regardless of whether you have the color done in a salon or at home.

Personally, I usually have my hair lightened first to give more of a punch to my favorite Chili Red (and yup, that's a screaming red lol), which means my hair is processed twice. However, since I got pg I switched to a color that has a similar red tone in a darker color that requires only a single process; it keeps the exposure to fumes to a minimum and is also easier on hormonally unpredictable hair lol. One suggestion, if you decide to go with a box color, go with a semi-permanent rather than a permanent -- easier on the hair, and easier to get rid of if it doesn't come out as expected.

[MommaColleen]

I'm cheap and do it at home. I open both bathroom windows, turn on the overhead exhaust fan thingie and also have a fan in the window pulling the fumes right out the window.

[mama2riley]

I do it at home and I did it during both my pregnancies with no problems. Have fun!

[wanttobemommy]

i always did my own hair my sister and mom and I are all color freaks and never did either one of them have a problem with dying their hair. I personally havent dyed mine because it is growing so fast and I go from blonde to red or black or brown. (i used to love being a blonde but now anything is better lol) So i dont want to have to try and keep up. so I am letting it grow out while I am pregnant and once baby comes I am treating myself to a hair cut and color

[LeanyBean]

I've always heard that it is perfectly safe to color your hair while pregnant. The reason I have heard to avoid it during teh first trimester is because of the fumes. But being how much hormones do change throughout your body during pregnancy may cause an undesired result.