Hair dye and baby

During pregnancy and breastfeeding, it's especially important to maintain good care of ourselves to eat healthy foods, avoid caffeine, and use organic products on our skin and hair. Debate continues about whether using hair dye is safe for the fetus.

Many commercial hair dyes contain potentially dangerous chemicals, such as 4-methoxy-m-phenylenediamine, which, according to the FDA, "can penetrate your skin and has been determined to cause cancer in laboratory animals." Err on the side of caution and avoid hair dye during pregnancy and breastfeeding.

If you must dye your hair, do it some time after the first trimester, which is a critical period for development of the baby's nervous system. Use rubber gloves at all times and try to space the dyeing sessions so that they occur as little as possible during pregnancy and breastfeeding. If you have your hair done professionally, ask for foils, which keep dye off the scalp.

Another option is to use all-natural, organic hair dye, which is available from your health food store. Or make your own temporary dye at home. Blondes can enrich hair colour with a chamomile infusion or a spritz of lemon juice. Brunettes and redheads can rinse hair in strong coffee to bring out highlights.

Source: birth.com, fda.gov.