“I also used products that did not contain any ammonia. It is also recommended to be in a well-ventilated area as well as being at least in your second trimester, and I followed both of those rules,” says Kourtney.
Dr. Patricia Allen echos the advice of Kourtney’s doctor, saying, “We still know very little about the impact of the many chemicals in hair dye on a developing fetus. These chemicals can be absorbed into the blood stream through the skin of the scalp. Highlighting is considered safer since it is unlikely that these chemicals reach the scalp. Patients should avoid coloring the hair with dye until after the first trimester and recognize that a personal choice to dye the hair during any trimester of pregnancy is still based only on the science of caveat emptor.”
While many moms may be firmly against the practice, clearly not everyone feels that it is on the forbidden list for pregnant women.
Celebrity hairstylist Angelo David, of the Angelo David Salon, weighs in:
“For the longest time, women have been coloring their hair during pregnancy. It is only within the past few years that a growing concern came about hair color affecting pregnancy. There has not been any solid evidence showing causality about the impact of hair color on pregnant women. At the end of the day, it boils down to their choice to have color applied. However, there are couple of hair color options available that would appease their concerns. Using the foil method, such as the Balayage technique, assures no color will touch the scalp. There are also new products that are ammonia-free, such as Redken’s Chromatics line, for those concerned about specific toxic ingredients.”
In the end, the best thing to do is listen carefully to your own doctor’s recommendations and follow them as closely as possible. Then make an informed decision for yourself!