Hair chemicals, will they harm your unborn baby?

What’s forbidden and what’s not while you are pregnant

Most women enjoy some form of hair and beauty habit prior to pregnancy. It may be having highlights, colour or even a perm. Highlighting is a hair colouring technique where the artificial hair colour is brushed onto strands of hair rather than being painted onto the scalp.

There are almost as many hairstyles out there in the world as there are women. Once pregnant, choosing a particular style that will suit you can be challenging especially if you are more accustomed to styles that are discouraged for pregnant women. At the same time you need to be smart and to maintain your beauty. Pregnancy is not the time to forget that your husband, fiance or boyfriend needs the same beautiful and presentable you over and over again.

Many pregnant women approach hair treatment with a lot of caution. It is common for most to shy away from hair treatment, perm, and colours during pregnancy because they are not sure what is good and what is harmful.

What do doctors say?

While medical experts are split on some of the issues relating to hairdo procedures and pregnancy, most are hesitant to recommend use of hair colour. Some medics however believe it can be done provided extra caution is taken and a professional hairdresser does the job.
This is because some chemicals used to straighten, curl or colour hair may be absorbed into the blood stream,’ warns Fina Buddy of Ashley’s Hair Salon, Nairobi.

It is good to opt for chemical-free products because medical experts say what you apply on your scalp is absorbed into your body. If chemicals are absorbed into the blood stream it may lead to fetal development problems. It is wise not to colour and perm your hair until you deliver. By staying away from colour and perm, you decrease the risk of something negative happening to your baby as a result of these styles.

If colouring must be done, highlighting is thought to be preferable over scalp colour application.

Perming or straightening hair

In general a professional or experienced hairdresser will not recommend perming or straightening the hair of a pregnant woman. Pregnancy hormones can alter the way your body reacts to different chemicals contained in hairdressing products like perms and relaxers. It is possible that an adverse reaction can leave you with worse hair than when you walked into the salon. Instead of the much anticipated head-turning curls, you could find some of your hair falling off!

Fatigue

You might walk away from the salon feeling dizzy. Professional hairdressers can advise you on hairstyles that do not make you sit down for long hours. This is a time when you should avoid anything that makes you feel uncomfortable.

Here are a few tips to take you through the nine months of your pregnancy
Trimming

Some pregnant women prefer to trim their hair because it is breaking. For others the hair becomes so thick they cannot comb it. Depending on the reason women should ensure they get a professional trim.

Weaves

Full head weaves are recommended because they last long and look smart especially if fixed by a professional. They are also easy to remove.

Plaiting

It’s good for pregnant women to plait corn rows,  which will not consume a lot of their time. The lines should be medium in size and of a style that is comfortable  and easy to tidy up.

When plaiting corn rows, hairdressers should ensure that they are neatly done. Braids are good for women who feel they can endure several hours sitting. Some women go for complicated plaiting or braiding because they want a style that will last long so they do not have to keep going to the salon. Unfortunately if the hairstyle feels uncomfortable after it is done, it takes as much time and effort to unplait the hair, which can lead to fatigue.

The key word here is simplicity.

Driers

‘We advise pregnant women not to use driers,’ says Fina. This is because a drier has a lot of heat that might cause the pregnant woman to feel faint or uncomfortable.
Blow drying should also be avoided because heat is directed to the scalp.’

Relaxers

During the last months of pregnancy, relaxers should be avoided due to the discomfort and demands in upkeep that come along with them. Some pregnant women find the smell of some of the chemicals used in salons unpleasant. Once they become pregnant, some mums-to-be develop a dislike for certain smells. This is natural and should not cause any alarm.

Mercury

Look at the label of every chemical you use to ensure it does not contain mercury. Mercury is harmful to your unborn child.

END: PG 03/40-41

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