Can you bleach your hair while pregnant?
Emily Gulla
WriterAre you pregnant and are wondering whether it's safe to bleach your hair? We've got all the information you need on bleaching your hair during pregnancy - plus, all the safety precautions you should take.
Pregnancy comes with a lot of rules about what you can and can't do. And of course, you only want to do what's safe for you and your baby. So, if you're wondering whether you can bleach your hair during pregnancy, here's everything you need to know.
The official advice on whether you can bleach your hair while pregnant
The NHS says that it's fine to use hair dye when you're pregnant, though they don't specify whether this applies to bleach too.
According to NCT, however, hair bleach is also fine to use, as it's unlikely that the chemicals from hair dye or bleach will be absorbed into your body in order to reach your baby through the placenta. However, it's worth noting that this may be more likely if you have burns or abscesses on your scalp.
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The main ingredient in hair bleach is hydrogen peroxide, and the UK government say that exposure to hydrogen peroxide during pregnancy is not likely to cause damage to your unborn baby.
Still, some experts recommend that you wait until after your first trimester (the first 12 weeks of pregnancy) before bleaching or dying your hair, to be on the safe side. This is because any the risk of chemical substances harming your baby is much lower after this point.
How to bleach your hair safely during pregnancy
If you're bleaching your hair yourself at home, there are ways that you can reduce the risk of any chemicals harming your baby. You may want to:
- wear gloves
- leave the bleach on for the minimum time stated on the box
- open the windows and make sure the room is well-ventilated
- rinse your scalp once the bleach is applied
- always follow the instructions on the box
- always do a strand test before bleaching your hair (use the instructions on the box or speak to your hairdresser for advice)
- wait until after the first 12 weeks of pregnancy, when the risk of chemicals harming your baby is much lower
- just do highlights, rather than a full bleach (more information on this below)
Similarly, if you go to a salon, you should make sure they're applying bleach safely, though they likely will be already. Still, it's worth mentioning to your hairdresser that you're pregnant.
Even if you bleached your hair often before becoming pregnant, it's also worth noting that pregnancy can affect your hair's normal condition, so you should be aware of this when bleaching during pregnancy.
Your hair may react differently to bleaching than it usually does, and it might become more or less absorbent, frizzy or unpredictable. So make sure to take extra care.
Alternatives to bleaching your hair during pregnancy
If you're concerned about bleaching your hair during pregnancy, you might decide to opt for an alternative hair dying technique while you're pregnant.
If you're worried about bleaching all of your hair while you're pregnant, a good alternative is just to do highlights.
With highlights, you're only applying the bleach to strands of your hair, meaning the bleach won't really touch your scalp. This will mean the chemicals in the bleach are only absorbed by your hair, and not your scalp or your bloodstream.
Plus, you'll be using less of the product, so you might find highlights a better option than a full bleach.
As another option, rather than bleaching your hair, you may want to colour it using a hair dye alternative while you're pregnant. Semi-permanent pure vegetable dyes, such as brown henna, are a safe alternative (avoid black henna, though).
Naturtint is a semi-permanent vegetable-based dye available in a range of colours. See more details here at Amazon.
You could even have a go at the old trick of squeezing lemon juice on your hair and sitting in the sun for a few hours. It won't have a dramatic effect, but may help you go a shade or two lighter.
Looking for more information on your wellbeing during pregnancy? Read our articles below or share advice with others in the forum.
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