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Getting Hair Done When Pregnant

I am 10 weeks 5 days.  I have been told by my first doctor that it was ok to get my hair highlighted when I was 12 weeks.  My DH says he doesn't want me to.  He says that if our child comes out with something wrong he will blame me b/c I want to get my hair done.  I want others opinion on this.  I want to prove him wrong and show him that it is ok.  I want to get it done b/c my hair looks awful.  The lady that does my hair says she does it all the time and it is very common.  My DH says that he could find 6 doctors that would say it is not ok and I was like NO way.  I know that I could find lots of doctors that would say it is prefectly fine.  Can I get some opinions?  Anything would help to prove him wrong! HELP!!!!!!!!!
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Avatar universal
I GOT MY HAIR HIGHLIGHTED WHEN I WAS PREGNANT WITH MY SON, HE'S ALMOST 4 AND IS PERFECT! IM PREGNANT NOW AND GOT MY HAIR HIGHLIGHTED AT 16 WEEKS AND JUST HAD IT DONE TODAY AND I'm ALMOST 28 NOW! MY STYLIST USES FOIL AND SO IT DOESN'T TOUCH MY SCALP AND IF IT DID I DON'T THINK IT WOULD BE THAT BIG OF A DEAL!
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Avatar universal
this a board where women are supposed to help each other. Anna, why would you say something so angry and so hateful to a perfect stranger just trying to get some feedback and opinions? You dont know anyone on this board well enough to be stating whether or not they should have children. That is completely uncalled for and Im sorry for whatever is going on in your life to cause you to act this way. I am 12 weeks and 4 days pregnant. My OB said to wait until the first trimester was over and that it was completely fine. No dangers and just what everyone else seems to be saying, well ventialted and if leery about it, try and avoid the scalp. Im sure hair stylist are used to working with pregnant clients. I dyed my hair with my first child and he turned out beautifully. Good luck to all those going to the salon! and I guess you can acusse someone of being vain? but I think its perfectly ok and healthy to want to feel good about the way you look. I know I do and I am a very loving and caring mother that cares deeply about my children.
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Avatar universal
WOW.....read this thread and im floored.  i am a hairstylist,  have been for 9 years.  sorry, anna78, but i am an educated individual as well.  sorry to disappoint you but i just dont "do hair"  i have gone to school to learn my trade, and i do it well thank you very much (fyi...my trades course is 12 full months...a paramedic or fireman/woman, in this province at least,  only go to school for 9-10 months to learn their program, and they save lives for a living.  go figure)  i have had retraining and updating all over the place and have travelled throughout canada to have advanced classes.  we do not learn how to cut a straight line and thats it....we work with chemicals daily, and put those chemicals on ppls heads, we NEED to know the effects and safety of what we do.  this is my career, and when using these types of products and ingredients, i dont fool around with someones health, not a woman or her fetus. our program does emcompass the safety issues of haircoloring and other chemical services during pregnancy, as well as its involvement in other health issues.  my training has said time and time again that haircoloring during pregnancy is TOTALLY safe.  it will not sink into your scalp and suck its way down to the baby and harm him/her somehow.  it is true however, that sometimes the hormones involved in pregnancy can cause the color that you have been using for years to suddenly not react as you have anticipated...ie/ not cover your grey entirely or be more ash/warm than normal, wash out or fade quicker, etc.  thats something woman in general have to deal with, hormones do all sorts of funny things to you sometimes.  surgery, and anethestic can sometimes have the same effects on your hair in that it doesnt respond the same way you are used to.
and for the record....i am 31 weeks pregnant, working as a hairdresser, and my ob /gyn has NO issues with the safety of my chosen career...GASP!!  imagine that.......
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Avatar universal
um...baby or hair...lemme see...hmmm...jeez--that's a hard one...
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Avatar universal
Wow Anna78... I think you need to speak to a Doctor as well, maybe you should bring up the topic of depression of some sort, i cant believe you would even write that to someone! You kno what i think your problem is, i think you are having a tough time having kids and i think your taking it out on Jah02e .... and to Jah02e, im a hairstylist and every single women that has told me they were preganant all i need from them was a note from their doctor saying it was o.k and they had no problem getting the notes... my opionion is get a second opionion... Because i think your self esteem is just as important and if your depressed how good can that be for the baby.. <3
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Avatar universal
How vain are you?  By the way you are speaking, I dont even think you should have a child.  Your doctor specifically told you not to color your hair and if something were to happen to your baby, he would blame it on you.  But yet you go on stating you want to prove him wrong becuase he is wrong.  You are trusting a bunch of women who have never been to medical school and who does hair for a living rather than an educated individual who has gone through medical school?  You should be worried about your childs health and not trying to prove your doctor wrong.  I dont think your doctor was even saying that coloring your hair will lead to complications on your baby, I think he was just telling you not to as a precaution.  I feel sorry for your child because you seem like a selfish individual who does not want to be wrong.
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Avatar universal
I want to get my hair highlighted, but i am due sometime this month (september) and i just want to make sure that it is safe for my baby because if she would have health problems I would feel like it is my fault... Some people tell me  it is perfectly safe and others say don't take the risk your due any day wait. Well i think my hair looks like **** and i think that if i got my hair done it would make me feel better about my self before and after i have my little girl.. also my boyfriend wants me to make sure it is safe for our baby first but everyone i talk to says different things and i don't know what to believe???? what should i do some body please help i can't even stand to look at my self in the mirror any more.. I really need some advice.......
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Avatar universal
i am a hairdresser and am 14 weeks pregnant i was also unsure about whether to colour my hair as me and the other stylist thoght we may be able to put a semi permanent colur on my hair so i went to see my doctor we looked it up on the internet and nothing has actually been proven to say that colouring hair is wrong when pregnant but there have been a few cases of misscarriage after colouring hair i was also trained at college not to colour pregnant womens hair the question u want to be asking ur self is would u rather harm ur baby or look good i no i wont be colouring mine
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Avatar universal
Have you though about natural dys that color your hair without chemicals.  if all you are tying to do is cover greys, the natural dys would be a good idea.  look it up on google as i dont remember the name but my best friend during pregnancy colored hers with it and everything was alright.
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Avatar universal
i found out i was regnant last month, and have already asked my doctor about hair coloring and tanning beds. he said all is fine, just use discretion.
make sure your hair salon is well ventilated (open door or window) and in the tanning bed not to let your body get too hot. he said if i wanted to go once or twice a week for 10 minutes that would be fine.
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Avatar universal
I know others already posted it, but I've always read (even in American Baby magazine) that highlighting is okay, but avoid coloring. It is not fully known what could happen, but it is best not to let ammonia and peroxide sink into your scalp skin.
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Avatar universal
I'm almost 5 months, and I still do my hair. Stay with the same color, because your hormones might not let your hair take to another color. Very few stylists wont do it, but plenty will. Seriousely, why make a women feel ugly when these are the most glowing months of her time?
Dye isnt bad and I dont believe in the whole "sinking into the scalp' thing. What's the baby going to do, come out with purple skin and hair? c'mon if anything, its the fumes that will make you sick, and just bring in a painters mask. If someone can show you actual scientific proof and injuries caused, then let that stop you, if not, enjoy being beautiful. :-)
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Avatar universal
I was told during all of my pregnancies NOT to color. I know that it has been a few years since I have been pregnant but I don't think the risks have changed that much. I have to agree with kjsk that it just isn't worth taking a chance. If there is even the slightest doubt or negative research then just be patient. Aferall it won't be long before the color of your hair is the least of your concerns, you'll be happy just to find a second to brush it and throw it into a ponytail.LOL
This is one of those times that it is better to be safe than to be right. Sorry you aren't getting the positive reinforcements you were hoping for but shopgirl works in a salon and even she agrees that it's a no no.
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Avatar universal
Well, I wasn't looking for that one person to say ok I already knew I just wanted others that have had their hair done to tell me how they went about getting it done...what their doctor said...ect....I wasn't looking for others to tell me not to cause I am going to anyways...but I just wanted the ones that have or that are going to do it to repsond.  I know that sounds crazy, but I found several websites that women posted on that they said they did and their babies are ok or that they were going to.  I just wanted others opinions.
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Avatar universal
HELLO, WELL IF YOU REALLY WANT TO TRY ASKING AROUND TO OTHER DOCTORS. I AM 21 WEEKS AND I HAVE REAL BAD GRAY HAIR AND ASKED MY OB LIKE WHEN I WAS 14 WEEKS IF I COULD DYE MY HAIR AND SHE SAID THERE WAS NO PROBLEM THAT WHEN I DID DO IT FOR ME TO HAVE IT DONE IN A WELL VENTILATED AREA. I DID MINE AT HOME OUTSIDE ON MY BACK PORCH. AND SO FAR EVERYTHING SEEMS TO BE FINE. BUT THAT IS JUST ME AND WELL I GUESS IT FINALLY COMES DOWN TO WHAT YOU ARE COMFORTABLE WITH.GOOD LUCK AND GOD BLESS YOU AND YOUR LITTLE ANGEL.
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Avatar universal
Thanks!  I have talked to several people that did it while they were pregnant and all of their babies are fine.  I am just gonna do some highlighting.  I have to cause it is driving me crazy.  I am 100% sure that everything will be ok.  I am just going to wait until after my first trimester to do it and I might do some low lights so I won't have to get it done that often.  I have dark brown hair and I highlight it blonde and over time with all the highlighting I have done my hair is more blonde and so my roots are horrible.  Thanks for your advice!
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Avatar universal
P.S. Hair color has come a LONG way in the years... Even 11 year olds are dying their hair these days. My philosophy is, if its safe enough to buy in a box, its safe enough to use. :-)
But remimber your hormones are crazy, do a test piece of hair to make sure it takes.
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Avatar universal
if you are 100% sure that coloring your hair while pregnant is okay then why did you ask? most of these posts (even hairdressers) suggested not to but you decided to go go ahead and color/highlight anyway. you were just looking for that 1 person to say go ahead. ultimatly its your decision but ya never know if there are any long term effects on a baby/child from inhaling the fumes (like add/adhd learning disabilities...)waaay back no one thought smoking while pregnant would do harm. one just never knows.
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Avatar universal
I also just wanted others opinions are far as with their DH and if they went through the same thing.  Thanks for your advice though I appreciate it.
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Avatar universal
my friend who always gets her hair colored at the salon was pregnant and they would not do her hair. me, i color my hair at home and when i was pregnant heard that you should not so i didnt do it. whether there are reports that haircoloring while pregnant is safe, there seem to be more reports that it is not.  personally, i'd rather have a bad hair day then potentially harm my baby. i wouldnt want to take the chance.  
there is so much you can do to make your hair look good (without coloring it)so you feel good/attractive. sounds like your husband isnt bothered by your hair now. he would probably be more turned on by your decision not to color your hair while pregnant than what your hair would look like if you did do it.
my philosophy..if you are questioning it this much and research says not to..then theres your answer. even if its not the one you were looking for.
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Avatar universal
hairdressers do not use i cant remember the name there used to be something poisonus in dye but now there isnt il have to reserch and find the name of it its all safe now this question has been asked on this forum several times the name of the chemical will be on one of those i always go to the hair dressers when im pregnant no trouble hear big 9 pound babys.what about the amount of hairdressers that are pregnant dosent do them or there babys any harm.
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I always get my hair foiled.  So I won't be doing any harm as long as it doesn't go to my roots.  Well, thats what everyone has said.
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Avatar universal
I work at a hair salon and from what all of the hair stylists that I work with have said, I would not recommend getting your hair colored while pregnant. As a salon, we will sometimes refuse clients if we know they are pregnant. It's a big chance to take when some doctors say it is ok and some say it is not ok. If you are really desperate and you think your hair is looking bad, all I can suggest is that you avoid color which goes directly on your scalp which can get into your body, and try highlights or lowlights instead which only touch your hair and not your scalp.
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