You’ve heard before that it isn’t safe to use hair dyes or hair removal creams while pregnant. Many women ask their doctors about the safety of these products but the conversation seems to stop there. Many women have lots of questions about the safety of continuing to use their favorite products while pregnant.
To get answers to these burning questions, Dr. Jessica Shepherd , an OB/GYN with the University of Illinois at Chicago offers her advice. Dr. Shepherd has an ongoing dialogue with her patients, spends time educating residents and is engaged in research at UIC.
When it comes to hair removal lotions. Dr. Shepherd advises taking a good look at the ingredients. While you would use these products primarily on your legs, some women might struggle with the product’s strong odors. If the product contains barium sulfide powder and also calcium thioglycolate they might be worth skipping. She recommends avoiding products that contain harsh chemicals and dyes.
While there are no supporting studies to the claim that dying or bleaching hair during the first trimester can be harmful, some experts still recommend avoiding this chemical treatment when possible. There is a belief that some of the chemicals can be absorbed through the scalp and into your bloodstream, which could potentially harm a fetus. Dr. Shepherd feels that the chemicals are not highly toxic and therefore pose very little threat to a baby. If you’re going to color your hair at home, use gloves and follow the instructions to avoid leaving color on your curls for longer than necessary.
When it comes to your favorite curl care products, consider using products that are all natural and don’t have parabens or silicones. Avoiding products with harsh chemicals will help keep both you and your curls healthy and happy! Do you have any products that you’d recommend to other pregnant curlies out there? Let us know and read more of what Dr. Shepherd has to say about products here .