Is Hair Dye safe during pregnancy?
Most research shows dyeing your hair in pregnancy is OK. Some wait until after 12 weeks; highlights limit scalp contact.
What the sources say
NHS says most research shows hair dye is safe in pregnancy because little is absorbed through a healthy scalp, though some people wait until after the first 12 weeks. MotherToBaby says treatments used as directed are not expected to greatly raise birth defect risk, and a review found 3–4 uses in pregnancy not concerning. Limit: patch test, gloves, ventilation, minimum time; highlights avoid the scalp. Breastfeeding: little is likely to reach milk.
Common alternatives
Also listed as
box dye, demi-permanent hair color, hair color, hair colour, oxidative hair dye, permanent hair dye, semi-permanent hair dye
Sources
- NHS: Is hair dye safe in pregnancy? (Best Start in Life)
- MotherToBaby: Hair Treatments
- NIH PubMed (peer-reviewed review): Safety of hair products during pregnancy: personal use and occupational exposure (Can Fam Physician, 2008)
- FDA: Hair Dyes
- NIH NIEHS: Cosmetics and Your Health: NIEHS Research Findings (fact sheet, Jan 2024)
Last reviewed . This is general information, not medical advice. Ask your doctor or midwife about your own situation.