Pregnancy sure comes with a lot of physical changes! You might have seen weight gain, stretch marks, and even acne coming — but did you know that your hair will be different when you are expecting a baby too? More shiny, healthy looking locks and a thicker head of hair are probably some of the best pregnancy signs and symptoms you’ll have. Why does your hair look different while you are pregnant, and what do you need to know about caring for it safely?
Why?
The hormone estrogen is abundant when you are pregnant. Estrogen is responsible for skin changes, faster nail growth, and your thicker hair. When you are not pregnant, you lose around 100 hairs every single day. Around 15% of all your hair is in the so-called “resting stage” which is the last stadium of hair growth before a hair will fall out. At the same time, you will be growing new hair all the time. Estrogen keeps more hair in the growth stage for longer and prevents them from falling out. This results in beautiful, thick locks.
How do you care for your hair during pregnancy?
If you are a regular at the salon, you are probably wondering if you should color your hair during pregnancy. Expectant moms are often concerned about the risks of the chemicals found in hair dyes, but most doctors believe that coloring your hair is quite safe while you are pregnant. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists agrees that there is no evidence that any chemicals (which may come into contact with your scalp while you are waiting) are actually absorbed by the body. But, if you want to be especially cautious, skip permanent dyes during the first trimester and opt to use coloring shampoos instead.
Other hair treatments, like perming and relaxing, may pose more of a danger to unborn babies. Although only only a small amount of these solutions will normally touch your skin while you are having these treatments done, there has been much less research into the risks of the chemicals they contain. Breathing in fumes involved in the treatment is another worry. So, it is probably best to wait until after the first trimester (when all your baby’s crucial organs develop) and to take extra care that the solution doesn’t touch your scalp or any other skin, if possible. Also, make sure that there is proper air circulation in your salon.
Why?
The hormone estrogen is abundant when you are pregnant. Estrogen is responsible for skin changes, faster nail growth, and your thicker hair. When you are not pregnant, you lose around 100 hairs every single day. Around 15% of all your hair is in the so-called “resting stage” which is the last stadium of hair growth before a hair will fall out. At the same time, you will be growing new hair all the time. Estrogen keeps more hair in the growth stage for longer and prevents them from falling out. This results in beautiful, thick locks.
How do you care for your hair during pregnancy?
If you are a regular at the salon, you are probably wondering if you should color your hair during pregnancy. Expectant moms are often concerned about the risks of the chemicals found in hair dyes, but most doctors believe that coloring your hair is quite safe while you are pregnant. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists agrees that there is no evidence that any chemicals (which may come into contact with your scalp while you are waiting) are actually absorbed by the body. But, if you want to be especially cautious, skip permanent dyes during the first trimester and opt to use coloring shampoos instead.
Other hair treatments, like perming and relaxing, may pose more of a danger to unborn babies. Although only only a small amount of these solutions will normally touch your skin while you are having these treatments done, there has been much less research into the risks of the chemicals they contain. Breathing in fumes involved in the treatment is another worry. So, it is probably best to wait until after the first trimester (when all your baby’s crucial organs develop) and to take extra care that the solution doesn’t touch your scalp or any other skin, if possible. Also, make sure that there is proper air circulation in your salon.
