Can You Dye Your Hair While Breastfeeding
Every mother deserves to feel beautiful and confident. Beauty regimens and self-care are all the rage these days. And it’s helping millions of women worldwide.
We live in a fast-paced society where stress is always on peak levels. Work, relationships, and family problems are weighed on a lot of women’s shoulders. Being a mom can add an extra layer of pressure to keep up.
If this sounds like you, then there is no need to feel guilty. Being a mother is a dream come true for a lot, but it can also be a lot of responsibility. That’s why mothers deserve time to feel relaxed and rejuvenated.
A hair treatment is one of the many getaway options mothers can do. Ladies can either visit the salon or do it themselves at home.
But nursing mothers might feel reluctant when wanting to treat their hair. This is especially true for moms who want to dye their hair another color.
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Can You Dye Your Hair While Breastfeeding?
Breastfeeding is a demanding job for any mother. They supply their babies milk that comes straight from their bodies. The nutrients inside a mother will most likely find their way into her breast milk.
There are some things that mothers can’t consume while nursing. Chemicals from these products, such as mercury and caffeine, can be problematic. They can be hinder babies’ growth and cause deficiencies or illnesses.
Harmful chemicals that can get onto the skin or into the body are a big no-no. Exposure to dangerous chemicals can affect a mother’s health and breast milk quality.
Let’s go back to talking about hair dyes. Commercial hair dyes are chemical colorants that can stick on a person’s hair and scalp. These dyes are either semi-permanent or completely permanent.
So are these chemicals dangerous to nursing mothers? There aren’t a lot of scientific studies that can concretely answer this question. However, there have been no accidents of hair dye causing irreversible damages to mothers or babies.
Some chemicals can enter the bloodstream during treatment. But the amount is so minimal that it can’t interfere with mothers’ breast milk supplies.
Does This Mean That All Hair Dye Is Safe?
Hair dyes aren’t made equally. Some might have more chemicals than others which can affect people negatively. Chemicals such as parabens and hydrogen peroxide can cause hair damage and allergic reactions.
Ammonia is one ingredient that mothers should look out for. Ammonia is a chemical found in older and cheaper dyes. It causes swelling in hair cuticles, making them absorb hair dye quicker.
But ammonia is dangerous for mothers and children because of the fumes that it creates. Ammonia fumes are dangerous, especially when people inhale them in large amounts. Ammonia can also cause chemical burns to the skin.
Hair dyes that are filled with chemicals can cause irritation and discomfort for mothers and infants. Sometimes, these dyes can even cause allergies and lung irritation.
Luckily, more hair products are coming out, which removes harmful chemicals, including ammonia. But some people might still be skeptical of commercial hair dyes. That’s why there are more natural, semi-permanent options available in the market.
Hair Dye Alternatives that Are Natural and Chemical-Free
Chemical-free hair dyes are neither potent nor permanent compared to commercial hair dyes. But they are safer and arguably cheaper.
Natural hair dyes are usually products that are found in the kitchen. They are food items that can stain surfaces and objects. This staining factor is why it is used as an alternative hair dye.
Some of the common chemical-free options people can use include:
- Henna
- Coffee
- Juices (carrot juice, beet juice, lemon juice)
- Tea
- Food coloring
These products are safer on the skin and are less likely to cause any allergic reactions. Most of these options are also reversible and are semi-permanent.
To learn more on how to apply natural hair dye, you can click here.
Safety Tips For Dyeing Hair
It’s your personal choice if you want to use chemical or natural products on your hair. Moden hair dye is generally safe and will contain fewer harmful chemicals. Meanwhile, natural hair dye is great for quick treatment and will less likely cause allergic reactions.
Regardless of your choice, some precautionary steps can help avoid accidents. Here are a few tips on how to stay safe while dyeing your hair.
- Read the instructions carefully and thoroughly. Dyeing your hair blindly can lead to hair damage and injuries.
- If you are unsure of dyeing your hair by yourself, ask for help. You can have a friend or loved one over to support you. Alternatively, you can visit a salon and ask for professional help.
- Do a patch test before applying hair dye. Patch tests are done to check for any allergic reactions.
- Use gloves while handling hair dye. The colors can stick to your hands and can be hard to wash off.
- Do the procedure in an open space with good ventilation. The smell of the hair dye can cause dizziness and nausea.
- Keep any children away from the products. Infants and children can either accidentally inhale fumes or ingest colorant.
- And finally, wash up after you dye your hair. Hair dye can stick to surfaces and cause stains.
Conclusion
Women have all the rights to want to pamper and treat themselves. Self-care can either be a massage, a mani-pedi, or a bubble bath soak.
For other ladies, a change of hairstyle is a big mood lifter. But nursing mothers can be concerned if hair dye can affect them and their babies.
Hair dye is generally safe to use for mothers. Only a little bit of chemicals can get into the bloodstream and affect breast milk. There have also been no accidents of nursing mothers suffering because of hair dye.
However, hair dyes can cause allergies, irritation, and fuming. That’s why it’s best to avoid old and cheap hair dye. These dyes contain plenty of toxic chemicals, including parabens, hydrogen peroxide, and ammonia.
Mothers can choose to either use modern hair dyes or natural semi-permanent dyes. These dyes are less likely to cause negative side effects and are safer for the body.
Hair dye is a good option for moms out there who wants to look gorgeous while nursing babies. Nothing should stand in any mother’s way to look stunning and be stress-free.
