As long as the mother is aware that the majority of hair dyes contain some toxic chemicals, breastfeeding mothers are safe to dye their hair while doing so.

You can find all the details you require about breastfeeding and hair dye in this article.

Can I Dye My Hair While Breastfeeding

Your worries are valid if you are worried about how changing your hair color while breastfeeding might affect you. After all, some fairly toxic chemicals can be found in hair dye. like sodium lauryl sulfate, titanium dioxide, paraphenylenediamine, ammonia, to name a few.

Precautions for Dyeing Hair During Breastfeeding

It is wise to take the following precautions even though hair dyeing while nursing has no effect on the baby.

1. Choose Temporary Hair Dyes

The surface of the hair is where temporary hair dyes remain; the hair shaft is not affected. They might be less dangerous than semi-permanent and permanent hair dyes, which might get into the hair shaft and enter the bloodstream.

2. Use Softer Colors

Darker colors might contain more harmful colorants and other color-fixing substances. You can choose hair dyes with a lower concentration of substances that enter the bloodstream if you go for lighter or softer shades.

3. Check for Potentially Harmful Ingredients

Check the contents of the hair dye irrespective of dyeing your hair at home or the salon. Permanent hair dyes may be more likely to contain potentially dangerous substances like phenols, aromatic amines, and hydrogen peroxide.
Below are some of the potentially harmful compounds that may be found in different types of dyes .

• Aromatic amino compounds
• Naphthylamine
• Phenylenediamines
• Toluene
• Ammonia
• Silver
• Mercury
• Arsenic
• Lead
• Bismuth
• Pyrogallol
• Alcohol and its compounds

4. Do a Strand Test

To determine whether the hair dye is appropriate, test a small amount on a strand of hair and a patch of the scalp. Hair dye allergy is a common condition. The risk may be higher if you choose permanent hair dyes, which may contain paraphenylenediamine (PPD), which may cause allergies in a few people. Skin rash, irritation, and itching are common symptoms of an allergic reaction.

Read More: How Long Does Hair Dye Last – When It Fade Completely?

5. Dye Hair When Away from the Baby

Dye your hair away from the baby in a well-ventilated space. Volatile substances, which can irritate a baby’s airways, can be found in even the safest hair dyes. Before handling the infant again, take a shower and rinse the dye off.

Before breastfeeding your child, wash your hair. Aroma of hair dye can induce a runny nose and coughing in your baby. Due to the delicate nature of your baby’s skin, any contact with hair dye may cause a life-threatening allergy.

When Can You Dye Your Hair After Pregnancy?

There should be no reason why you would need to wait a specific amount of time to color your hair after pregnancy or breastfeeding as long as you are following some general precautions:

• You are in a well-ventilated room and using non-toxic hair dye.
• You or your stylist are being careful not to allow the hair dye to soak into your skin.
• On your scalp, you do not apply powdered bleach lighteners.

Is Hair Color Safe for Breastfeeding Moms?

We frequently hear to be very cautious about what we expose ourselves to while nursing. This is because certain substances may enter a mother’s bloodstream and end up in her breast milk. Have you ever had to pump and dump after a series of prescribed medications?

However, there are other hair dyes available that don’t have the same harmful ingredients, and I’ll share some of those with you further down.

Will Dying Your Hair Affect Breastfeeding?

There is no proof that hair dye, hair products, or hair treatments have any impact on a nursing mother’s milk. Only a small amount of the chemicals in hair color are absorbed into your skin, despite the fact that some may accidentally touch your skin. It is therefore unlikely to have an impact on your breast milk.

Nevertheless, if you’d prefer to err on the side of caution, limiting your exposure to potentially harmful chemicals while breastfeeding is still a wise decision. You might take extra precautions and hold off on nursing your child for a couple of hours if you choose to dye your hair while nursing.

Conclusion

A breastfeeding mother can safely dye her hair as long she is aware that there are some toxic chemicals in most hair dyes. When coloring your hair, it’s best to use a non-toxic product in a well-ventilated area and try to keep your skin as far away from the color as you can. Although there is no proof that hair dye affects breast milk, it is probably best to err on the side of caution. Using the lightener in foils and avoiding contact with the scalp will allow you to bleach your hair while still nursing.

Frequently Asked Questions