Should Breastfeeding Women Color Their Hair?

Women are generally not recommended to dye their hair when they are pregnant. The dye that gets into the bloodstream and the toxins which are inhaled are not thought to be healthy for the baby. While there is not a substantial amount of evidence that shows that hair dye during pregnant is all that harmful, many believe that it is not safe and try to avoid it. What happens when a woman is breastfeeding, however? Is it okay for her to dye her hair then? Here are some of the things that all women should know about the relationship between hair dye and breastfeeding. 

Should Breastfeeding Women Color Their Hair? 

According to La Leche League International, there is no evidence that a baby who is being breastfed will be affected by hair dye. While the hair dye will enter the bloodstream through the skin, it is not enough to cause any significant harm to the baby during breastfeeding. 

There is a greater risk that a larger amount of hair dye may enter the bloodstream is the woman has an unhealthy scalp. Having scratches on the scalp makes the skin more open to the hair dye, so it is important to make sure that you do not dye your hair during this time.

Are There Safer Alternatives to Hair Dye? 

Individuals who are still worried about the chemicals from the hair dye entering their bloodstream through the skin may want to consider other options. It may be ideal to think about hair highlighting instead. Highlights do not come in direct contact with the scalp so there is not a risk of chemicals making their way into the bloodstream. 

There are also organic and henna hair dyes on the market to choose from, which consist of mostly natural ingredients. This can be another option for women who fear that hair dye during breastfeeding can have a negative impact on their baby. Since these products are less likely to contain harmful chemicals, it is likely that you will feel much better about using them while you are breastfeeding.

Overall, it is safe to say that the risks involved with hair dye and breastfeeding are minimal. Since there is no medical evidence which shows that hair products can have a negative impact on breastfeeding, women can dye their hair or use other hair products and feel rest assured to know that it will not harm their babies. Breastfeeding women who fear that there is still a risk of chemical exposure to the baby may want to consider safer alternatives to calm their nerves, however.