Breast Feeding and Dying My Hair ~ Is This Safe for the Baby?

Updated on November 11, 2010
M.. asks from Nashville, TN
11 answers

I am about to give birth to my 4th child any day now and I will be breast feeding for about a year.

I want so bad to dye my hair from dark brown to blonde or get heavy high lights.
Can I do this and still breast feed and would the baby be ok?

I don't get my hair dyed so I don't know if it's ok for the baby.

Thank you mama's for your advice.

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J.B.

answers from Houston on

I got mine highlighted will no ill effects, go for it!! I asked my OB and she said it was just fine:)

2 moms found this helpful

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A.G.

answers from Houston on

yes!, by all means, get those locks treated, the cons of not getting it done are big.

You need to take care of yourself too, i have breastfed for over 2 years and have died my hair at least 24 times,

2 moms found this helpful
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S.C.

answers from Fort Wayne on

It's totally fine to have your hair colored or to color your own hair while nursing. It's not the hair color that can be harmful, it's the fumes. Just make sure if you do it at home, that the area you're doing it in is well ventilated and try to do it while the baby naps. Again, it's just to keep the baby away from the fumes. If you have it done at a salon, go ahead and take the baby with you :) I always did! Since a salon takes longer, you might have to nurse the baby there. I've never been to a salon where they haven't been considerate of my need to nurse.

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K.G.

answers from Fort Wayne on

go for it just dont bring you child to the salon with you leave him at home.

1 mom found this helpful
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N.K.

answers from Miami on

Interesting, I always dye my hair and never smelled it in my urine, guess I will have to try doing that.

As to dyeing your hair, if you're concerned about the dye entering your bloodstream and milk supply, maybe you can have her use a glaze, semi-permanent color, or an ammonia-free dye that uses plants and other natural compounds. If that isn't possible, then tell her not to put the dye exactly at the root, maybe a half an inch below it, so that it doesn't touch your skull.

Since you want to lighten your hair, you can also try a blonde henna wash, which is totally safe and natural, or chamomile tea. You spray the tea in your hair and sit under the sun and it will gradually lighten it, but may take some time. I would say try lemon and Sun-In spray but since your color is dark, it may actually turn out brassy orange (been there done that)...there is plenty of "how to highlight my hair naturally" and "how to lighten my hair naturally" articles on Google if you're scared of dyes.

If you're concerned about fumes, get a mask from CVS or Walgreens, like the ones people were using during the bird flu scares, and that way you won't breathe in the fumes.

You deserve to pamper yourself and feel beautiful!

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A.G.

answers from Orlando on

Stick to the highlights since it does not touch the scalp. There is an awful lot of chemicals in hairdye and it would be entering your system and thereby getting to the breastmilk as well. If you really want to dye it, then the idea of pumping and dumping for 3-4 days is not bad. Thats what I do if I go out on a date with the hubby and we want to have some drinks. Better safe than sorry! They always seem to find out the bad effects of chemicals years after they have been letting people use it!

Good luck with your delivery!

1 mom found this helpful
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R.S.

answers from Miami on

people do dye their hair but it is better to highlight as this doesn't touch your roots.

I'm still breastfeeding; I've been basically breastfeeding for four years. I had a tiny break when I dried up after six months of pregnancy but I have grey hair now and they told me that I could do low lights as the light won't take to my hair.

I also do a rinse; I had to go darker than my normal hair as again, the light won't take to the grey.

I hope this helps. I'm so used to not being able to drink too much or color my hair or doing anything basically because of the chemicals. I try to watch everything and do what I would do while pregnant. It's all the same even while you're breastfeeding.

1 mom found this helpful

P.M.

answers from Tampa on

Absolutely safe!! Go enjoy a day for yourself getting all prettified! If it was 40-50 years ago, I'd have a different answer, but it's 2010 and it's fine.

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L.H.

answers from Miami on

when i asked my doctor basically the same question during my pregnancy he said it was better to not color hair or do many other cosmetic treatments. any chemicals that go into you also go into the baby.
i am still nursing my 15 month old and get my hair highlighted about every 7 weeks. i only started this though once she was 6 months old and i felt her body was not as fragile anymore. it would be better to not do it until after you are done nursing- but we all know how much better some highlights make us feel.

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A.H.

answers from New York on

the dye goes into your body.. llike when you go to the bathroom for like 2 or 3 days you can smell the dye.. so it's really not good for the baby.... for those days after you dye your hair.. have breast milk frozen.. or use formula.. then just pour out the breast milk from the day or two after the dye.. then resume on day 3 breastfeeding.. i wouldn't use the breast milk from the days right after the dye...

1 mom found this helpful
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A.S.

answers from Chicago on

i am a licensed cosmetologist... if you are going to highlight it you will be fine. when they highlight they dont actually touch your scalp. and even if you were going to do a all over color, you'd be fine. I colored during pregnancy and for all of the 17 months i nursed. my daughter is very smart and healthy!!! so go ahead and color!! If your still concerned.. look into AVEDA. Their color is 97% natural and amazing color!!

Good luck!!!

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