Dyeing your hair while breastfeeding: is it possible or not?

In the last weeks before giving birth, first-time pregnant women are already dreaming of getting rid of the belly faster and imagining a beautiful picture - a thin waist, a belt, a smiling butt in her arms - an idyll!

Those women who have already experienced the happiness of motherhood understand that a thin waist is a few months away, but the rest of the care - manicure, skin cleansing and hair coloring - will help them get in order.

When can you dye your hair for the first time after giving birth? Will hair coloring products ruin breast milk? Will the baby refuse the breast if he feels an unpleasant taste and smell? The answers to these and many other questions are in our article.

Is it possible to dye your hair while breastfeeding?

No specific studies have been conducted on this topic. There is no evidence of negative effects of coloring agents while breastfeeding. The effects of coloring agents during feeding have not been proven. And most importantly, there is no confirmation of a negative effect on the baby’s health.

However, there is also no evidence that coloring components do not pass into breast milk. Therefore, mothers are looking for an answer to the question of the harmlessness of paint, which would not negatively affect the quality of milk and the health of the baby. Therefore, coloring must still be treated with caution. Experts give advice on choosing the right dye.

The mechanism of action of hair dye during hepatitis B

The quality of painting depends on the choice of paint and its composition. When purchasing a dye for painting yourself, you must carefully study the contents of the product - its composition must be indicated on the label.

When painting, the mother inhales the chemicals released by the product; after half an hour, the toxic substances contained in the paint penetrate into the blood.

Then they inevitably penetrate into breast milk, which causes allergic reactions and even poisoning in the child. Therefore, it is necessary to use safe formulations or express milk as soon as dyeing is done.

It is not recommended to dye by any means if the skin has open wounds from scratching. Through them, chemicals easily enter the bloodstream. During breastfeeding, a woman’s hormonal background is changed, which can result in an uneven, unexpected color.

Coloring compounds cause an allergic reaction in the mother because she has weak postpartum immunity, and because of this, the body has increased sensitivity to chemicals.

The newest paints do not contain ammonia, which reduces the possibility of allergies. The products are odorless, but contain oil and vitamins and have a positive effect on the hair.

How does it affect lactation?

Coloring preparations for breastfeeding cause allergies due to increased sensitivity to chemical components, since the mother has a weakened immune system.

Painting during hepatitis B leads to:

• to serious allergies in mother and baby;
• to increased hair loss, up to local alopecia;
• to deterioration of hair condition.

Dyeing during breastfeeding weakens the hair roots, they thin out unevenly. The structure of the hair deteriorates, it splits and dries out. Hair coloring will not affect the amount of milk, but its quality will become poor. Therefore, it is important to express milk after completing the procedure, and not to feed milk with toxins to the baby. Painting outdoors helps reduce harmful effects if housing and seasonal conditions allow it. But it is advisable to express milk anyway.

Can it harm a child?

The smell of chemicals harms mother and baby. Vapors from painting release volatile carcinogens, they easily penetrate into the lungs and blood. The bloodstream carries chemicals throughout the body, and they also enter the mother's milk.

This leads to the appearance in the baby:

• allergies;
• poisoning;
• irritations on the mucous membranes of the larynx.

To protect your baby from exposure to toxins, it is recommended to express milk after painting and not give it to your baby. It's not difficult to skip one feeding.

The smell of paint and its effect on the condition of mother and child

It is precisely inhalation of harmful fumes that is most dangerous for both mother and baby. When these odors are inhaled, toxic substances are very quickly transferred into the milk, and then to the baby. As a result, allergic reactions, itching or dermatitis may occur. If it is impossible to avoid staining, then you should use more natural products that do not contain ammonia and other toxic substances.

Methods to reduce harm to children when painting with paint

You need to start with choosing a coloring composition. There must be no ammonia. You should prefer tinted shampoos. They contain substances that strengthen hair and improve its structure.

Coloring is best done in professional salons. Here the craftsmen master non-contact technology, when the paint does not get on the skin, and through it, therefore, into the blood and milk. After dyeing, the master applies a strengthening balm with oils and vitamins to the hair.

Ways to reduce harm:

• dye your hair in a well-ventilated area;
• After painting, walk in the air to ventilate the chemicals;
• before painting, express “clean” milk in order to feed it to the baby over time;
• After painting, you need to express the milk, do not feed it to the baby.

There are many opinions, but mom chooses the coloring composition herself. Experts advise turning to professionals and not skimping on purchasing high-quality paints.

Reviews from mothers

What do those who have already personally tested the effect of the coloring composition on the body of mother and child say about painting?

I dyed my hair 3 months after giving birth and used tinted shampoo. The result turned out to be of high quality, but not long-lasting. After just 2 weeks the paint was washed off. But I didn’t dare try something more durable.

Valentina, 24 years old, Volgograd.

Before giving birth, I used Garnier ammonia-free paint, and I continued to do so during pregnancy and after childbirth. Yes, there is a smell, there were even minor rashes on the baby’s body when I dyed my hair while feeding. Yes, this is a risk, I reproach myself for it, but I always want to look bright and attractive.

Marta, 20 years old, Omsk.

The result after coloring during breastfeeding may be different for each mother. Whether it’s worth experimenting is up to you to decide!

Which means should be preferred?

After giving birth, nursing mothers carefully choose hair coloring products; they are especially afraid of products containing harmful components. Chemicals may not give the desired result, because the mother’s hormone levels have changed. Products containing ammonia and hydrogen peroxide will have a negative effect.

Natural remedies

It is worth looking at the natural dyes that traditional folk medicine offers. Painting is done gradually, with regular washing and rinsing of the hair.

It is recommended to use traditional methods:

• Constantly rinsing after washing with lemon juice evenly whitens the hair, it becomes 1-2 shades lighter and acquires a platinum tint;
• rinsing with a strong chamomile decoction lightens the hair and gives it a golden hue;
• the use of basma is suitable for women who want to get a dark color;
• For lovers of red hair, henna is a good choice.

Folk remedies are completely harmless. If the mother prefers purchased coloring agents, she should adhere to the basic rules to reduce harm.

Non-contact dyeing methods carried out by professional craftsmen will reduce the harm from the use of chemical compounds. Highlighting and coloring work well.

There are paints without harmful substances, but they are not durable and the color washes off quickly. Modern cosmetology offers tint products and pencils for coloring strands.

Ammonia-free paints

A nursing mother expects effective results from hair coloring. Therefore, she should pay attention to products that do not contain ammonia.

There are time-tested products for women with different hair types:

• L'Oreal;
• Schwarzkopf;
• Estelle;
• Chi is the most expensive remedy.

All of these are gentle products, professional cosmetics used in hairdressing salons. Among their variety, you can choose an ammonia-free product for painting your house.

Aggressive ammonia improves the penetration of coloring components into the surface layers of the hair. This is an irreversible action, after which the hair deteriorates and its structure is difficult to restore with cosmetics.

The positive aspects of ammonia-free products:

1. They contain a minimum amount of harmful substances. Therefore, they are good for coloring weakened hair with damaged structure.
2. High-quality preparations without ammonia at the same time heal the hair, because they include natural oil, components that protect the head from the effects of temperature changes and solar ultraviolet radiation.
3. These paints can be used by nursing women whose skin is sensitive and flaky.
4. Ammonia-free products make it possible to obtain a natural shade and have a wide palette that allows you to create a natural effect. Several colorings at intervals over time accumulate dye on the surface of the hair, making the shade vibrant and expressive.

There are also negative sides:

1. Most ammonia-free products retain the coloring effect for only a few weeks, and then you need to apply color again.
2. Ammonia-free paints have low coloring properties. They work well on hair that has not previously been treated with such products.
3. Ammonia-free dyes do not cover gray hair.

In terms of price, such dyes are somewhat more expensive than conventional products, but the need for their frequent use makes maintaining the color quite expensive.

Tinted shampoos and balms

A completely safe alternative for nursing mothers to any coloring products. They quickly change the appearance of a woman and do not harm lactation or the child.

Popular means:

• Cutrin;
• Matrix;
• Estel;
• Irida;
• Schwarzkopf;
• L'oreal;
• Tonic;
• Wella;
• Kapous;
• Rocolor;

Toning shampoos require special rules of use and consideration of hair type. Before using such a tonic, you should consult a cosmetologist. You should use the selected tonic regularly, after washing your hair 2-3 times. It is better to work with gloves so that your hands remain unpainted. Shampoos have a cumulative effect, and with each application the hair becomes brighter and shinier.

Positive aspects of using tinted shampoos:

• they do not contain harmful components;
• completely safe for nursing mothers;
• their regular use is allowed;
• a wide selection allows you to choose a product for your hair type;
• covers gray hair well.

Shampoos and balms with a tint effect are affordable and have a wide selection of brands. Their constant use restores hair due to the inclusion of vitamins, herbal ingredients, and minerals. They nourish, strengthen hair, stimulate its active growth.

Negative sides:

• may cause allergies to dyes;
• used no more than 1-2 times a week;
• The dyes do not penetrate the hair, but cover it with a film, because of this the shade changes by no more than 3 tones.

But even when buying shampoos and conditioners, nursing mothers need to carefully read what is written on the packaging or on the bottle itself. It is necessary to exclude the purchase of brands containing components designated as sodium lauryl sulfate, sodium laureth sulfate, coco sulfate, PEG. These are chemicals that can interfere with breastfeeding, even damage your hair.

Natural hair coloring products

After pregnancy and childbirth, hair loses its vitality, and natural dyes can give it color and restore its healthy appearance. Henna and basma have been known for many centuries, and if you are not entirely sure of the safety of chemical dyes or tinted hair balms, use natural dyes. Distributing natural mixtures on the hair is a little more difficult than conventional paste dyes, but their benefits are more obvious due to the absence of harmful compounds in the composition.

Table of colors obtained when applying henna, basma or their combination on light hair

Henna, basma, chamomile and lemon in hair coloring

Here are some tips on how to get the natural color you want:

1. Chestnut color. There are 2 ways to obtain this shade using natural ingredients. Dilute henna and basma separately, in accordance with the instructions on the packages, then combine the resulting paste in a 1:1 ratio. Keep in mind that henna loses its properties when diluted with hot water, but basma needs a temperature of at least 85 degrees. You need to mix them together at a temperature that is comfortable for the scalp. Try coloring a strand of your hair first. Then apply to hair and rinse off after sufficient time to achieve desired color. Or mix alum (25 g) purchased at a pharmacy with half a glass of chopped green walnuts. Pour the resulting mixture with 50 ml of water and 70 ml of vegetable oil and bring to a boil. Cool and apply to hair. Wash off after 50 minutes.
2. Blue-black. Mix one part of henna with two parts of basma.
3. Bronze. Mix one part of basma with two parts of henna.

An ordinary field chamomile can give a golden hue to blond hair. Half a glass of its dried flowers is poured into 0.5 liters of boiling water and put in a warm place for 1 hour, having previously wrapped the container with the infusion. After washing your hair, rinse your hair with chamomile infusion and do not rinse.

Lemon juice does a great job of lightening even dark hair by 2 shades. Due to the long process, the hair roots have time to grow, but the difference between them and previously bleached hair is not very noticeable. You will need:

• for normal hair - a glass of freshly squeezed juice (from about 4 lemons) and 1/4 glass of warm water;
• for dry hair - a glass of freshly squeezed lemon juice and 1/4 cup of conditioner.

This kind of lightening is best done in the warm season, preferably in the summer, when there are more sunny days. After applying the lemon mask to your hair, spend 30 minutes in the sun, then rinse. Lemon dries out your hair, do not forget to moisturize it with balms after rinsing.

Video: 7 natural hair dyes

What are the dangers of painting with permanent paint during HB?

Even expensive permanent hair dyes cannot do without the inclusion of aggressive surfactants.

They are presented in three types:

• ammonium laureth or lauryl sulfate;
• sodium lauryl sulfate;
• TEA or magnesium lauryl sulfate is the most gentle reagent, found in expensive and high-quality products.

In addition to surfactants, which provide products with good foaming, modern hair products contain formaldehyde. They negatively affect lactation and worsen the quality of breast milk during breastfeeding.

Possible negative consequences

Hair coloring affects the appearance of the mother's hairstyle and the baby's well-being. Moreover, it is the child who suffers the adverse consequences if the mother does not follow precautions.

Negative consequences after dyeing a mother's hair are:

• in direct contact of dyes with the scalp;
• when the mother inhales vapors from dyes.

Each of these influences plays its own negative role in the condition of the nursing mother and her baby.

Allergy

Contact of the mixture with the scalp causes allergies in mother and child. To avoid allergic reactions, it is necessary to conduct a standard test even with the products that the mother used before pregnancy.

Harmful substances that enter breast milk through the skin and blood cause considerable harm to the baby in the form of allergies and intoxication.

Negative effects of paint smell on women and babies

The components of the dye that a woman breathes in while painting are dangerous. They penetrate faster through the lungs into the blood, and with it into the milk. Feeding a baby with such milk is dangerous; it can cause irritation of the mucous membranes of the larynx and swelling in the child.

Ambiguity of the result

Experienced hairdressers usually ask if a woman is breastfeeding before choosing a dye with her. Changed hormonal levels can prevent the paint from applying as it should and give a completely unexpected shade. Or maybe you will get the desired color, but it will fade before the time indicated on the packaging with the coloring agent.

Sometimes surprises happen when a previously unattainable color appears on the hair just during breastfeeding. Therefore, a nursing mother who decides to change her hair color must be prepared to receive mixed results.

Conclusion

It is definitely impossible to call hair coloring a harmful or harmless procedure. For one mother this passes without a trace, but for another it causes an adverse reaction, as well as for her baby.

Before you decide to change your hair color during this period, you need to compare all possible risks with the desire to look beautiful, and then make the only right decision for yourself. A reasonable approach to hair coloring, following basic rules and choosing harmless dyes will help the mother remain beautiful and the child healthy.