Charlie Teather
During your first pregnancy, you may be faced with seemingly endless unexpected surprises.
Your skin might get itchier. Daily heartburn will probably become customary. You’ll be encouraged to massage your perineum nightly (Google it). You can’t eat a lot of your favourite foods, and you might even grow something of a fuzzy beard. Yes, really.
But what happens when it comes to colouring your hair?
As a life-long blonde deeply committed to a six-year relationship with scalp bleaches, there’s no denying that – of course, after all the excitement and early midwife appointments – my thoughts inevitably wandered to my strict haircare schedule.
Is hair bleaching allowed during pregnancy? What about highlights?
Would I have to delay my usual 8-weekly appointments until after the birth? I shuddered at the thought.
Sure enough, I had a brief scroll online and saw several posts questioning the safety of the process in pregnancy and immediately succumbed to a life of near-brunette root growth for the next nine months.
It was only recently, with just a few short weeks to go until I finally meet the tiny little human I’ve been growing inside my stomach for what feels like forever, that I decided to really look into it. After all, I want to give the little guy a good first impression when he does make his appearance earthside… (I’m still tbc on whether he’d appreciate a lash lift and tint or if I should skip that step).
Having just opened a new salon local to me in South East London, I decided to pop in to Blue Tit‘s new salon in Woolwich to see senior colourist Rumer Clifton and find out what the rules around colouring and bleaching your hair during pregnancy really are. Because, shockingly, these experts know more than those mumsnet forums bursting with entirely uneducated opinions that I’d found myself scrolling through for hours prior. Who knew?
“Colouring your hair during pregnancy is safe!” Rumer explained to my shock and joy, “but I would say it’s totally down to how comfortable you feel, and the relationship you have with your colourist. Of course, if you have any concerns, you can always consult advice from your GP/ midwife.”
She’s right, of course, and having checked with my own midwife – who agreed with Rumer that it’s absolutely safe to do so – I immediately booked in for that much-needed refresh.