I get a lot of questions asking whether it is safe to colour hair during pregnancy, or whether it is safe to bleach the face when pregnant. There is, as yet, no definite answer to these questions. It is a fact that these colours contain chemicals that are teratogenic, which means that these chemicals can cause birth defects. Hair dye or hair colour has indeed been found to harm the foetus in animals, but the same data is not available for humans. In addition, the amount of chemicals administered to the animals was much greater than the amount a woman would use to colour her hair once a month. When lower doses of these chemicals were applied to animals, they were found to be relatively harmless. However, as no human data is available, research on this subject is not conclusive. So should you colour your hair? As you are going to be pregnant for nine months, it is perfectly understandable that you want to look good and feel good during this time. In fact, it is important that a woman feels good about herself when she is pregnant. Needless to say, there's not a lot you can do about your weight or figure, but you certainly can do something to make your hair look better, to hide those grey strands and to brighten it up. The question is, should you? Not in the first trimester Your baby is most susceptible to harm in the first trimester, so it is best to avoid colouring your hair at all during this time. We know for sure that the chemicals in hair dyes and hair colours are not very toxic, and are relatively harmless except when administered in large doses. If a change in your hair colour makes you feel better about yourself, play safe by colouring your hair in the 2nd or 3rd trimester. Consider highlights Play even safer by getting highlights in your hair, instead of all-over colour. The chemicals in hair colours are absorbed into your bloodstream through the scalp, and not through the hair shaft. If you highlight your hair instead of colouring it all over, a lot less chemical comes into contact with the scalp. Whether or not a chemical will affect your foetus depends upon the amount of chemical that you come in contact with, upon whether you absorb it by direct contact or inhale it, and of course, upon the nature of the chemical. Some chemicals may sting, but they are not necessarily dangerous as they only have a surface effect and don't get into your bloodstream. Henna is a good option Henna is a completely natural product, so if you must colour to your hair cover grey strands, highlighting may not be the best solution for you. In this case you could consider applying henna to your hair. Henna has no chemicals, and is perfectly safe for the baby. If you do not dislike the colour imparted by henna, this is your best bet. Wear gloves If you are colouring your hair by yourself at home, make sure you wear gloves. Wash off the colour after the requisite time, and do not keep it for longer than necessary. The best way to ensure a healthy baby is to keep your contact with chemicals to the minimal. Is facial bleach safe? Bleach too is a chemical, and it is best to apply avoiding it in the first trimester. Lemon is a natural bleaching agent, so apply this to your face instead, with a little honey to prevent the sting. This may not make as much of a difference as you would like, but it does help to an extent. Thread your eyebrows and upperlip and avoid do bleaching your face as far as possible in the first trimester. You could start bleaching again towards the end of the second trimester. When applying bleach, avoid contact with your fingers, and wash it off within the stipulated time period.