Articles

Key Takeaways

• Pregnancy can change how your hair and skin react to products.
• Always tell your beauty practitioner that you are pregnant.
• Choose mild treatments and ensure good ventilation.
• Some treatments are not recommended during pregnancy.

Navigating beauty and wellbeing treatments in pregnancy

Pregnancy can affect your hair and skin. Your skin and hair may react differently to beauty products you normally use. This means some beauty treatments need extra consideration.

It is important to make choices that prioritise the well-being of both you and your baby. There is a cautious approach to what treatments are considered safe.

Not many clinical trials exist for beauty products during pregnancy. This often means only the mildest beauty treatments are recommended.

It is important to be careful with beauty products and treatments bought from outside the UK. Regulations in other countries may be different.

How pregnancy affects your hair, skin, and nails

During pregnancy, you might notice changes to your hair, skin, and nails.

• Hair – You might notice your hair feels thicker during pregnancy. After birth, it's common to shed more hair, but it should return to its usual cycle within several months.
• Nails – Your nails can become weak during pregnancy. Some products, like nail polish removers, can irritate the skin more than usual.
• Spots – Spots on your skin can increase, improve, or not change during pregnancy.
• Melasma – A common skin condition causing dark patches on your face, sometimes called the 'mask of pregnancy'. This usually goes away in 7 out of 10 people within a year of pregnancy.
• Skin growths or tags – These can increase.
• Hyperpigmentation – Scars can appear darker, and it's common for some areas of skin to get darker.
• Linea nigra – A dark line on your tummy affects 9 out of 10 pregnant women and people. This line usually disappears completely after the baby is born.
• Stretch marks – These are seen after 6 months of pregnancy in around 7 out of 10 people, appearing on the hips, tummy, and breasts. They are due to hormonal changes, genetics, and weight fluctuations. They usually fade after birth but may not disappear completely.

Treatments generally considered safe

The following treatments are generally thought to be safe during pregnancy. However, they should be used with caution. Always speak to a qualified practitioner before having any treatment.

Hair colouring and treatments

Most research shows that it is safe to dye or colour your hair while pregnant. The amount of chemicals in hair dye and bleach is very low and not thought to be harmful. Your scalp does not absorb much of the hair dye, especially if your scalp is healthy.

You might decide to wait until after the first 12 weeks of pregnancy to dye your hair. The risk of chemical substances harming the baby is lower after this time.

Pregnancy can affect your hair's normal condition. Your hair may react differently to colouring than it usually does.

If you are colouring your hair at home, always:

1. Wear gloves – your skin can be more easily irritated while pregnant.
2. Leave the dye on for the minimum time.
3. Check the manufacturer's advice and do not go over the maximum application time.
4. Apply hair dye in a well-ventilated room to reduce contact with any fumes.
5. Rinse your scalp thoroughly with water and wipe away any excess dye.

You could try a semi-permanent pure vegetable dye, like henna. Highlighting your hair reduces risk because the dye only touches strands of hair. The chemicals used are only absorbed by your hair, not by your scalp or bloodstream.

If you are having your hair coloured at a salon:

• Tell the hairdresser you are pregnant.
• Ask them to do a patch test first, as your hair may react differently during pregnancy.
• Professional hair colourists should work in well-ventilated conditions.

Hair relaxers

Studies on Black women who used hair relaxers during pregnancy showed no increased chance of prematurity or low birth weight. Treating hair three to four times during pregnancy is not thought to have any negative effects on the baby. Ask the hairdresser to do a patch test before having a relaxer treatment.

Body hair lightening or removal

Facial and body hair can increase during pregnancy. The following methods are considered safe during pregnancy:

• Waxing
• Shaving
• Hair removal creams
• Hair bleaching

The effects of permanent hair removal treatment are not known. Because of this, it's best to wait until after pregnancy.

Nail treatments

There is no guidance to avoid nail treatments during pregnancy. As they are applied externally, they are not absorbed into the body. They should not affect the baby.

The fumes from acrylics might give you a headache or make you feel sick. The dust from filing artificial nails can also cause wheezing or asthma, especially if you already have it. To avoid this, you should:

• Choose salons that are well-ventilated.
• Look for salons that use an extractor hood to help clear fumes and dust from the air.

Tanning creams

Tanning creams can be used during pregnancy. Test them on a small patch of skin first.

Treatments to approach with caution or avoid

Some treatments are not recommended during pregnancy.

• Botox – As a precaution, cosmetic treatments with Botox are not recommended during pregnancy.
• Cosmetic medical procedures – Treatments such as fillers, liposuction, and sclerotherapy (a treatment for varicose veins) are not advised during pregnancy.
• Tattooing or microblading – There is no research on the risks of tattooing or microblading ink, so trusted practitioners will not offer them if you are pregnant. There might also be a risk of infection or other skin reactions.
• Chemical peels – Some chemical peels are not advised.
• Retinoids – Treatments for acne that you put on your skin containing a type of vitamin A (retinoids) are not advised during pregnancy.
• Saunas and hot tubs – To be on the safe side, it's best to avoid saunas and hot tubs in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy. If you choose to use them later in your pregnancy, you can lower any risk by using them for less time and at a lower temperature than usual.
• Tanning pills – Tanning pills should not be used as they may be harmful to the baby.
• Tanning spray – It is not known if breathing in tanning spray is harmful to the baby.

Your guide to a safe salon and spa visit

Always speak to a qualified practitioner before having any treatment. If you have any health worries, talk to your GP or midwife. You should also speak to them if your pregnancy needs extra care.

When visiting a salon or spa:

• Inform your practitioner – Always tell the practitioner about your pregnancy.
• Ask about products – Ask them to do a patch test first for hair dyes or relaxer treatments. Your hair can react differently during pregnancy.
• Ensure good ventilation – Make sure the room is well ventilated, as this is important for hair colouring and nail treatments.
• Reduce contact – Ask your practitioner to reduce your contact with strong chemicals. They can do this by wearing gloves or using products in a well-ventilated area.

Getting a massage

Get into a comfortable position before a massage. Do not lie on your back for a long time.

Sitting upright or lying on your side is fine. Lying on your front is fine as long as a pregnancy pillow or massage table for pregnancy is used.

It's best to ask your massage therapist to avoid massaging your tummy. Do not have deep tissue massage.This is because pregnancy can increase your risk of a blood clot in a deep vein (deep vein thrombosis, or DVT). A strong massage is not recommended as a precaution. A gentle pregnancy massage is a safer choice.