Breastfeeding and Hair Color

Mother and child
Photo: Morrowlight/Shutterstock
Q: Will hair color take normally on the hair of a breastfeeding new mother?
 
A: Breastfeeding itself is not known to make hair resistant to hair color or prevent color from taking. However, pregnancy and the period after giving birth can change the hair-growth cycle and sometimes the texture, porosity, and overall condition of the hair due to fluctuating hormones and nutritional needs. As a result, a woman’s hair may occasionally absorb dye faster or respond slightly differently than it did before pregnancy. However, there is no solid scientific evidence that post-birth or breastfeeding hormones directly prevent hair from absorbing color.
 
Post-birth hair shedding (known medically as telogen effluvium) is also very common and typically reaches its peak around 3 to 4 months after delivery, as your hair follicles start transitioning to their normal growth pattern. Although shedding is completely unrelated to how well your hair absorbs dye, putting chemical products on hair that is already fragile or thinning can cause extra breakage. If hair shedding is intense, you may want to opt for gentler options (like semi-permanent color or off-scalp highlights) until your hair loss settles down.
 
As for safety while nursing, the available research is reassuring. While there are no extensive studies specifically measuring hair-dye chemicals in human milk, only tiny, harmless amounts enter your bloodstream when you use dye correctly on healthy, undamaged skin. As a result, meaningful amounts entering breast milk are considered highly unlikely.
 
Because you can suddenly become more sensitive or reactive to chemicals due to shifts in your immune system and hormones, a few extra precautions make sense:
 
• Perform a strand test and a patch test: A strand test shows how the dye will react on your changed hair texture. A 48-hour skin patch test ensures you haven't developed a new sensitivity to the dye.
 
• Check the condition of your scalp: Never apply bleach or permanent dye to irritated, dry, or broken skin. If your scalp is inflamed, opt for off-scalp techniques like balayage or foil highlights where the chemical doesn't touch the skin.
 
• Ensure proper ventilation: Strong chemical fumes (such as ammonia) can trigger nausea or airway irritation for both you and your baby. Color your hair in a well-ventilated room or hair salon.
 
• Follow timing instructions strictly: Never leave chemical treatments on your head for longer than the manufacturer recommends.
 
If you have a specific medical condition, severe scalp irritation, or concerns about a particular chemical treatment, discuss your specific situation with your doctor.
 
This answer is intended for informational purposes only. For medical advice or a diagnosis, contact a doctor.
 
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See also:
 
Hair and pregnancy
 
Can I dye or bleach my hair during pregnancy?
 
Can you color your hair when you are pregnant?