Just because Baby is on the way doesn’t mean you can’t look great! Why not keep your hair and nails looking gorgeous during pregnancy?
Your lovely locks
Hair looks fuller and grows faster during pregnancy because of the nutrients in prenatal vitamins and the hormonal changes in your body. Some women also say that their hair gains shine and curls or a straighter texture. With so many changes to your hair, you may need to change your hair care routine, but there are a couple things to keep in mind:
- Always read product labels to make sure they are safe to continue using when you are pregnant, especially chemical-heavy products like hairsprays and bleaching products.
- Follow directions to at-home hair treatments carefully. You don’t want to expose yourself for any longer than necessary to the chemicals used in the products.
Facial and body hair
Many pregnant women notice that their body and facial hair grows faster and thicker than it did before they were pregnant. Luckily, there are plenty of ways to remove unwanted body hair – just make sure the method you choose is pregnancy-safe!
- Sugaring, body waxing, tweezing, threading, and epilating may be more painful than before you were pregnant, but they are otherwise safe to continue doing while you are pregnant.
- Shaving is safe throughout pregnancy, but your growing bump may change your ability to see the areas you are shaving, so another hair removal technique may be worth pursuing for the remainder of your pregnancy.
- Bleach and chemical depilatories are not recommended during pregnancy because of the chemical content within them. So keep them in the cabinet until after you deliver.
Fingernails and toenails
Your fingernails and toenails grow faster and change their texture during pregnancy, so you have an excuse to go to the spa for regular nail care.
Maintaining your manicure and pedicure throughout your pregnancy won’t expose you to chemical levels that are harmful for your fetus, but before you redo your gels or acrylics, keep in mind that you should reduce unnecessary chemical exposures while you are pregnant.
Reviewed by Dr. Jamie Lo
Read more
Sources
- “Hair changes.” March of Dimes. March of Dimes, 6/9/2015. Web.
- Chua-Gocheco, Angela, MD, Pina Bozzo, and Adrienne Einarson, RN. “Safety of Hair Products during Pregnancy.” US National Library of Medicine. National Institutes of Health, Oct. 2008. Web.
- “Skin Conditions During Pregnancy: FAQ169.” ACOG. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, 6/14/2015. Web.
- “Pregnancy: Staying healthy and safe.” Office on Women’s Health. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 9/27/2010. Web.
