Most physicians recommend that women who wish to become pregnant, or who are pregnant or nursing stop using permanent oxidative chemical hair dye. There have been studies that suggest chemical hair dye may be linked to birth defects, and though these have been inconclusive, physicians prefer to recommend that mothers not risk the health of their infants or their own health.
Based on toxicity assays, the European Union recommends that henna is safe to use as a hair dye when formulated and applied as a paste to hair.1 There have been no published medical journal articles indicating that henna, indigo, or cassia cause any hazard to a mother or her child when used to dye the mother’s hair. Many physicians recommend that women switch to henna if they want to continue dyeing their hair. Since henna has been used by women to dye their hair across a large part of the world for over four thousand years with no hazard perceived, a mother may henna her hair with a reasonable assurance of safety, as long as the henna has no chemical adulterants, additives, pesticides, or impurities. 1% of the available lawsone in henna crosses the dermal layer into the blood stream, a level that is safe for people. The only exception to this harmlessness is for individuals, especially young children, with homozygous G6PD deficiency.
Women who want to cover their gray while pregnant or nursing can do so safely with Ancient Sunrise® henna, indigo, and cassia. Every batch of Ancient Sunrise® henna, indigo, and cassia is sent to an independent laboratory to be tested for lead, pesticides, contaminants and adulterants. Many products sold as henna contain metallic salts and toxic coal tar dyes. Even henna products which carry a ‘natural’ or ‘organic’ label may have unlisted ingredients and contaminants.
Read more:https://www.mehandi.com/v/vspfiles/downloadables/chapt13_henna-and-your-health.pdf
Links to specific topics in this chapter:
Henna, Pregnancy, Nursing, and Doctor’s Orders
Henna and G6PD Deficiency
Henna and Hair Care
Henna and Head Lice
