Can One Get Keratin When Pregnant or Breastfeeding? Is it Safe?

Is it safe to get Keratin when pregnant and or breastfeeding?

Keratin hair treatment is quite popular these days because it provides sleek hair that lasts for months.

But is it safe for pregnant women and your breastfed baby? Read on as I talk about it in detail.

Can I Get a Keratin Treatment While Pregnant? Is it Safe?

It’s very important to be careful of hair products during pregnancy for your health and your baby’s.

Keratin smooth straightener is one treatment to stay away from to ensure a healthy pregnancy. Although keratin is a natural part of the human body, its induction through chemical means can be hazardous to pregnant women.

This is because the ingredient list includes formaldehyde, a known carcinogen. Studies show that people who were regularly exposed to this chemical were at a high risk of cancer. (2)

Even keratin treatment products that claim to be free of formaldehyde include its derivatives that can pose a risk to your healthy pregnancy.

Thousands of women and men get keratin treatments every year, which poses a serious risk of cancer for them and their hairstylists. (3)

Brenda Kamt, a colorist specialist, says, “Formaldehyde is a carcinogen that could possibly cause respiratory problems if exposure is frequent.” (4)

Well then, how often can I get a keratin treatment? It is best to say no to these chemical treatments altogether and have no risk of cancer. But, if you absolutely must, do not do it more than three times a year!

“Make sure you’re having the process done in a well-ventilated area, or, even more ideally, with windows open or outdoors,” Kamt adds.

Getting a Brazilian hair treatment while pregnant can have adverse pregnancy outcomes, which you can easily avoid by not getting the treatment at all.

After all, precaution is the best cure.

Here is a detailed video on hair do’s and don’ts during pregnancy.

Can I Get a Keratin Treatment While Breastfeeding?

Okay, so you were careful of hair products during pregnancy, but what after that? Can you get the treatment after you’ve given birth and are breastfeeding?

Also no. Several studies have been conducted on cosmetic procedures to see their effects on pregnant and lactating women.

However, evidence suggests there is minimal systemic absorption of hair products, so personal use by pregnant women 3 to 4 times throughout pregnancy is not considered to be of concern. (6)

So, if you are a hairdresser by profession and are worried for your and your baby’s health while doing your job, you need not worry too much.

Using gloves to minimize exposure and working fewer hours may benefit your health. And, avoid formaldehyde health risks by not doing the procedure on your clients.

For a healthy milk supply for your breastfed baby, it is best to ensure the safety of hair products.

Eating real food sources and using good products is the only way to ensure a healthy milk supply for your baby. So, while you’re still tending to your breastfed baby, your Brazilian hair treatment must wait.

Other Safe Haircare Products for Pregnant and Lactating Women

Now that we know that keratin when pregnant and/or breastfeeding is a big no, does that mean there are no hair products for them?

Many hair smoothing products are free of formaldehyde health risks and can be used safely by pregnant and lactating women. Let’s talk about them, then, shall we?

1. Hair oils:

Do not underestimate the power of hair oils to smoothen your hair and add some serious shine! There is a reason why this secret is handed down through generations.

I try to get a hot oil treatment at least once a week; it is relaxing and good for my hair. I did it a lot during my pregnancy and loved every moment of it.

2. Dry shampoo:

But I would recommend plant-based ingredients styling products such as the Klorane Dry Shampoo with Oat Milk that smells so good and instantly gets rid of grease.

3. Shampoo and conditioner:

Most shampoos and conditioners are safe for use during pregnancy and lactation.

I was particularly wary of smell during my pregnancy which is how I came across Attitude Hypoallergenic Shampoo, which has a pleasant smell.

Nothing can beat my Olaplex conditioner when it comes to smoothing, and I kept at it during my baby journey too.

Not all products work for everyone, so it’s best to talk to your healthcare provider and keep your pregnancy safe.

FAQs

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Conclusion:

Staying away from keratin when pregnant and/or breastfeeding is the best way to remove formaldehyde exposure during pregnancy and lactation.

The goal is to keep your pregnancy safe and to ensure your baby’s health. And there’s no better way to do that than to be mindful of what you’re putting in your body.

During this magical time, it may be best to not worry about your hair too much and focus on the baby growing inside you and your healthy milk supply after birth.

Resources:

• 1. Mitro SD, Johnson T, Zota AR. Cumulative Chemical Exposures During Pregnancy and Early Development. Current environmental health reports. 2015;2(4):367-378. doi:10.1007/s40572-015-0064-x
• 2. Swenberg JA, Moeller BC, Lu K, Rager JE, Fry R, Starr TB. Formaldehyde Carcinogenicity Research: 30 Years and Counting for Mode of Action, Epidemiology, and Cancer Risk Assessment. Toxicologic pathology. 2013;41(2):181-189. doi:10.1177/0192623312466459
• 3. Pexe ME, Marcante A, Luz MS, et al. Hairdressers are exposed to high concentrations of formaldehyde during the hair straightening procedure. Environmental Science and Pollution Research. 2019;26(26):27319-27329. doi:10.1007/s11356-019-05402-9
• 4. Metzger C. Should You Get a Keratin Treatment? A Definitive Answer. Marie Claire. Published September 2017. https://www.marieclaire.com/beauty/hair/news/a29189/keratin-treatment/
• 5. Trivedi MK, Kroumpouzos G, Murase JE. A review of the safety of cosmetic procedures during pregnancy and lactation. International Journal of Women’s Dermatology. 2017;3(1):6-10. doi:10.1016/j.ijwd.2017.01.005
• 6. Chua-Gocheco A, Bozzo P, Einarson A. Safety of hair products during pregnancy: personal use and occupational exposure. Canadian family physician Medecin de famille canadien. 2008;54(10):1386-1388. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2567273/