7 Ways to Keep Your Hair Healthy when You're Pregnant ...

1. Chemicals

One of the ways to keep your hair healthy while you're pregnant is to avoid chemicals. Some doctors think it's ok to have your hair relaxed or permed during pregnancy; others think you should wait until after your first trimester or avoid chemical treatments altogether. Perhaps it's better to play it safe by avoiding these treatments altogether.

2. Coloring

If you normally color your hair, especially if you want to cover any grey hairs, you may want to maintain that routine while you're pregnant. It's not clear whether there's any risk with permanent dyes or not, but a safer bet is to use a semi-permanent, vegetable dye, or henna. You could also opt for highlights, as the color won't touch your skin.

3. Diet

The main reason why it's important to eat well during pregnancy is for the health of your baby, but a good diet will also benefit your hair. Feeding your growing child takes a lot out of your body, and your hair will be of secondary importance. So make sure that you eat a healthy diet. Eat whole grains, fruit and vegetables, and lean protein, and avoid comfort eating.

4. Conditioning

You may find that your hair is drier than normal. If this happens, give it a weekly conditioning treatment. This will also be a chance to pamper yourself; enjoy a warm soak in the bath while the conditioner does its work. If necessary, switch your shampoo to one that is more moisturising as well as giving your hair this conditioning treatment.

5. Hair Breakage

You may find that your hair is prone to breakage during your pregnancy. Again, this is because of the hormonal changes occurring in your body. It can be exacerbated by heat, so let your hair dry naturally or use a low setting on your dryer. Use a deep conditioner and get your hair trimmed regularly to help keep your hair healthy.

6. Prepare for Shedding

The downside of not losing hairs during the pregnancy is that you'll lose them a few months after the baby is born. So be prepared for this to happen. It can seem as though you're losing far too much, but that's simply because your hair is catching up with its normal growth cycle. Don't fret that you're losing too much.

7. Testing

If you do decide to color your hair, it's wise to test out the color on a strand of hair first. Your hair may not react the same way during pregnancy, so even if you've used the same color before, you could get a different result. Play it safe before you commit your whole head.

Hair can be really funny during pregnancy. You may even find that your normally straight hair becomes curly when you're pregnant, and vice versa. If that happens, enjoy the change! How did your hair behave when you were pregnant?