You can get a perm during pregnancy if you take some precautions and your healthcare provider gives the okay.
A perm uses chemicals to change your hair’s texture and can make your hair curlier or straighter. Research doesn’t say much about the effects of a perm on developing babies.
One study 1 looked at the rate of testicular tumors in developing babies after using hair care products, and the results suggested perm chemicals don’t cause this problem. The American Pregnancy Association 2 recommends:
Get the hair treatment in a well-ventilated area.
Try to wait until your second trimester to get the perm.
Wear gloves if you do it yourself.
Additionally, pregnancy causes some major hormone shifts 3 , which can affect your hair 4 and make your perm turn out differently. If you’re still unsure, feel free to run it by your provider.
