Many pregnant mothers are confused or worried about which shampoo is good to use and whether using regular shampoo will affect the baby or not. And are there any precautions to take when using shampoo? Let’s find the answer together: How to choose a shampoo for pregnant women that is safe for both mother and child?
What is shampoo? How to choose shampoo for pregnant women?
Shampoo is a product used on hair to remove dirt from our hair or scalp. Shampoo has surfactants as the main ingredient. Some products may also contain herbs such as butterfly pea, tamarind, aloe vera. The general characteristics of shampoo must be uniform, not separated, have a good smell, no sediment, no foreign substances. The ingredients must not contain substances or raw materials that are prohibited for use according to the industrial product standards. Cosmetics The specified amount of substances must not exceed the criteria. The color used must be as specified. The stability must be in good condition, not changed or deteriorated. The use must be able to remove dirt, dust on the hair and scalp and make the hair soft and smooth. The packaging must be packed in a clean, dry container that can be sealed properly and can prevent contamination from external dirt.
Hair changes during pregnancy
During pregnancy, estrogen levels spike, which is the main cause of changes in the quality of your hair. Some women may have thicker and shinier hair during pregnancy, while others may experience hair loss and thinning. However, after giving birth, estrogen levels drop, and hair growth enters a resting phase. This is why most women experience increased hair loss after giving birth. Estrogen is a hormone produced by the female ovaries, and is less common in males.
Estrogen hormone helps develop and control the female reproductive system, as well as affecting mood, stress, irregular menstruation, weight gain, and external sexual characteristics, including stimulating hair growth. If estrogen hormone is lower than normal, it causes hair loss. Although hair growth appears strong during pregnancy, after giving birth, hair loss and hair loss will be more common. Therefore, hair care during pregnancy is important.
5 ways to care for hair during pregnancy
1. Pregnant women take care of their hair with oil massage.
Massaging your hair with natural oils like coconut oil, sesame oil, almond oil periodically during pregnancy can improve blood circulation in the scalp. Massaging your hair with oil twice or thrice a week can strengthen your scalp and make your hair strong, soft and shiny. Apart from nourishing your hair, oils also help with the hormonal changes that pregnant women experience. They help you relax and relieve stress. Regular oil massages can strengthen your hair roots, but don’t massage too hard!
2. Eating the right foods can help pregnant women take care of their hair.
Diet during pregnancy is very important and if you are experiencing hair loss, hair breakage or any hair related issues, eating a healthy diet is very important as an inadequate diet can lead to hair problems. Try eating nuts, fish, eggs and flax seeds to nourish your scalp and hair.
3. Hair decoration helps pregnant women take care of their hair.
Regular hair styling, or simply put, cutting your hair, will help prevent split ends from being damaged and will help your hair look shiny and healthy. So if any pregnant women have serious problems with split ends, they may choose to cut off the damaged hair to make their hair healthier.
4. Take a break from dyeing and chemical treatments to help pregnant women take care of their hair.
Hair coloring during pregnancy may not be advisable because keratin and other chemicals can cause irritation to pregnant women. In addition, chemicals can cause skin inflammation. Hair coloring or heavy chemical treatments during pregnancy are therefore not advisable.
5. Hair masks with natural ingredients to help pregnant women take care of their hair
Pregnant women with damaged hair who want to strengthen and add shine to their hair should try a hair mask made with these natural ingredients.
How to choose a shampoo for pregnant women What kind of shampoo should pregnant women use?
Pregnant mothers are wondering how to choose pregnancy shampoo or hair care products during pregnancy. Today we have brought you how to choose hair care products during pregnancy. Even though washing hair is a daily thing that mothers must do, if you are pregnant, you may have to consider shampoos to see which shampoos are suitable for pregnant women or to prevent things that may cause toxins.
Therefore, some shampoos may contain a large number of endocrine disrupting substances that are not clearly known in general products. Even small amounts can affect hormones as well. This may affect the baby in the womb. The most common chemicals found are perfumes , which are things that pregnant mothers should avoid because they are irritating substances. In choosing the shampoo that is most suitable for you, you should choose based on the characteristics and type of your scalp first. Because each type of scalp is suitable for different shampoos. The types of scalp are initially divided as follows:
Normal scalp is a common type that does not cause much irritation in daily life because it has a balance in the functioning of the sebaceous glands. This results in our scalp being able to use all types of shampoos, depending on the scalp’s characteristics, which are not too dry or oily.
Dry scalp is a scalp that often has symptoms of irritation and flakes on the scalp that occur continuously from the work of the sebaceous glands that may not be very effective when compared to the characteristics of this type of scalp. In this part, people with this type of scalp will have frizzy hair and be much rougher than other types.
Causes of Oily Scalp Oily scalp is caused by the overactive sebaceous glands, which cause the oil in the scalp to accumulate more and more. It also causes the hair roots and pores to become clogged over time. It also causes the hair to become thinner and flatter than usual. Therefore, mothers need to use more hair care products because if mothers use shampoo in the normal amount, it may not be enough to maintain the health of the hair and scalp.
Shampoo should not be used by pregnant women.
In fact, there are no specific prohibitions that pregnant women should not use which type of shampoo. However, pregnant mothers should pay special attention to the ingredients in shampoo and avoid certain chemicals that may be harmful to the health of the mother and the development of the fetus. Chemicals in shampoo that pregnant women should avoid or be careful of include:
- Parabens are preservatives commonly found in personal care products, and some studies have shown that they can disrupt hormones and may affect fetal development. Therefore, pregnant women should choose shampoos that are labeled “Paraben-free.”
- Synthetic Fragrances can easily cause allergies or irritation in pregnant women. You should choose a shampoo that contains natural fragrances or is fragrance-free.
- Sulfates, such as SLS (Sodium Lauryl Sulfate) and SLES (Sodium Laureth Sulfate), are surfactants that create lather and can easily dry out and irritate the skin and scalp. Some moms may choose to use a sulfate-free shampoo for gentler results.
- Silicones, although they help to make hair smooth and soft, can sometimes build up on the scalp and cause clogging or irritation. If you are concerned, you can opt for a silicone-free shampoo instead.
- Other harsh chemicals Pregnant women should avoid shampoos that contain chemicals that irritate the skin or affect the hormone system, or consult a doctor before purchasing.
Republished with permission from theAsianParent Thailand
