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Beauty Procedures and Pregnancy

What's Safe and What's Not?

By Carma Haley Shoemaker

But according to manicurist, Heather Jacobson, it all depends upon the chemicals used – and who uses them. "Not all manicurists use the same products or use them in the same way," says Jacobson. "For example, I use mostly natural or biodegradable products and the nail polish I use on my customers is 'edible.' It's not that you could eat it right from the bottle, but if you do ingest it – as most women do from time to time from biting their nails, licking their fingers, etc. – it won't harm you, as it has only natural ingredients. But others may still use products that contain chemicals that are not safe during pregnancy or otherwise. It is best to ask your manicurist or request she/he use natural products. And if you're not sure, simply skip the nail polish and have your nails buffed for a natural shine."

Pregnancy can have numerous effects on a woman's hair as well. Mosby's Medical, Nursing and Allied Health Dictionary states that hormone fluctuations can cause color changes, texture changes and even thinning of a woman's hair during pregnancy. This often leads a woman straight to the chair of their local hairstylist.

"During my pregnancy, my hair started to look strange: half dark, half light," says Brett Sember, of Clarence, N.Y. "So, I had my hair highlighted in the last trimester. When I asked my doctor about highlighting my hair, she suggested waiting until after the first trimester, as the evidence is still unclear regarding the risk during pregnancy."

Want to see more?

• The Art of Prenatal Massage
• Herbs for Pregnancy: Natural Medicine in the Modern Age
• Household Hazards: How to Protect Your Unborn Baby
• Acupuncture: Relief Right to the Point

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