It's only natural to want to feel and look beautiful and well-groomed at all stages of your pregnancy – and you do!

In most cases you can continue with the same care and beauty routine, but there are some limitations that you should keep in mind in order to protect the health of your growing baby and alternatives so that you don't have to put aside your feminine coquetry these nine months.

Can I dye my hair?

Relevant studies that have been done have so far shown evidence that it is relatively safe to dye your hair shortly before you become pregnant or during pregnancy - and this is because the amount of chemicals that actually enter your body is very small.

But if you want to be absolutely sure, it would be best to wait until the second trimester, when your growing baby is less vulnerable and organogenesis is complete.

An even safer option is highlights.

In this technique, only the hairs are dyed and the dye does not touch the skin, so no chemicals pass into your body.

Another option that is considered safe is vegetable dyes.

But be careful!

It is important to read their ingredients list before applying them as, in addition to the various "herbal" ingredients, they may contain one or more of the usual synthetic chemicals such as p-phenylenediamine (or phenylenediamine), dihydroxybenzene (hydroquinone or dihydroxybenzene) and aminophenol (aminophenol) ingredients used in permanent and semi-permanent dyes.

Henna, a semi-permanent vegetable dye that has been used for thousands of years, is considered safe.

However, its use has several disadvantages, such as, for example, that sometimes after a few washes, the hair takes on an orange-red hue.

Can I do a perm?

Both perms and permanent hair straighteners as well as dyes, as we saw earlier, contain chemical ingredients whose use has not been proven safe.

It is therefore preferable to avoid chemical processes on your hair, both during pregnancy and if you can before you conceive, when you are in the "trying" phase.

Also keep in mind that your hair may not respond as intended as pregnancy hormones change its texture and texture.

So a perm may not even catch at all!
Can I continue whitening my teeth?

There is not enough scientific data to be able to answer with certainty whether or not bleaching is safe not only during this period but also after the birth of your baby, as long as you are breastfeeding.

But it is important to be very consistent with their care as pregnancy hormones affect and make gums and teeth more vulnerable.

If you are planning to become pregnant it would be a good idea to go for a check-up with your dentist for a cleaning and any medical work.

Bikini waxing?

And wherever else you want! There is nothing that makes waxing or halawa waxing dangerous during this time.

But be prepared to hurt a little more!

During pregnancy, the volume of blood in your body increases - especially in the pubic area - making you more sensitive to pain.

You are also more likely to have some broken blood vessels after waxing – harmless but visible.
Face cleaning; Hyaluronic or Botox injections?

There is no problem with cleaning as long as you inform your beautician or dermatologist to be more careful and gentle in the manipulations as your skin is more sensitive during this period.

But there's a good chance you won't need to cleanse since most pregnant women report that their skin gets brighter during this time!

If you had botox or hyaluronic acid injections and found out in the following weeks that you are pregnant, it is almost certain that there will be no problem with your baby since the amount of material injected into the muscles or facial wrinkles is so small that it is not likely to circulate in your body.

However, if you are pregnant and thinking of having a treatment, it is better to leave it until after delivery and breastfeeding.

Besides, it is very likely that you will not need it in the coming months, since pregnancy causes fluid retention in your body, resulting in a slight swelling of the face which "fills" even the small wrinkles.

So your pregnancy in itself is the only aesthetic treatment you need!
Do you mind if I massage you?

Massage is something that can relieve you from the discomforts of pregnancy, such as tired legs, back or waist pain, and there are even special massages for pregnant women.

If essential oils are used in the massage, do not forget to inform that you are pregnant, as they are not suitable for pregnancy.
Can I get a tattoo?

It would probably be better to wait until you give birth to get a tattoo.

One issue is the dyes and ink used in tattooing and whether they can be harmful at this stage to the fetus.

In any case, however, whether you are pregnant or not, before getting a tattoo it is a good idea to check that sterile tools are used as there are dangerous germs, such as hepatitis B and HIV/AIDS, which can be transmitted through body fluids.

Existing tattoos won't affect your baby, but your baby can affect your old tattoos – depending on where they are.

As your belly swells and your breasts become fuller or with the appearance of a stretch mark, it is possible that any tattoo in the area will lose its shape or become discolored.

Manicure Pedicure;

There is no evidence that exposing a pregnant woman to the chemicals involved in manicures and pedicures can cause any problem to the fetus.

A pedicure in particular can be a great gift to give yourself in the third trimester, where your bloated belly can make it hard to even reach your toenails!
I use self-tanning creams

The ingredients contained in these creams are harmless and you can use them if the light color they give to your skin makes you feel better psychologically and more beautiful!

But avoid the solarium, for the safety or otherwise of which there is insufficient scientific evidence.

Am I wearing high heels?

High heels are not compatible with pregnancy, at least not for everyday life and certainly not in the last months.

Your weight increases, body shape and center of gravity change causing you to walk differently and lack your usual stability.

So high heels increase the chances of you falling and bumping, both you and the baby growing in your belly.

In addition, they burden the waist and tired legs. But if you want to wear heels for a special occasion, choose relatively low ones, e.g. six points, with a wide heel and as firmly as possible.

By Eleni Daskalaki
Source: Zambeli Afroditis, beautician, Maria Orfanidou, dentist