Good morning,
Is a woman permitted to wear hair extensions instead of a wig or hat?
Thank you.
Shalom u’vracha,
Hair extensions generally come as an addition to one’s natural hair and are attached to the head with a particular adhesive. It is clear that even a woman who has hair extensions must cover the rest of her natural hair with a head covering.
However, regarding the hair extensions themselves, it is important to know that they are no more effective than a pe’ah nochrit (wig) in the laws of head covering. Regarding a pe’ah nochrit, the poskim disagree as to whether it is valid as a head covering or whether it has the same status as natural hair, which must be covered. Maran Rabbi Ovadia Yosef zt”l ruled that the use of a wig is entirely prohibited.
It is important to know that even the poskim who permit covering one’s head with a pe’ah nochrit agree that when the wig is long or especially attention-grabbing, it may not be used. Therefore, regarding the hair extensions in question as well, one should know that when they are extensive and draw attention, it is prohibited to use such hair extensions, just as an immodest pe’ah nochrit is prohibited.
For further discussion of head covering with a pe’ah nochrit, see here.
This response was translated automatically from Hebrew and has not yet been reviewed by a person. It may therefore contain inaccuracies and should not be considered a definitive reference.
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