As a Man Can I Work as a Hair Stylist and Cut Women’s Hair?

Answered by Shaykh Umer Mian

Question: Assalam’aleykum

As a man can I work as a hair stylist and cut women’s hair?

Answer: Asalamu alaikum

Allah Most High says:

قُلْ لِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ يَغُضُّوا مِنْ أَبْصَارِهِمْ وَيَحْفَظُوا فُرُوجَهُمْ ذَلِكَ أَزْكَى لَهُمْ إِنَّ اللَّهَ خَبِيرٌ بِمَا يَصْنَعُونَ النور 30

“Say to the believing men that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty: that will make for greater purity for them: And Allah is well acquainted with all that they do” (Qur’an 24:30).

A woman’s hair is part of her ‘awrah (nakedness), and hence it is impermissible for a man to look at the uncovered hair of a woman, let alone touch it.

جميع بدن الحرة عورة إلا وجهها وكفيها و قدميه نور الإيضاح

“The entire body of a woman is ‘awrah (nakedness) except for her face, hands, and feet” (Nur al-Eedah).

فشعر الحرة حتى المسترسل عورة في الأصح وعليه الفتوى فكشف ربعه يمنع صحة الصلاة ولا يحل النظر إليه مقطوعا منها في الأصح مراقي الفلاح

“A woman’s hair is ‘awrah (nakedness), including that which hangs down from her head” (Maraqi al-Falah).

Wassalam,
Umer