How to care for hair during ghusl.

Women who braid their hair may leave the braids in place when they perform ghusl (full-body ablution) provided that the water they pour on their heads reaches the roots of the hair. 'Ubaid ibn 'Umair reported that 'Aisha discovered that 'Abdullah ibn 'Amr was ordering the women to undo their plaited hair (for ghusl). She observed, "It is amazing that Ibn 'Amr orders women to undo their plaited hair for ghusl. Why doesn't he just order them to shave their heads? I and the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) used to bathe from one vessel, and all I did was pour three handfuls of water over my head." (Ahmad and Muslim)

Assalam Alaikum Waramatulah


As a Muslim hijabi, ghusl is compulsory for every woman after completing her menstruation or after sexual intercourse for married hijabis. However i have heard some hijabis complain that ghusl is causing breakage of their hairs. These sisters sadly hate ghusl times.👀

So is there a remote possibility that ghusl results in hair breakage and hair loss? My answer is YES it does to an extent.

When you wash hair with only water during ghusl without a shampoo or conditioner you leave the residues of hard water and chlorinated water in your hair, which is not good for hair growth and length retention.



What is Hard Water?

This is water that contains Calcium and Magnesium ions.This type of water is found in wells, bore holes, rain water e.t.c



What is Chlorinated Water?

This is water that is purified using chlorine.This type of water is found in tap water and in swimming pools.

Enough of the Science Class. Let's move to how to protect hair during ghusl.

• Boil water for ghusl a little. This breaks the bond in the hard water converting it to soft water

• Whether your hair is in a protective style or not, dampen the hair with some water and put some conditioner. This protects and softens the hair while performing ghusl.  

• Dry hair with a 100% cotton T-shirt or any other 100% cotton material after ghusl (I steal my husband's singlet for this). Please stealing is not corruption,  Lol. This is easy on the hair as most towels sold have rough and hard fabric that can lead to mechanical damage of the hair, if used constantly.

• Get a water softener shower head. This is a shower head with micro-pores that removed the hardness of your water before it gets to your hair.

• When hair is semi dried add a hair moisturizer and a few drops of oil.

• Never comb wet hair. You can comb semi dried hair with tactics (Use a wide toothed comb, comb hair in sections and start combing from the ends of the hair rather that the beginning).

• Don't forget that a married hijabi can have ghusl 3 times in a day sometimes😶, which only strips the hair of its natural hair oil hence endeavor to return that oil to the hair by using carrier and essential oils such as coconut oil, olive oil, jojoba oil, mint oil, pepper mint oil, eucalyptus oil etc 

To me coconut oil is the best oil that was ever made as it serves as a conditioner for hair and it smells nice. Lol💕

All these tips are minor tips that has helped me with length retention and reduce hair loss/breakage to a large extent.

 A type 4  healthy hijabi hair journey is quite different from any other tips for hair growth, as we are not allowed to protect our hair with wigs, weave-ons and so on. This fact should be noted first and foremost.

If you find this tips helpful for your hair journey as a Kinky haired hijabi then drop a comment in the comment section and tell me about it.




                                                                Masallam😙