Is it Permissible to Apply Oil to the Hair or Body on Shabbat?

Shavua Tov,

1. It is permitted to apply oil to the hair on Shabbat. However, one should use only a small amount of oil so that one does not come to squeeze the hair. Additionally, care must be taken not to pour a large amount of oil in one spot on the hair and then move the absorbed oil from place to place, as this involves the prohibition of squeezing (Shmiras Shabbos Kehilchasa, Part 1, Chapter 14, Section 54 and Note 24).

2. It depends on the condition of the skin; if it is dry, it is prohibited to apply oil to it on Shabbat. However, if it is not dry and the application is only to prevent dryness, it is permitted.

Even when the skin is dry and it is prohibited to apply oil as mentioned above, it is permitted to pour oil on healthy skin that is not dry and let it flow to the nearby dry skin.

Sources: According to what is explained in Shulchan Aruch and Rema (Orach Chaim 326:1) and in Mishna Berura (Section 264) that in a place where using oil is customary only for medicinal purposes, it is forbidden to apply any oil on Shabbat since it is evident that it is being done for healing. The same is stated in the book Or LeTzion, Part 2 (Chapter 35, Responsum 7) and in the book Shmiras Shabbos Kehilchasa, Part 1 (Chapter 34, Section 13) that one should not apply oil to dry hands or lips on Shabbat.

The permission to apply oil to prevent the skin from drying is based on what is explained in Mishna Berura (Orach Chaim 338, Section 6). The same is stated in the book Chut Shani, Halachos of Shabbat, Part 4 (Page 282).

The permission to pour oil on healthy skin and let it flow to the dry skin is based on what is explained in Shulchan Aruch (Orach Chaim 338, Section 22) and Mishna Berura (Section 172).

Best regards,

Hillel Meirs