עברית
Halachot and Customs
Scarf or Wig? Which Should Cover the Hair?
Question
Is it preferable to wear a scarf or a wig? I am confused by the information online. On one hand, there are criticisms of the wig for being attractive and drawing attention. On the other hand, it is said to be the head covering recommended by rabbis because it covers all a woman’s hair, whereas a scarf leaves hair visible on the sides or two fingers’ width, which is permitted. So whom should I listen to?
Answer
Greetings and blessings. I will present the halachic guidelines. The majority of the poskim hold that the proper practice is to cover the entire head with a head covering other than a wig. If a few hairs escape from beneath the covering, that is not considered a fault. Some permit exposing hair at the front of the head up to the width of two fingers. Ashkenazi women are permitted, according to the basic law, to wear a modest wig. The Lubavitcher Rebbe, of blessed memory, held that one must wear a non-Jewish wig and not any other type of covering, due to the severity of even a small amount of hair protruding from the covering. Therefore, those who follow the Rebbe's path are scrupulous about wearing a wig. Conversely, those who follow the opinion of Maran Rabbi Ovadia Yosef—and this is the prevalent view among Sephardic rabbis—prefer a regular head covering and consider wearing a wig absolutely forbidden. Blessings, Binyamin Shmueli.
