Are Women Allowed to Get Haircuts During the Three Weeks?

Greetings,

1. According to the custom of Sephardim, it is permitted to get a haircut during the Three Weeks until the week that includes Tisha B'Av. Immediately after the conclusion of Tisha B'Av, haircuts are allowed (Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chaim, Siman 558, sections 3-4; Chazon Ovadia, Arba Ta'anit, page 292).

In a year when Tisha B'Av falls on Shabbat and is postponed to Sunday, the Sephardim do not follow all of the halachot of the week that includes Tisha B'Av. Nevertheless, it is proper to be strict and refrain from haircuts and shaving, at least on the eve of Shabbat Chazon (Shulchan Aruch, ibid., section 4; Chazon Ovadia, ibid., pages 268-269).

However, the custom of Ashkenazim is to refrain from haircuts for all three weeks until noon on the tenth of Av (RAMA, ibid., section 4; Mishna Berura, Siman 558, section 7), and in a year when Tisha B'Av is postponed, they are permitted to get haircuts immediately after the conclusion of Tisha B'Av (Mishna Berura, ibid., section 8).

2. According to the custom of Sephardi women, it is permissible to get haircuts even during the week that includes Tisha B'Av (see Chazon Ovadia, ibid., pages 363-365; Or LeTzion, Part 3, page 251).

However, the custom of Ashkenazi women is to avoid haircuts during the entire three weeks (see Mishna Berura, Siman 558, section 9; Asheri Ish, Part 3, Chapter 68, section 14).

Blessings,

Hillel Meirs