Question

Assalamualaikum
Would it be permissible if one smoothens or straightens hair if it is meant for one’s husband and for having tidy hair. I have read that keratin treatment would be impermissible but what about other methods like we have oleo smoothening here.
JazakAllah khair

Answer

There is nothing wrong with straightening or smoothening the hair to beautify oneself for their husband. In fact, this is a rewarding action.

The matter to consider is whether the product is halal – i.e. free from pig and its derivatives.[1] Often keratin treatments include collagen; one must ensure that the collagen is not from a pig (porcine) as pig is intrinsically impure and cannot be used externally on the body.

The second matter to contend with is whether the keratin ”seal” prevents water from permeating the hair. In ghusl, all the hair of the body must be washed including the head on one’s hair. If the keratin forms a barrier to the water, thus disallowing the water to reach the hair, one’s ghusl and mash for wudu would not be valid.

Some Islamic scholars note the fact that keratin treatment forms a seal on the hair and is washed away slowly. Once the seal wears off, the effects of the keratin (maintaining the frizzy, sleek hair etc) wear off. Therefore, they conclude that it appears that the keratin solution used in keratin hair straightening procedures are not water permeable. As such, precaution in matters of worship is necessary. Until further research on the water permeability of the keratin products used is uncovered, one should avoid undergoing this treatment for the sake of their prayers and purity.[2] If you can verify this yourself, please email us back with that information for our own reference.

As for oleo therapy, I have found the L’oreal Oleo product line, but beyond this, I have not been able to find any information on oleo therapy. Ensure that the product is free from pig products. Moreover, the product does appear to be water permeable as the oils are put through the hair like a normal hair product and can be washed away. Lastly, do explore alternative methods. There is a plethora of information online on how to manage and tame frizzy hair.

Answered by:
Maulana Ikramul Hoque Miah

Checked & Approved by:
Mufti Abdul Rahman Mangera
Mufti Zubair Patel

[1]              الدر المختار وحاشية ابن عابدين (رد المحتار) (1/ 204) (خَلَا) جِلْدِ (خِنْزِيرٍ) فَلَا يَطْهُرُ (قوله فلا يطهر) أي؛ لأنه نجس العين، بمعنى أن ذاته بجميع أجزائه نجسة حيا وميتا، فليست نجاسته لما فيه من الدم كنجاسة غيره من الحيوانات، فلذا لم يقبل التطهير في ظاهر الرواية عن أصحابنا إلا في رواية عن أبي يوسف ذكرها في المنية

[2]           الدر المختار وحاشية ابن عابدين (2/ 300):لِأَنَّ ‌الِاحْتِيَاطَ ‌فِي ‌الْعِبَادَةِ وَاجِبٌ