Hair Removal on the Back for Men
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Question
Hello Rabbi, my mother-in-law has a laser hair removal machine. I have hair on my back, and my wife really wants me to do laser to remove the hair, and of course, since it's free, it's very tempting for her. I previously did 2 treatments and stopped because I didn't know if it was allowed or forbidden. What is the Rabbi's opinion?
Answer
Hello
I am quoting from the instructions of our teacher, the Gaon, Rabbi Avraham Fried, shlita, on the matter:
Body hair is permitted to be shaved with scissors like a razor, [meaning it is allowed for the result to be like that of a good kosher razor], but removing with wax and laser is forbidden.
Source
Yoreh De'ah, Siman 182, S'if 1 and Darkei Teshuva there, S'K 1, 4
Regarding hair on other parts of the body, it is written in the Shulchan Aruch there that in places where men also remove hair, if someone removes, they are not punished. The Rema wrote that even initially it is permitted, and only the pious avoid it everywhere. Some wanted to say that in our times, when non-Jews remove body hair with laser, and even Jews who do not observe commandments remove, and even some who observe Torah and commandments have permitted this (not according to the instruction of a sage), it is no longer a prohibition of "not wearing." However, since the Pri Sha there is uncertain and says [and it is brought in the notes of R' Akiva Eiger there] that only if there are kosher Jewish men who remove, it is not "not wearing," therefore it is forbidden to remove body hair with laser and wax.