Haircut for a Sephardi on Rosh Chodesh Iyar

To HaRav HaGaon Rabbi Amram Fried shlita,
Shalom Rav,
As is known, this year the day of Rosh Chodesh Iyar falls, with God’s help, on Erev Shabbat, and our custom during the days of Sefirat HaOmer is not to shave or take a haircut at all. However, since this is difficult, especially for those of Sephardi communities, whose hair in their regions grows faster than that of Ashkenazim, those who are lenient wish to come and get a haircut and shave this coming Friday. May the Rav instruct us whether this is permitted or forbidden?
With respect, in honor of the Torah.

The ruling of our teacher, HaRav HaGaon Rabbi Amram Fried: 

Those who are not particular to follow the Tzava’at (ethical will) of Rabbi Yehuda HaChasid are permitted to take a haircut on Erev Shabbat that falls on Rosh Chodesh Iyar, starting from sunset on Thursday night (both Ashkenazim and Sephardim). Even those who are careful to follow the Tzava’at of Rabbi Yehuda HaChasid and do not take haircuts on Rosh Chodesh may be lenient here, for Rosh Chodesh Iyar is different. Those who follow the customs of the Arizal are forbidden in any case. 

Therefore, regarding the custom of the Sephardim: in practice, Sephardim did not accept upon themselves the stringencies of Rabbi Yehuda HaChasid, and therefore there is no problem from the perspective of taking a haircut on Rosh Chodesh. On the other hand, many Sephardim have accepted the customs of the Arizal, and according to their custom there is no room to be lenient concerning haircuts on Rosh Chodesh Iyar. 

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