Question about Removing Nail Polish before Mikveh
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Question
Hello Rabbi, I am Ashkenazi and my wife, when going to the mikveh, removes her nail polish, and this usually happens on the day of the mikveh. I want to ask the Rabbi if it is okay for her to remove and apply new polish before immersion, or if it is a barrier and she should do it only after immersion. I emphasize again that it bothers her a lot since it is on the same day, and she really wants to do it beforehand. Thank you.
Answer
Hello
Immersion with nail polish is not correct according to the law. According to the law, there should be nothing on the woman at the time of immersion. However, if something is done for beauty and in its current state beautifies the woman, it does not hinder the immersion.
Therefore, ideally, the polish should be removed at the time of immersion and renewed only afterward.
However, if it is impossible to completely remove the polish, the remnants are considered a barrier and hinder the immersion. Therefore, in such a case, care should be taken that the polish is whole and beautiful, not broken and incomplete, in such a state it is not a barrier.
Source
Shulchan Aruch, Yoreh De'ah, Siman 198