Washing in Cold Water
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Question
Our hot water boiler broke, and my wife is supposed to immerse tonight. Can she wash in cold water?
Answer
Shalom and blessings
The poskim have written that one should not wash hair in cold water before immersion, as cold water hardens the hair and prevents it from being properly cleaned, and it does not remove dirt from the hair adequately. Therefore, there is no issue with washing the entire body in cold water, but the hair must be washed in hot water. [It is possible to heat water in a kettle and wash the hair with it].
However, if she has already washed her hair in cold water and sees that the hair is not tangled and has no knots, and it is properly cleaned, she is permitted to immerse.
Source
Shulchan Aruch, Yoreh De'ah, Siman 199