Hair Covering For Divorced/Widowed Women

When can you start to uncover your hair when getting divorced

Shalom!

Thank you for your question.

A simple reading of all the major codes of law clearly indicate that a divorced or widowed woman is required to continue covering her hair, as it says, “Jewish women do not go out in public with uncovered hair regardless of whether they are married or single.” The term “single” does not refer to teenage girls or women who were never married but, rather, it refers to women who were once married and are now single. (1)  While all authorities agree that the obligation for married women to cover their hair is a Torah obligation, some rule that the obligation for “single” women to cover their hair is a Rabbinic one. (2)  Others rule that it is a Torah obligation for both divorced or widowed women to cover their hair. 

Divorced and widowed women who do not cover their hair base their practice primarily on a ruling by Rabbi Moshe Feinstein. Although Rabbi Feinstein held that even divorced and widowed women must continue to cover their hair, he made an exception in two specific situations. The first exception was the case of a widow whose employer requires her to come to work with her hair uncovered or, by extension, a situation that would prevent her from earning a livelihood if she covered her hair. In such cases of financial loss he rules that one can be lenient. (3) The second exception was the case of a divorced woman who felt that men would be more hesitant to date a woman who was clearly previously married, thereby limiting her chances for getting remarried. Rabbi Feinstein ruled that this consideration justified the woman to cease covering her hair. (4)

Although Rabbi Feinstein was one of the greatest halachic decisors of the 20th century, most other halachic authorities vehemently disagreed with his leniency. (5) It is also noted that nowadays wigs look as nice, or nicer, as natural hair. In fact, it is not always obvious that someone is wearing a wig. Furthermore, even non-Jewish women wear wigs nowadays when facing hair loss, and the like. Even Rabbi Ovadia Yosef who vehemently opposes wigs for married women allows divorcees and widows to wear them when needed. As such, it is difficult to justify divorced or widowed women going out with their hair uncovered nowadays.

Bottom Line: Divorced and widowed women must continue to cover their hair. There are very few exceptions to this rule. 

[1]  Rambam, Hilchot Issurei Biah 21:17; EH 21:2; Beit Shmuel 21:5; Chelkat Mechokek 21:2; Aruch Hashulchan, EH 21:4.

[2]  Igrot Moshe, EH 1:57; Yabia Omer, EH 4:3.

[3]  Igrot Moshe, EH 1:57.

[4]  Igrot Moshe, EH 4:32:4.

[5]  See, for example, Yabia Omer, EH 4:3; Lev Avraham 107, Machazeh Eliyahu 119, and Halichot Bat Yisrael Chap. 5 note 8.