Haircuts After Lag Ba'omer

Can you get a haircut after lag baomer but before Shavuot

Shalom!

Thank you for your question.

As a general rule, yes, Ashkenazim are permitted to shave and have haircuts after Lag Ba’omer. Allow me to explain.

According to most customs, there are 33 days during the Omer period that are observed as a time of mourning, most notably the ban on haircuts, shaving, dancing, and holding weddings. This is to remember the death of Rabbi Akiva's 24,000 students.

There are several customs regarding when these 33 days are observed. Some observe the mourning period from the beginning of the Omer until Lag Ba’omer for a total of 33 days. According to this approach, once Lag Ba’omer arrives, all mourning practices conclude, and haircuts and the like are permitted for the remainder of the Omer.

Others observe the 33 days of mourning from Rosh Chodesh Iyar until three days before the holiday of Shavuot (with slight variations to this custom). According to this approach, one would not cut one’s hair after Lag Ba’omer (though it is permitted on Lag Ba’omer itself).

Additionally, some, especially Chassidim and many who live in Eretz Yisrael, observe the mourning restrictions for the entire Omer period, including Lag Ba’omer, while others relax the mourning restrictions on Lag Ba’omer but resume them the next day.

To answer your question: most Ashkenazim do indeed cease the mourning restrictions after Lag Ba’omer and are therefore permitted to cut their hair anytime thereafter. Sephardim are permitted to get haircuts any time after the 34th day of the Omer. However, if you started the mourning period from Rosh Chodesh Iyar, you should wait until just before Shavuot to get a haircut.

Rama, OC 493:3; Mishna Berura 493:15; Azamra L'shmecha, Sefirat Ha'omer.