Can I use hair dye or henna while fasting?

Detailed answer

Using hair dye or henna does not break the fast. The fast is broken by eating, drinking and similar acts, while colouring the hair, beard, hands or feet only touches the outside of the body. There is no need to wait until after iftar, unless you simply prefer to.

What the Sunnah says

Dyeing grey hair is a sunnah. The Prophet said: "The Jews and Christians do not dye their hair, so be different from them" (Bukhari and Muslim). Henna and katam, a plant that gives a dark colour, were used in his time. When the elderly father of Abu Bakr was brought to him with completely white hair, the Prophet told them to change its colour but to avoid black (Muslim). For this reason many scholars discourage pure black dye, while others allow it in some cases. Henna on the hands and feet is a traditional adornment for women, especially for Eid and weddings.

Wudu and ghusl

• Henna and normal hair dyes stain the hair and skin. They do not form a layer that blocks water, so wudu and ghusl are valid with them.
• Some products, such as hair glue or certain coatings, do form a waterproof layer. These should be removed before wudu or ghusl.
• Nail polish is a separate case; see nail polish in Ramadan.

Tips

• Keep dye away from your mouth and lips, and rinse your face carefully, so nothing is swallowed.
• The smell of dye does not affect the fast, but if the fumes make you feel unwell, apply it after iftar.
• Do a patch test first, as some people react to chemical dyes and to so-called "black henna".
• Applying henna on the night before Eid is a lovely way to welcome it. See the sunnahs of Eid al-Fitr.

The general rule

The same principle applies to creams and lotions; see creams and lotions while fasting. In general, what goes on the skin does not break the fast; what goes into the mouth and down the throat does.