Praise be to Allaah.
When the new moon of Dhu’l-Hijjah appears, it becomes haraam for the one who wants to offer a
sacrifice to remove anything from his hair, nails or skin, because of the
report narrated by Muslim (1977) from Umm Salamah (may Allaah be pleased
with her), that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him)
said: “When you see the new moon of Dhu’l-Hijjah, if one of you wants to
offer a sacrifice, let him refrain from (cutting) his hair and nails.”
According to another version: “When the ten days (of Dhu’l-Hijjah) begin, if
one of you wants to offer a sacrifice, let him not touch his hair or skin
with anything.”
Al-Nawawi (may Allaah have
mercy on him) said: The scholars differed concerning the one who wants to
offer a sacrifice when the ten days of Dhu’l-Hijjah begin. Sa’eed ibn
al-Musayyib, Rabee’ah, Ahmad, Ishaaq, Dawood and some of the companions of
al-Shaafa’i said that it is haraam for him to cut anything from his hair and
nails until he has offered the sacrifice at the time of sacrifice.
Al-Shaafa’i and his companions said that it is makrooh but not haraam… end
quote from Sharh Muslim.
This ruling is general in
meaning and applies to everyone who wants to offer a sacrifice, man or
woman.
Shaykh Ibn Baaz (may Allaah
have mercy on him) was asked: What is permissible for a woman who wants to
offer a sacrifice on behalf of herself and her household, or on behalf of
her parents, to do with regard to her hair once the ten days of Dhu’l-Hijjah
begin?
He replied: It is
permissible for her to undo her hair (if it is braided etc) and wash it, but
she should not comb it. If some of her hair falls out when it is being
undone or washed, that does not matter.
Fataawa al-Shaykh Ibn
Baaz (18/47).
The one who wants to offer
a sacrifice is not forbidden to do anything else, such as wear regular
clothes, wear perfume or have intercourse.
See also the answer to question no. 70290.
And Allaah knows best.