ihyaus sunnah

Halq or taqsir

How much hair must men cut or shave after Umrah?

Brothers who shorten must cut at least a fingertip's length, about an inch, from all the hair, and it is safer to cut a little more. The least that releases you from ihram is a quarter of the head, but the sunnah is to shave or shorten all of it.

The Kaaba and the Masjid al-Haram in Makkah
Pilgrims at tawaf around the Kaaba

Shortening

Cut at least a fingertip's length, about an inch, from all the hair. To be safe, cut a little more than that. If your hair is already shorter than a fingertip's length, shortening will not work and you must shave.

Shaving

Shaving the whole head is best. If you have no hair, pass the razor over the head. Clippers that take the hair down to the skin count as shaving.

A few strands is not enough

At least a quarter of the head must be shaved or shortened, and the sunnah is the whole head. Cutting a few strands leaves you still in ihram. See halq or taqsir.

More questions

Can I cut my own hair?

Yes. Be careful about cutting someone else's hair while you are still in ihram yourself, as it can bring a charity penalty. Ask a scholar if you are unsure.

Are barbers nearby?

Barbers are found outside the masjid near Marwah.

What can I do once my hair is cut?

Every restriction of ihram is lifted. See what is permitted after Umrah.

Perform your Umrah with confidence

Follow every rite in order, with counters and duas in Arabic, in our step by step Umrah guide. To study the Hanafi rulings behind it with qualified teachers, see our courses, or explore our apps. Ihya us Sunnah is sustained by its community, so please consider supporting our work.

This guide follows the Hanafi method and is based on Shaykh Mufti Wajid Iqbal's Umrah book, Essential Islam. For your own situation, ask a qualified scholar.