Are Wigs and Hair Extensions Haram?

Q: Are Wigs and Hair Extensions Haram?

Most scholars hold that attaching human hair to your own hair is haram, based on a hadith cursing the one who adds hair and the one who asks for it. Many allow extensions or wigs made of synthetic fibre or wool, and some allow wigs for medical hair loss.

Also asked as: “Are hair extensions haram?” · “Can Muslim women wear wigs?”

Human vs synthetic

The clearest prohibition concerns human hair. Synthetic hair is allowed by many scholars, especially when not used to deceive (for example before marriage).

Wigs and extensions

The hadith about adding hair is the basis for the strict view, and scholars have extended it to extensions. Synthetic hair avoids the question of human hair.

A wig for hair loss from medical treatment is allowed by many scholars. Wigs sold in salons are often made of human hair from unknown sources.

Written and checked by

Hafiz Nasir Mehmood

Quran HafizIslamic researcher

Last reviewed 2026-11-01. How we write these answers · Suggest a correction

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