Can a married woman (sephardi) use a wig as a hair covering? And what’s the criteria for it to be considered modest?
The discussion of hair coverings has become a hot topic in recent years, and we will try to address this issue here clearly and concisely.
The vast majority of poskim, both askenazi and sefardi, hold that is is permissible for a woman to cover her hair with a wig. Even though it looks like hair, in the end of the day her hair is covered, and so there is no problem. These poskim include: Rama (O.C. 75, 2), Shulchan Aruch Harav (ibid s.k. 4), Mishna Berura (ibid s.k. 15), Kaf Hachaim (ibid s.k. 19), Rabbi Moshe Feinstein (igrot moshe אה”ע ח”ב סי’ יב), Rav Eliyashiv (as heard from Rabbi Dovid Morgenstern).
On the other hand, there are many poskim who disagree and say that it is assur. These include Chatam Sofer (ibid), Rabbi Ovadia Yosef (yabia omer אה”ע ח”ה סי’ ה).
In short, most poskim, both askenazi and sefardi, hold that is is permissible, while some prohibit. One should follow their family custom. If one doesn’t have a custom, one can follow the majority opinion that holds it is permissible.
The criteria of a wig: As with all issues of tzniut, anything which stands out or draws attention should not be worn. Otherwise, there is no problem. It is impossible to give clear guidelines to this, rather whatever is accepted in their community is what is permissible, and anything else which stands out or draws attention should be avoided.
