These halachos are based on the rulings of the Mishna Berura (MB), reflecting Ashkenazi practice.
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The Prohibition to Wash Oneself (‘rechitza’)
- It is forbidden to wash oneself on Tisha B’av, whether in hot or cold water and even just a small part of one’s body. However, this restriction only applies when washing oneself for pleasure or enjoyment (SA 554:7, MB19). As such, it is permissible to wash in the cases outlined below.
Incidental Hand Washing
- One who is preparing food and needs to wash it may do so, even if their hands will inevitably get wet (MB 554:19).
Medical Purposes
- One who has been walking and has sore or weak feet may wash them, as this is considered to be washing for medical purposes, not pleasure (SA 554:14, MB 26).
Negel Wasser – Washing One’s Hands in the Morning
- On waking up on Tisha B’Av morning, one should do ‘negel vasser’, washing each hand 3 times, but one should only wash until one’s knuckles.
- Mishna Berura here rules that one should not say a bracha on this hand-washing unless one has previously gone to the bathroom; if one has not yet done so, one should wait to say the bracha until one washes one’s hands after next going to the bathroom, as this washing of the hands then prepares one for davening.
- If one had already washed each hand three times on waking up, after using the bathroom one would then only need to wash each hand once, to the knuckle, using a utensil, in order to say the bracha (one who normally washes each hand three times after using the bathroom may do so on Tisha B’av).
- (It is worth noting that in hilchos Yom Kippur the MB seems to accept the ruling that one says the bracha after washing negel vasser as normal, even if one hasn’t been to the bathroom, seemingly contradicting his ruling here. One should consult a Rav for guidance) (SA 554:10, MB21, Dirshu 37, SH 10; SA 613:2, MB3, Pninei Halacha zmanim 10:6).
Leftover Moisture on One’s Hands
- After washing and drying one’s hands, if a little moisture remains on them one may wipe them over one’s eyes, face, hands or feet as this moisture is insignificant enough to be considered ‘washing’. One who wakes up with rheum (eye discharge) by one’s eyes and normally washes it off may do so on Tisha b’av, as this is like washing off dirt (SA 554:11, MB22).
Wiping Oneself with a Damp Towel or Wipes
- One may similarly wipe oneself on Tisha B’av with a slightly damp towel or wet wipe, even for pleasure, if these are dry enough that they will not impart enough moisture onto the body that could then moisten another surface if one touched it with that moisture on the body (which is known as ‘tofeiach al menas lehatpiach) (R 554:14, MB 27, Dirshu 46, SH 12).
In Cases of Distress
- One who will not have peace of mind all day unless they wipe their face with water on Tisha B’Av morning may do so, but others may not (MB 554:22).
To Remove Dirt
- On Tisha B’av, one whose hands (or other parts of their body) are dirty may wash the dirt off but should only use the water necessary to do so and not more (SA 554:9).
Washing One’s Hands After Going to the Bathroom
- One who went to the bathroom on Tisha B’av and touched an area of the body that is normally covered may wash their hands until the knuckles (or beyond if the hand is dirty the section above).
- If one did not touch such an area, there is a dispute whether one may wash one’s hands (as a preparation for saying Asher Yatzar); therefore one should ensure to touch such an area, ideally with both hands, so that one may definitely wash them.
- If one went to the bathroom before (or during) davening, then one may wash one’s hands to the knuckles whether or not one touched an area of the body which is normally covered, due to the requirement to prepare oneself for davening (‘hikon likras Elokecha yisrael’) (SA 613:3, MB4, Dirshu 8, PT fn65, BH”L 7:2 D”H Hitil, R 554:9, MB 20).
Touching Uncovered Areas of the Body or Shoes
- As referenced above, if one touched an area of the body which is normally covered with one of one’s hands on Tisha B’av, one may and should wash that individual hand until the knuckles (unlike when washing off a bit of dirt when one may only wash the specific area with the dirt on).
- The same applies if one touched a leather pair of shoes, though there is a dispute whether this also applies if one touched non-leather footwear, eg what one is wearing on Tisha B’Av – consult a Rav for practical guidance (MB 613:6, MB 614:14, Shoneh Halachos 7, PT 554:12)
Washing For Mitzva Purposes
- Before Mincha: One may wash one’s hands before davening Mincha on Tisha B’av, as this is for the purposes of a mitzva, to prepare oneself for davening (MB 554:21).
- Hefsek Tahara: A woman who is due to perform a hefsek tahara may not bathe herself, but she may wash that specific area prior to performing the hefsek (SHT 551:35).
- Mikva: However, a woman does not go to mikva on Tisha B’av, as intimacy is in any event forbidden. If she is due to go to mikvah on motzei Tisha B’Av, she should commence her preparations on Erev Tisha B’Av (including washing herself as normal), as she would do on Erev Shabbos (SA 554:8, MB17-18).
Anointing Oneself on Tisha B’av (‘sicha’)
- It is forbidden to apply oils, creams, soaps, sprays etc to one’s body on Tisha B’av, but only where one is doing so pleasure.
- Therefore, it is permitted to use soap to remove dirt and to apply creams for medical purposes, such as on sores or wounds and to use sprays against mosquitos (SA 554:15, MB28, BHL D”H Sicha, PT 14).
- Cosmetics: Under this prohibition, it is forbidden to apply cosmetics such as makeup and lipstick on Tisha B’av (Dirshu 554:47, PT14).
- Deodorant: Most poskim permit the application of deodorant, when done solely against bad odours, though some are stringent (so say one should suffice with applying deodorant before the fast) (Dirshu 554:48, PT14).
Newlywed Women
- There is a specific leniency for a newlywed woman within 30 days of marriage to wash her face and anoint herself, so her husband does not dislike her appearance (MB 554:29).
