- Family and Society
- Head Covering
Hair covering for unmarried women who are not virgins
Question
There is a custom that the bride’s hair is only covered after yichud. This hints that it is sexual activity that creates the requirement, rather than kiddushin or marriage.
What about a woman who has never married but who is also not a virgin? While this is rare in traditional society (a girl taken captive, a pogrom, chas v’shalom), it is no longer rare in secular society.
Answer
Shalom,
Thank you for your question. In fact your question is discussed at length by the rabbis. The Shulchan Aruch (Even HaEzer, 21,2) writes that "Jewish women should not walk bareheaded in the market place, whether unmarried or married". The commentators (ibid) all work hard to define what the law is that forbids unmarried women going about with uncovered hair. (See the Pitchay Tshuva note 2 ibid). And, in fact one opinion does explain that it is referring to unmarried women who have had relations, such as divorcees, widowers, or even those who suffered rape, or had premarital relations etc.
While this is one explication of the text, the halacha follows the majority of commentators who explain that single women who have never been married do not cover their hair, even if they have already had relations with a man. They explain that the Shulchan Aruch is referring to unmarried divorcees or widowers only. Alternatively they explain the text not be talking about being bareheaded, but rather translate it to mean forbidding having loose flowing hair, which they apply even unmarried women, (though many dispute this understanding also). The practiced halacha is then for all women who have never been married to remain bareheaded until their weddings.
Because this is the practiced halacha, it would seem that if a women was to cover her hair before marriage based on the opinions that obligate a single woman after relations with a man to cover her hair, it would be terribly immodest, and therefore forbidden.
Blessings.

Wife refuses to cover hair
Rabbi Ari Shvat | Adar 6, 5775

Hair covering - Why?
Rabbi Elchanan Lewis | 10 Shevat 5766

Shaitels for non-married women
Rabbi David Sperling | Tammuz 29, 5779
Woman covering hair in front of her father
Rabbi Gideon Weitzman | Kislev 18, 5772

Rabbi David Sperling

Cruise travel on Shabbat
Nisan 25, 5771

Rosh Hashanah
Adar II 25, 5771

thief on shabbat
Adar II 24, 5771

tikkun chatzot
Iyyar 22, 5771

Taking medicine on Yom Kipur
Rabbi Elchanan Lewis | 28 Av 5766

Taking medicine on Yom Kipur
Rabbi Elchanan Lewis | 28 Av 5766

Taking advil on Yom Kippur
Rabbi Chaim Tabasky | 10 Tishrei 5768

Food, medications and Yom Kippur
Rabbi Yoel Lieberman | Av 13, 5780

Tefillos Rosh Hashanah
Rabbi Ari Shvat | Tishrei 3, 5784
