Why Do Some Jewish Women Wear Wigs?

Biblical vs. Community Standard

Biblical law doesn’t mandate women’s head-covering (Mishnah, Ketubot), but rather community-defined modesty standards (tzniut) established later.

Hair and the Concept of Modesty

The issue isn’t preventing attractiveness to other men specifically. Rather, hair carries a definition as “sexually erotic, having the ability to arouse sexual or erotic thoughts in men who look upon it” (Berachot 24a).

Diverse Coverage Practices

Not all married religious women shave their heads or cover identically. Methods include total scarves, leaving two fingers’ width of visible hair in front, hats, wigs, or even scarves and hats over wigs for enhanced modesty in certain Hasidic groups.

Denominational Variations

Sephardic and National Religious communities’ Rabbis consider wigs insufficiently modest, preferring scarves or hats. Conversely, the Lubavitcher Rebbe encouraged Chabad women to wear only wigs.

Theological Distinction from Men

Men’s head-covering relates to piety and “awe of God,” while women’s does not. Women are considered Shutafot LaBoreh — Partners to the Creator — requiring no piety reminders. This obligation is “built in” to everything they do.

Additionally, women are exempt from time-based commandments because their responsibilities are “too important to interrupt with reminders of piety, which, unlike men, are unnecessary for them.”