Indeed, hair washing and bathing in warm water are prohibited on Shabbat, so whether at home or at the mikveh, these preparations for immersion should be completed before Shabbat begins.

In your case, you may bathe and wash your hair earlier in the day on Friday, any time after sunrise, and can do so at home or at another location (a friend's house, a local gym, etc.). If no bath is available, you can wash yourself thoroughly in the shower, using warm water at least for washing your hair and the creases and folds of your body. At the mikveh on Friday night, if necessary, you may use cold water and liquid soap to wash off parts of your body that may have become sweaty or dirty.

If you have longer hair, you could put your hair in a ponytail or a bun after washing and combing earlier in the day, to keep it from getting knotted. If possible, recomb your hair before Shabbat. At the mikveh, you should run your fingers through your hair to remove any loose hairs before you immerse, trying not to pull out any hairs.

You may brush and floss your teeth earlier in the day, and then refrain from eating afterwards. If this isn't possible, you may clean your teeth on Shabbat in a manner that is permissible - not using cream or gel toothpaste, and being careful not make your gums bleed. You may also shave and cut your nails a day or two in advance, as they do not grow back that fast.

Although Ashkenazic practice is to conceal the night of mikveh immersion, it is okay for a few people (preferably women) to find out about it if that is the only way you can properly prepare for mikveh.

For more details regarding immersion on Shabbat and Yom Tov, see our article or video. If you still have difficulties we have not addressed, please write back to us with specifics of the problem so we can try to help you further, or call our telephone hotline.

This response was updated on 31 October, 2025.