Are the substances such as dye, nail polish, lipstick, and hair gel obstacles to perform minor and major ablution?
The organs that should be washed need to be washed in a way that no part of them is left dry while performing ghusl and ablution. Otherwise, major (ghusl) and minor (wudu) ablutions will not be valid. Therefore, the person who will perform ghusl or wudu should not have any substance on his body or organs that will prevent water contacting the skin (Aliyy al-qari, Fath Bab al-‘Inayah, I, 73). However, painters who stick paint on their nails while performing their profession, or farmers who get mud between their nails and cannot remove it and other similar professionals are exempt from this rule. (al-Fatawa al-Hindiyya, I, 6; Ibn Abidin, Radd al-Muhtar, I, 288). For such people, things like dough, wax, gum, paint etc. that stick to the skin and stay between the nails do not prevent wudu and ghusl.
However, substances that are optionally applied or sticked to the body and that prevent the contact of water with the body are excluded from this concession. If such substances prevent water from contacting skin, they prevent performing ablution and ghusl too. Such substances need to be removed before performing ablution or ghusl. The hair gel does not prevent one from performing ablution or ghusl as it does not constitute a layer.
Source: Presidency Of Religious Affairs The Turkey, High Board of Religious Affairs FATWAS
May A Person Who Urinated Perform Ablution Before Waiting For A Certain Period?
