Are men allowed to thin their hair out? Using thinning scissors?

Bismillahi Ta’ala

Walaikum Assalam Warahmatullah

Firstly, one should keep in mind that having uneven hair, i.e. short in some areas and longer in other areas, is impermissible. It has been narrated:

“Prophet ﷺ saw a young boy who had shaved some parts of his head and left the rest, so he ﷺْ forbade them from doing this, and he said: (Either) shave all of it or leave all of it” (Mishkat al Masabeeh, Kitab al Libaas)

Therefore, cutting one’s hair in an uneven manner, including fades or other techniques where the difference is visibly apparent etc. is impermissible. This excludes edge trimming over ear and around to keep the haircut clean.

As for thinning of hair using thinning scissors, one should look at the intended objective for doing so. The common custom among barbers and hair dressers today and their primary objective of using hair-thinning scissors is to enhance uneven haircuts, and to follow the modern fashion and celebrity-trends.

The Prophet ﷺ has mentioned in a hadith: “whosoever emulates a people, then he is from them”.

Therefore, as a Muslim, one should strive to adopt the sunnah of the prophet ﷺ to the best of their ability and be wary of emulating the methods of the non-Muslims, even in their fashion and culture.

The prophet ﷺ has mentioned in a hadith: “leave that which puts you in doubt for that which does not put you in doubt”. Therefore, it is better for one to avoid getting such haircuts or using such hair-thinning techniques that emulate modern fashion trends and which contradict the Sunnah.

However, if by using hair thinning scissors, one does not intend to emulate the non-muslims and only intends to maintain the tidiness of the hair without seeking an uneven hair length, then it will be permissible.

One should also remain cautious about what hairs are being thinned. If it falls under the thinning of the eyebrows, or the trimming of the beard below the waajib length, it is impermissible.

Wallahu A’lam

And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best
Mufti Faisal al-Mahmudi