Short answer
No, not if you made wudu over it. Ordinary nail polish forms a layer that stops water reaching the nail, so wudu and ghusl are not valid and nor is the prayer. Henna only stains, so it does not block water and is fine.
Water must reach every part washed in wudu and ghusl, including the nails. Nail polish is a barrier, so wudu over it is invalid. Wearing it is permitted when not needed for prayer, for example during the period, but it must be removed before ghusl. Henna and dyes that leave only colour are not a barrier.
The four schools agree on this.
Explanation
Washing the hands and feet fully is fard in wudu. A man once made wudu and left a spot the size of a nail dry on his foot. The Prophet ﷺ saw it and told him to go back and do his wudu properly. Nail polish covers all of the nail, so wudu over it is not complete. The four schools agree on the principle that a barrier must be removed.
Practical points:
- During your period you can wear nail polish, since you are not praying, but remove it before your ghusl.
- Outside your period, apply it after wudu if you like, but you must remove it for the next wudu.
- If you prayed with it by mistake, remove it, make wudu again and repeat those prayers.
- Gel, acrylics and press-ons are the same as polish: they block water.
"Breathable" or "halal" nail polish: some brands claim water passes through. Scholars and testers disagree on whether enough water actually reaches the nail when you make wudu normally. Many muftis advise avoiding it for wudu; if you want to use it, ask a mufti about the specific product.
Henna is different. It stains the skin and nails but leaves no layer, so wudu and ghusl over it are valid. Women in the time of the Prophet ﷺ used henna and it remains a lovely sunnah adornment. Make sure the paste itself is washed off before wudu. The same applies to hair dye that only colours. See how to make wudu.
Ask a mufti about your own case. This answer explains the general ruling. When the details of your situation matter, as they do here, ask a qualified mufti and give them the full facts. Where to ask a scholar.
The evidence
Quran, Surah Al-Maaida 5:6
يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓا۟ إِذَا قُمْتُمْ إِلَى ٱلصَّلَوٰةِ فَٱغْسِلُوا۟ وُجُوهَكُمْ وَأَيْدِيَكُمْ إِلَى ٱلْمَرَافِقِ وَٱمْسَحُوا۟ بِرُءُوسِكُمْ وَأَرْجُلَكُمْ إِلَى ٱلْكَعْبَيْنِ ۚ وَإِن كُنتُمْ جُنُبًۭا فَٱطَّهَّرُوا۟ ۚ وَإِن كُنتُم مَّرْضَىٰٓ أَوْ عَلَىٰ سَفَرٍ أَوْ جَآءَ أَحَدٌۭ مِّنكُم مِّنَ ٱلْغَآئِطِ أَوْ لَٰمَسْتُمُ ٱلنِّسَآءَ فَلَمْ تَجِدُوا۟ مَآءًۭ فَتَيَمَّمُوا۟ صَعِيدًۭا طَيِّبًۭا فَٱمْسَحُوا۟ بِوُجُوهِكُمْ وَأَيْدِيكُم مِّنْهُ ۚ مَا يُرِيدُ ٱللَّهُ لِيَجْعَلَ عَلَيْكُم مِّنْ حَرَجٍۢ وَلَٰكِن يُرِيدُ لِيُطَهِّرَكُمْ وَلِيُتِمَّ نِعْمَتَهُۥ عَلَيْكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ ﴿٦﴾
O you who have believed, when you rise to [perform] prayer, wash your faces and your forearms to the elbows and wipe over your heads and wash your feet to the ankles. And if you are in a state of janabah, then purify yourselves. But if you are ill or on a journey or one of you comes from the place of relieving himself or you have contacted women and do not find water, then seek clean earth and wipe over your faces and hands with it. Allah does not intend to make difficulty for you, but He intends to purify you and complete His favor upon you that you may be grateful.
Commands washing the limbs fully in wudu.
Sahih Muslim 243
Sahih... ارجع فأحسن وضوءك ...
"Go back and do your wudu properly."
Said to a man who left a nail-sized spot dry, showing every part must be washed.
Where the ruling is recorded
- Radd al-Muhtar (Ibn Abidin), Kitab al-Taharah, the fard acts of wudu. A substance that stops water reaching the skin must be removed; colour alone does not matter.
- al-Fatawa al-Hindiyya, Kitab al-Taharah, chapter on wudu. Henna colour on the nails does not prevent wudu.
This answer is pending review by the scholars on our team. Quran translation by Sahih International. Hadith Arabic from the standard editions of the six books and the Muwatta, with gradings as recorded there; the English is our own rendering. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.