Short answer
Yes. Washing your hair, showering and bathing during your period are all allowed and good for hygiene. Cutting nails and removing hair are also allowed. Some Hanafi texts call it mildly disliked to cut hair or nails while in a state that needs ghusl, so waiting until after ghusl is better if it is easy, but it is not a sin.
Washing and bathing are permitted without any dislike. Cutting the nails or removing hair while in janabah is described in al-Fatawa al-Hindiyya as makruh, and many Hanafi muftis apply this as a light dislike (makruh tanzihi) during the period too. There is no need to keep cut hair or nails to wash them in the later ghusl.
The four schools agree on this.
Explanation
A common belief in some cultures is that a woman should not wash her hair or bathe during her period. There is no basis for this in the Quran or the Sunnah. Aishah combed and washed the Prophet's hair while she was menstruating, and he told her that her period was not in her hand. Cleanliness is loved by Allah, and a shower during the period is part of it.
Cutting nails and removing hair:
- The dislike: the Hanafi fatwa books mention that cutting hair or nails while junub is makruh. Many muftis extend this to the period, but as a light dislike, not a prohibition.
- When it is better to go ahead: if your nails are long, broken or dirty, or it has been close to 40 days, cut them. The Sunnah of the fitrah is more important than a light dislike.
- Removing pubic and underarm hair: allowed. Many women find the end of the period, just before ghusl, the easiest time.
- Myths: you do not need to collect cut hair or nails and wash them in your ghusl later.
So shower and wash your hair as often as you like. If you can easily leave nail cutting until after your ghusl, do so; if not, cut them. See the Sunnah way of cutting nails, removing body hair and what is not allowed during your period.
The evidence
Quran, Surah Al-Baqara 2:222
وَيَسْـَٔلُونَكَ عَنِ ٱلْمَحِيضِ ۖ قُلْ هُوَ أَذًۭى فَٱعْتَزِلُوا۟ ٱلنِّسَآءَ فِى ٱلْمَحِيضِ ۖ وَلَا تَقْرَبُوهُنَّ حَتَّىٰ يَطْهُرْنَ ۖ فَإِذَا تَطَهَّرْنَ فَأْتُوهُنَّ مِنْ حَيْثُ أَمَرَكُمُ ٱللَّهُ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يُحِبُّ ٱلتَّوَّٰبِينَ وَيُحِبُّ ٱلْمُتَطَهِّرِينَ ﴿٢٢٢﴾
And they ask you about menstruation. Say, "It is harm, so keep away from wives during menstruation. And do not approach them until they are pure. And when they have purified themselves, then come to them from where Allah has ordained for you. Indeed, Allah loves those who are constantly repentant and loves those who purify themselves."
Allah loves cleanliness, which includes washing during the period.
Sahih Muslim 298
Sahih... إن حيضتك ليست في يدك ...
"Your menstruation is not in your hand."
A menstruating woman's body is not impure, so washing and grooming are normal.
Sahih al-Bukhari 5889
Sahih... الفطرة خمس الختان والاستحداد ونتف الإبط وتقليم الأظفار وقص الشارب ...
"Five things are part of the fitrah: circumcision, shaving the pubic hair, plucking the armpits, cutting the nails and trimming the moustache."
Cutting nails and removing hair are Sunnah grooming that should not be neglected.
Where the ruling is recorded
- al-Fatawa al-Hindiyya, Kitab al-Karahiyya, chapter on circumcision, shaving and cutting nails. Shaving hair or cutting nails in a state of janabah is disliked.
Checked by our team. For a more accurate answer to your own situation, consult a scholar. 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.