It is a Misva to take a haircut and shave before Yom Tob so that one does not look unkempt on the holiday. On Hol Ha’mo’ed it is forbidden to take a haircut or shave; this prohibition applies to all of a person’s hair, both on his head and on his face. Even if a person was unable to take a haircut or shave before Yom Tob due to circumstances beyond his control, and even if he normally shaves every day or every few days, he may not do so on Hol Ha’mo’ed. There is a minority opinion among the Halachic authorities that allows having one’s hair cut on Hol Ha’mo’ed by a poor person who has no other money on which to live, but most authorities do not make an exception in this instance.
A person who was released from prison or captivity during Hol Ha’mo’ed is allowed to take a haircut. This applies even if he had been in a Jewish prison and the jail authorities permitted him to cut his hair before Yom Tob, since a prisoner is not in an emotional state where he can think of grooming himself. Similarly, a person who was traveling – whether overseas or even just out of town – and he returned to his town on Hol Ha’mo’ed, or late in the day on Ereb Yom Tob and did not have time to shave or take a haircut, he may shave and take a haircut on Hol Ha’mo’ed. In such a case he must ensure to shave and take a haircut discreetly, and not in public. People who are allowed to take a haircut on Hol Ha’mo’ed may have a Jew cut their hair.
If a person was in mourning for a parent, Heaven forbid, and the thirty-day mourning period came to an end during Hol Ha’mo’ed, and his peers commented to him that he needs to groom himself, he may shave and take a haircut on Hol Ha’mo’ed.
It is permissible to shower with hot water and soap, and to comb one’s hair, during Hol Ha’mo’ed. Although some authorities forbade mopping floors during Hol Ha’mo’ed, common practice follows the lenient position that permits sweeping and mopping. Ashkenazim forbid cutting nails during Hol Ha’mo’ed, but Sephardic practice allows doing so. One may iron clothes with a hot iron, and polish shoes, during Hol Ha’mo’ed. If one’s eyeglasses broke on Hol Ha’mo’ed, he may fix them, even if this requires professional workmanship.
One should not move into a new residence during Hol Ha’mo’ed, unless he is moving from a rented property into a residence which he owns, in which case moving is allowed.
If a person had brought a utensil to a workman to repair, he may pick it up from the workman during Hol Ha’mo’ed if he needs it during the holiday, but not if it is needed only after the holiday.
