The custom among Sepharadim is to refrain from haircutting during the period of Sefirat Ha’omer until the morning of the 34th day of the Omer. And so this year (5774), when Lag Ba’omer (the 33rd day of the Omer) is on Sunday, haircutting becomes permitted on Monday morning. One should not take a haircut on the night of the 34th (Sunday night this year), but one does not have to wait until the afternoon of the 34th.
Women may take haircuts throughout the Sefirat Ha’omer period.
There is some discussion among the Halachic authorities as to whether children may be given haircuts during the Omer. In his discussion of the laws of Tisha B’Ab (Orah Haim 551:14), the Shulhan Aruch writes that children should not be given haircuts during the week of Tisha B’Ab, just as adults must refrain from taking haircuts and shaving on those days. The Mishna Berura (Rav Yisrael Meir Kagan of Radin, 1839-1933) gives two reasons to explain this ruling. First, he writes, children should not take haircuts due to the requirement of Hinuch – to train children in the performance of Misvot. Additionally, children’s hair should not be cut in order to maintain the somber environment which is required during this period of mourning for the Bet Ha’mikdash. In the Sha’ar Ha’siyun, the Hafetz Haim notes that according to this second reason, even children under the age of six – when the requirement of Hinuch is generally assumed to begin – should not be given haircuts during this period. According to the first reason, however, children who have yet to reach the age of Hinuch may be given haircuts during the week of Tisha B’Ab.
The Halachic authorities note that as the status of the Omer period is treated less stringently than that of the week of Tisha B’Ab, we may allow children below the age of six to take haircuts during the Omer. And thus those who have the custom to give a three-year-old child his first haircut on Lag Ba’omer are certainly allowed to do so, even though Sepharadim generally do not allow haircutting until the 34th day.
A father who is making a Berit Mila during the Omer period may take a haircut on that day in honor of the occasion, as may a father making a Pidyon Ha’ben. However, even though one may host or attend a party (even with music) on the night after Lag Ba’omer, he may not take a haircut for the occasion, and must wait until the next morning.
Summary: According to Sephardic custom, men may not take haircuts during the Omer until the morning the 34th day of the Omer. Women and children under the age of six may take haircuts during this period, as may a man on the day of his son’s Berit Mila or Pidyon Ha’ben. Even though parties are allowed on the night after Lag Ba’omer, one may not take a haircut for such an occasion, and must wait until the next morning.
