Matzav Inbox: Microblading and Halachic Ignorance in the Frum Community

10:45 am
22
>>Follow Matzav On Whatsapp!<<

Dear Matzav Inbox,

I was deeply concerned upon reading recent advertisements and witnessing the growing trend of microblading within the frum community. While it may be marketed as a beauty procedure, it raises serious halachic questions that should not be overlooked, as I will outline. I hope Matzav readers and others will take notice.

Microblading, for those Matzav readers who may not be familiar, involves the semi-permanent tattooing of eyebrows using fine needles to deposit pigment into the skin. At best, this procedure is a shailah in halacha, and at worst, it may be outrightly assur according to leading poskim.

Several prominent halachic authorities have clearly expressed their disapproval of permanent or semi-permanent tattoos, which is a major concern in the context of microblading. The Torah forbids tattoos, as stated in the posuk (Vayikra 19:28), “You shall not make gashes in your flesh for the dead, nor shall you tattoo any marks upon you.” The Gemara in Makkos (21b) and Rashi’s explanation (ad loc.) further clarifies that the prohibition includes any form of body modification, which would extend to tattooing of any kind.

The gedolei haposkim have similarly condemned tattooing and related procedures. Hagaon Rav Moshe Feinstein zt”l, in Igros Moshe (Yoreh De’ah 2:173), ruled that tattooing is prohibited by the Torah, and this prohibition applies to any permanent body modification. Hagaon Rav Shmuel Halevi Wosner zt”l, in his Shevet HaLevi (vol. 9, siman 259), also emphasizes the prohibition, noting that it applies to permanent tattoos as well as those that may fade over time.

Although microblading may not be as permanent as a traditional tattoo, it still involves the insertion of pigment into the skin, which may present the same halachic issues. Even if the procedure is not considered a “tattoo” in the conventional sense, it is still a form of body alteration that may fall under the prohibition of tattooing. Additionally, some poskim argue that any form of permanent marking, even for cosmetic purposes, is forbidden.

In light of these sources and the halachic concerns raised, it is troubling that microblading is being advertised to members of the frum community.

And honestly, how is it that women in our community can just ignore halacha like this? How can they just do whatever they want, without a care for what poskim say or what the halacha is? It’s time we stop pretending that halacha doesn’t matter when it comes to how we look or what we do. Are we really going to let this slide, or are we going to wake up and take a stand for what’s right?

Very Bothered

 

Boro Park, Brooklyn

To submit a letter to appear on Matzav.com, email [email protected]

DON’T MISS OUT! Join the Matzav Status by CLICKING HERE. Join the Matzav WhatsApp Groups by CLICKING HERE.

The opinions expressed in letters on Matzav.com do not necessarily reflect the stance of the Matzav Media Network.

RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR

22 COMMENTS

  1. When core values are not being taught, this is the result. Across the board and all frum communities at their level, yiddishkeit became a form of show n’tell, it has to look good. The effort put into cellphones, everyone BH has 2 phones. Micro blading eyebrows is a problem? Reap what you sow.

  2. When core values are not being taught, this is the result. Across the board and all frum communities at their level, yiddishkeit became a form of show n’tell, it has to look good. The effort put into cellphones, everyone BH has 2 phones. Micro blading eyebrows is a problem? Reap what you sow.

  3. I appreciate the concern of the letter writer in his desire to inform the public of this genuine and important concern.

    This procedure treatment is not conclusively forbidden in all cases and depends on the specific circumstances. Each person should consult with a competent Rov for their personal situation.
    It might be true that the advertising is too much, but the protesting need not be strident either. I would caution against assuming the worst, unless there is first hand knowledge to that effect.

    With blessings for success in being mezake the Rabim

    – An appreciative reader.

  4. (I copied this): Rav Yehuda Henkin z”l, the founding rabbinic supervisor of this site, permitted the use of permanent makeup specifically when it would restore a woman’s natural features. (For example, if a woman suffers from a medical condition that causes her eyebrows to fall out, permanent makeup would be allowed to restore the look of her eyebrows.) This approach would be based on viewing the potential prohibition here as rabbinic, and a restorative process as a matter of kevod haberiyot (preserving dignity) and relieving real distress.

    But in a case of enhancing or adding on to one’s natural look, Rav Henkin would not permit use of permanent makeup, which at least could give the impression of tattooing; that impression is itself a halachic concern.

    • Dear friend, the excerpt you bring here is certainly missing context, yet in its current state, seemingly has no bearing on the subject of microblading. Perhaps it was mentioned earlier?
      Either way, in its current iteration this certainly seems to qualify as ‘piskei dinim’, which do not help yet harm.

      In short, nothing you stated seems to negate the authors points.

  6. i think i am in the know bh have a wife & 4 married ( hodu lashem) i asked my kids none of them even know where u cud get this done or anyone whos done it
    but you have a good point ,
    it wud be helpful if you present this shaloh to 3 big poskim w a response ( next time BEFORE you put out a letter)

  7. It isn’t willful ignorance of the Poskim it’s more just plain ignorance

    It is a cosmetic treatment and it most probably doesn’t occur to those using it that it could be assur .

    The same is true about some alternate medicine treatments that have become mainstream.

    Rav Yisroel Belsky’s book on alternative medicine considers many of them avodah zarah.

    Perhaps High Schools and Seminaries can have a course on these matters.

    • Excuse me Zlate, what in the world is wrong with alternate medicine? If anything, everyone should use it and be cured and saved from evil doctors using traditional mainstream treatment who don’t have your interest and health in mind.

  8. I met a lady last week and I complimented her on her lipstick. and she said it’s not lipstick it’s microblation. She said she has not worn makeup in 3 years since shes had it done. She was also wearing permanent eyeliner. You could have sworn she had put on makeup that day. It’s really unbelievable. She said her Rav said it’s not a chatzitza because it’s too deep into the skin and it’s not a tattoo because it’s too shallow to be considered permanent. Some chassidish lady did it for her in Brooklyn but so far it has lasted 3 years.

  9. I agree with the first 2 comments. These kleine kep chachomim are so fixated on demeaning and calling any parent that owns a smartphone a rasha mirusha, that all else pales in comparison. Chitzounis is always the ikur.

  15. Microblading, for those Matzav readers who may not be familiar, involves the semi-permanent tattooing of eyebrows using fine needles to deposit pigment into the skin.

    According to most Rishonim a temporary tattoo is only D’Rabanon. Rav Yisroel Reisman related in a shiur on tattoos that a woman in his shul who was undergoing chemo lo alienue asked him if she can do this or a similar temporary eyebrow procedure. He did not want to take achriyus for telling her yes (there were a few reasons to be mattir) so he asked Rav Pam who also discussed it with his son who is a Rav in Toronto. They all agreed that under such circumstances r’l she can do it.

    No one should ever have any tattoo questions but if you do ask a shaalo

  16. in the shtetl my zayda told me things were simpler and no one cared for the outside world, everyone was a Yiray Shomayim and their biggest concern was serving the Aibishter. In fact he told me that the only thing to do in town was to learn or work, no one had these concepts of vacation, and of this above narishkeit. We need to go back to a time of the helega shtetl.

  17. After nose plastic surgery, botox on lips, top of the line sheitel, eyelashes, hair transplant and ozempic to reduce my waist to a size 6, I was on the fence about microblading my eyebrows. On the one hand I thought it could enhance my appearance but on the other hand I was concerned lest it make me look too fake. Your article convinced me to not go thru with it, at least just yet. Thanks so much!

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here