May I pluck a hair that is bothering me, from my head on Shabbos?

Cutting hair on Shabbos falls under the umbrella of the melacha of 'gozez' – shearing. The Shulchan Aruch [1] teaches us that it is prohibited to cut or pluck hair, whether one uses an instrument, such as scissors, or one’s fingers.

There is a difference though as to the severity of the action: one is only chayav (biblically prohibited) when cutting hair with an instrument and rabbinically prohibited when pulling out hair with one’s fingers, in view of the fact that it is not the normal manner for removing hair. [2]

Another crucial issue is the number of hairs that need to be cut. For one to violate an issur d’oraisso (biblical prohibition) and be liable for the biblical punishment, one would need to cut at least two [3] hairs. Although cutting a single hair is also an issur d’oraisso [4] one is not subject to the punishment prescribed by the Torah.

Consequently, pulling out even a single hair is an issur d’rabanan (pulled out as opposed to cut) and it may not be done on Shabbos.

Is the cutting of two hairs always a melacha d’oraisso?

We find a machlokes between the Tosefos and the Rivash in this matter. [5] We must not forget that the source of this melacha is shearing sheep, and hence Tosefos says that in the Mishkan the sheep were sheared for their wool. Therefore, cutting hair for a purpose other than for the purpose of acquiring the hair itself, renders the cutting a melacha she’eina tsricha l’gufa – meaning that it is done for a motive other than that of the Mishkan. According to the halacha it would then only be an issur d’rabanan.

The Rivash, on the other hand, learns that this melacha was also practiced in the Mishkan for the purpose of cleaning the skins of hair. The hair was not used or wanted and nevertheless it is a melacha. Consequently, cutting hair for appearance sake will be a regular melacha d’oraisso.

Does it make a difference whether it is a white hair from black and that I am a male?

It does indeed make a difference. If we said that the basis of the melacha is two hairs, when removing a single white hair from amongst black or vice versa, one accomplishes a complete goal and is chayav on account of that single hair. [6] The Bi’ur Halacha says that some are of the opinion that one is chayav for pulling out such a hair, as it is normal to do so.

Being male compounds the problem because it is prohibited for a male to pluck a black hair from white or vice versa during the week as well, since it is an act of beautification, typical of women. This is the implementation of the issur of lo yilbosh gever simlas isha which includes beautifying oneself as women do.7] There are extenuating circumstances where this is permitted, and one must ask one’s rav when this is.

What about picking at fingernails on Shabbos?

Cutting a fingernail is also part of gozez. Cutting fingernails with an instrument is an issur d’oraisso [8] and picking them is an issur d’rabanan. A person who habitually picks or bites fingernails is in danger of violating the Shabbos, because he will most likely continue with his (bad) habit on Shabbos as well.

Is there a problem to remove ‘feather remnants’ from a chicken in my plate?

Removing feathers from a dead chicken is an issur d’oraisso. [9] Yet we find a machlokes haposkim as to whether it applies to a cooked chicken as well.

The Sh’miras Shabbos Kehilchasa [10] cites poskim who hold that it is ossur, but also cites lenient opinions. Rav Moshe Feinstein [11] is of the opinion that it is totally permitted.