Haircuts during the current situation

Question:

Dear Rabbis,

Due to the situation we find ourselves in, it has been at least four weeks since I last had a haircut and it has become quite uncomfortable.

I have never cut my own hair before, nor had somebody other than a barber cut it.

I ordered a hair trimmer a few days ago but unfortunately it does not seem as if the courier will deliver it before Pesah.

I am therefore wondering when is the earliest date we are allowed to cut our hair after the seder?

I know that there are various minhagim but this year I want to be as mekel (lenient) as possible and get one as soon as it is possible according to the letter of the law.

Thank you in advance for your consideration and information!

Answer:

During the sefira period we abstain from taking haircuts, making wedding as and listening to music, as a show of aveilus during the 33 day period that the students of R’ Akiva died. There are different minhagim as to which 33 days to keep. The poskim say that although we should keep to our minhag, when needed, one can switch and keep a differant minhag. Therefore you can take a haircut after Pesach, and keep the second sefira, from Rosh Chodesh Iyar until before Shevous.

Best Wishes

Sources:

Minchas Yitzchok 4-84, Kovetz Halachos (Sefira) 8-2.