Ruling on dealing in cosmetics and hairdressers’ supplies
Question

                Is it permissible to deal in selling hairdressers’ supplies and other cosmetics?.
Praise be to Allah.
    Using cosmetics is something that women have their reasons 
    for using, which is that they may make a woman appear more beautiful than if 
    she did not use them. But if a wise woman knows what harm may result from 
    that, she will refrain from using them. 

    Medical reports have stated that these cosmetics may cause 
    numerous diseases.  

    For example, they may cause damage to the nerves of the face, 
    and using them repeatedly may cause sensitivities and other kinds of harm 
    whose effect may be seen on the skin after repeated use over a long period 
    of time, such as redness, swelling and secretions. 

    In the answer to question no.
    26799 we quoted comments from a 
    doctor about the damage caused by lipstick, in which he said “Lipstick may 
    cause swelling of the lips or drying and cracking of the thin skin of the 
    lips, because it removes the protective layer of the lips.” 

    What he said is quite right. In the answer to question no.
    26861 we quoted Shaykh ‘Abd 
    al-‘Azeez ibn Baaz as saying: 

    The issue of face powder or face creams is subject to further 
    discussion.  

    If it is used for beautification purposes and does not cause 
    any harm to the face, there is nothing wrong with it, but if it causes some 
    harm such as black spots etc, then it is not allowed because of the harm it 
    causes.  

    Similarly, Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen said, as quoted in the 
    answer to question no. 26799: 

    Many of these cosmetics contain haraam substances such as 
    impure things, alcohol or foetuses. In the west they deliberately kill 
    foetuses to make cosmetics from them. 

    The one who examines the situation of women nowadays will 
    realize how successful our enemies have been in marketing their bad products 
    to Muslim women. A look at the statistics on purchase of cosmetics is 
    sufficient to show how serious this matter is. In 1997, women in the Gulf 
    spent nearly three billion riyals on perfume alone, and fifteen million 
    riyals on hair dyes. Sales of lipstick reached more than six hundred tonnes, 
    whilst sales of nail polish reached more than fifty tonnes. 

    What would the figures be if we added what Muslim women 
    around the world buy? And what if we were to work out the figures now?! 

    A woman may use cosmetics that are made from natural 
    substances thus avoiding the harm that is caused by those materials. She may 
    adorn herself for her husband with something permissible without it 
    resulting in side-effects. 

    It should be noted that even if we assume that using these 
    cosmetics may be permissible, the ruling on selling them may be different. 
    Most of those who buy these materials are women who show their adornment and 
    will use them in haraam ways, and they will appear wearing them in the 
    streets and marketplaces, and in front of non-mahram men. The means are 
    subject to the same rulings as the ends. 

    The one who helps women to use them in these haraam ways by 
    manufacturing them, importing them or selling them is helping to spread 
    these evils and harmful things, so he is a partner in the sin and the 
    action. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning): 

    “Help you one another in Al‑Birr and At‑Taqwa (virtue, 
    righteousness and piety); but do not help one another in sin and 
    transgression”

    [al-Maa’idah 5:2]. 

    If these cosmetics are free from harmful materials and are 
    sold to those who will definitely or most likely use them for permissible 
    purposes, then it is permissible to buy and sell those materials, otherwise 
    it is haraam to buy and sell them. 

    For more details please see the answer to question no.
    41052. 

    And Allaah knows best.