During the Nine Days, there is a strong minhag to refrain from bathing for pleasure even in cold water. Although bathing for pleasure is prohibited, the halachah still allows one to go to mikveh. This leads to an interesting question: In many mikvaos they have a big sign which says, “Please do not enter without showering”. Being that it is forbidden to shower in the Nine Days, must one listen to the sign?
R’ Shlomah Zalman Auerbach zt”l (Halichos Shlomah, Tefillah, Perek 2, Orchos Halachah 37) is quoted as saying that in such a case one may wash his hands, face and feet using cold water without soap before entering the mikveh. The Mishnas Yosef (Vol. 7, end of siman 103) also allows doing this. He adds one can wash himself limb by limb with cold water, and not doing so would be a lack of ואהבת לרעך כמוך – loving your friend like yourself.
The sefer Kovetz Halachos Bein HaMetzorim (Perek 14, he’orah 7) brings that some say one must wash himself before entering the mikveh, and not doing so is considered hezek derabbim, damaging the public.
Showering After Mikveh
He also brings in the name of R’ Shmuel Kamenetsky shlita that if after going to mikveh one feels dirty he may wash himself off with cold shower. This is allowed because washing in such a case is considered a washing to remove dirt, and not something that is being done for enjoyment.
