Sheikh Fawzān – may Allāh preserve him- said that a woman does not have to separate her hair when performing ghusl (bathing) due to being in a state of janābah (major ritual impurity), but she does have to do it when she performs ghusl at the end of menstruation. The evidence for this is the ḥadīth (narration) of Umm Salamah in which she said “O Messenger of Allāh, I have very thick hair. Do I have to separate it when performing ghusl?” He said, “It is sufficient to spread water over your head three times, then pour water over yourself and you will be clean.” [Sheikh Al Albānī said the ḥadīth is ḥasan (good) and it is found in Ibn Mājah 486].