Does cutting my nails or hair break wudu?

Why it doesn't break wudu

Wudu is broken by a short, specific list: things leaving the private parts, deep sleep, losing consciousness, and a few disputed items like touching. Trimming is not on anyone's list. See What breaks wudu?

Some people think that because the nail or hair you washed is now gone, the newly exposed part is "unwashed". Scholars answer that the purification belongs to you as a person, not to each fingertip. When you wiped your head, it counted, even if some hair was cut later. A few early scholars did recommend washing the spot again, but this is not the view of the four schools.

Cutting nails is part of the fitrah

Far from being a problem, trimming is encouraged. The Prophet ﷺ said that five things are part of the fitrah (natural way): circumcision, removing pubic hair, trimming the moustache, cutting the nails and plucking the armpit hair (Sahih al-Bukhari 5889). Anas said they were given a limit for these of not leaving them longer than forty nights (Sahih Muslim 258).

There is no special day or time you must cut them, and doing it at night is fine. See Is it okay to cut my nails at night?

Things that do affect your wudu

Cutting is fine, but a few nail and hair products can stop water from reaching the skin or nail:

• Nail polish and gel nails form a waterproof layer, so wudu made over them isn't valid in most views. See Can I pray with nail polish on?
• Henna and hair dye only stain and let water through, so they are fine.
• Thick gel or wax in the hair is less of an issue, because you only wipe the head, not wash it. Wiping over the hair is enough.
• Dirt under long nails is usually overlooked, but keeping nails short makes wudu cleaner and easier.

Dhul Hijjah exception

If you plan to offer a qurbani (Eid sacrifice), the sunnah is to stop cutting hair and nails from the start of Dhul Hijjah until your animal is sacrificed. This is about the sacrifice, not wudu. See Do I have to stop cutting my hair and nails before qurbani?