Sayyida Umm Salama (may Allah be pleased with her) narrates that she asked: O Messenger of Allah! I tightly braid my hair on my head, so should I undo it at the time of ghusl after sexual impurity? He replied: It is sufficient that you pour water over your head three times, then pour water over your entire body, you will become pure. Or he said: If you do so, you will become pure.

Sayyida Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) described the method of the Prophet Muhammad’s (peace be upon him) ritual bath after major impurity (ghusl janabah): The Prophet (peace be upon him) would first wash both hands, then perform ablution as for prayer, then run his fingers through the roots of his hair, and when he was sure the skin was wet, he would pour three handfuls of water over his head, then pour water over his entire body.

Lady Maymunah (may Allah be pleased with her) narrates that when the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) performed ghusl (ritual bath), he first washed his private parts, then rubbed his hand on the ground or wall, then performed wudu (ablution) as for prayer, then poured water over his entire body including his head, then moved aside and washed his feet. I gave him a cloth so that he could dry his body with it, but he refused to take it and began to shake off the water with his hand.