What is the Sunnah for combing one's hair? Does parting one's hair to the side imply imitation of the Jews?

All perfect praise be to Allaah, the Lord of the worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His slave and Messenger.

It is a Sunnah to honor one's hair and take good care of it in terms of washing, oiling and combing it. Abu Hurayrah reported that the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: "He who has hair should take care of it." [Abu Daawood and others; Al-Albani: good-authentic]

Muhammad Shams Ad-Deen Al-Haqq Abadi said, "The Hadeeth means that one should clean his hair and take care of it by combing and oiling it. He should not leave it disheveled. Indeed, cleanliness and good looking are commendable." [‘Awn Al-Ma‘bood Sharh Sunan Abi Daawood]

Ibn Al-Qayyim cited the Hadeeth of Anas about the guidance of the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, regarding taking care of one's hair, which indicates that he, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, liked to comb his hair. He, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, used to comb his hair by himself sometimes, and ‘Aa'ishah used to comb it for him at other times. [Zad Al-Ma‘ad]

Parting the hair to the side is not considered imitation of the Jews. On the contrary, it has been authentically reported that the People of the Book, the Jews and Christians, used to let their hair hang down without parting it during the lifetime of the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam. Ibn ‘Abbaas said:

The People of the Book used to let their hair fall (on their foreheads), and the polytheists used to part their hair. The Messenger of Allaah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, liked to adopt the way of the People of the Book in matters in which he received no command (from Allaah, the Exalted); so, he, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, let his hair fall upon his forehead; then afterwards, he parted it. [Muslim]

An-Nawawi said, "Al-Qadhi said, 'Scholars said that letting the hair hang down means: over the forehead.' He added, 'Parting the hair refers to separating it.'"

An-Nawawi also said, "The correct opinion in this regard is that it is permissible to part the hair or let it hang down over the forehead but that parting it is better."

Hence, it is permissible for a woman to part her hair to the side as long as she does not intend to imitate the disbelieving women or imitate men thereby.

It should be noted that a Muslim woman should observe the full Islamic Hijab and that it is impermissible for her to expose her beauty and adornment or unveil her hair in the presence of non-Mahram (permanently unmarriageable) men. She is allowed to reveal her hair only in the presence of her husband or Mahram men.

Allaah Knows best.