My wife needs to know how can a woman cleanup after sexual intercourse. Do women have to take a complete bath. She heard that they can wash their bodies and just touch their hair with their wet hands.

All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.

Ghusl means ceremonial washing of the whole body. The Ghusl can be done in two ways:

Firstly, perform Ghusl by complete washing of body (pouring water all over one’s body). This is a sufficient method to remove sexual impurity. This way requires:

(1) The intention of washing to remove the sexual impurity.

(2) Complete washing of the whole body, including head and even letting the water reach down to the roots of the hair.

Secondly, taking a complete bath that includes the two principles mentioned above and the Sunnah (supererogatory acts). Here is the complete illustration.

1- Washing the two palms before entering them into a utensil of water.

2- Pouring water with one's right hand to wash one's private part, with left.

3- Perform a complete ablution as done for the prayer; one may delay washing one's feet to the end of Ghusl.

4- Washing head three times and letting water reach every spot.

5- Pouring water over the right side of one's body.

6- Pouring water over the left side.

This is the most and best complete way of Ghusl. However, if one takes a Ghusl as in the first way, then it is sufficient, even if he does not perform ablution since the latter is included in the Ghusl [provided one pours water all over the body].

Such a Ghusl applies for both men and women. But, a woman is not obliged to undo her braided lock if water reaches to the roots of her hair. So, a person can remove the sexual impurity.

In addition, a woman can remove the impurity of delivery and menses in the same way.

Allah knows best.