when can i remove the ash on my forehead
You can remove the ash on your forehead whenever you wish; there is no strict religious rule that it must stay on for a certain number of hours.
Quick answer
For most Christian Ash Wednesday practices:
- The ash is a symbol , not a permanent obligation.
- Many people simply leave it on:
- Through the church service and maybe the rest of the day, or
- Until it naturally fades or they wash their face at night.
- You are free in good conscience to wash it off earlier (for work, comfort, skin issues, or personal preference).
A common “middle way” people follow is:
- Receive the ashes and keep them on during worship and the next few hours as a visible reminder of repentance and mortality.
- Wash them off before bed or with your normal evening face wash.
The important part in most Christian teaching is the inner attitude of repentance and turning toward God, not how many hours the ash stays on your skin.