In the initial 10 days of Dhul Hijjah, Hajj is performed and the individuals who are performing Hajj are in a province of Ihraam. In this way, to develop some resemblance with them, for the individuals who are performing sacrifice of an animal, it is Commendable (Mustahab) not to trim their hair or trim their nails. The Holy Prophet Mohammad (صلى الله عليه وسلم ) has disallowed us from doing as such. There is a Hadith in Sahih Muslim:
It is narrated on the authority of Hazrath ‘Umar bin Muslim bin ‘Ammaar (May Allah be well pleased with him), he says: I heard Hazrath Sa’eed bin Musayyib (May Allah be well pleased with him) say: I heard the mother of the believers Hadhrat Umm Salma (May Allah be well pleased with her) say that the Holy Prophet Mohammad (صلى الله عليه وسلم ) said: The person who has an animal for sacrifice, on observing the moon of zul Hajj,should neither remove/cut hair nor cut nails until he slaughters it. (Sahih Muslim, Hadith No. 5236)
Rasool Allah صلى الله عليه و سلم has mentioned, “When the ten days (of Dhul Hijjah) commence and a person has a sacrificial animal, which he intends to slaughter, then let him not cut his hair or pare his nails.” (Muslim)
قال إذا دخل العشر وعنده أضحية يريد أن يضحي فلا يأخذن شعرا ولا يقلمن ظفرا
(مسلم رقم الحديث 1977, دار إحياء التراث العربي)
