goodluck jee, first congratulations to you for walking on Sikhi path! Shabash. Getting prepared for taking Amrit is very important.
Below is as per sangat of Gursikhs and posts on this forum:
1. Desist from comitting 4 Bujjar Kurehits (beadbi of Kesh head-to-toe; adultery/fornication; eating of meat, eggs, fish; intoxication, by tobacco, alcohol, drugs etc) further things to do are read Saakhis about Guru Sahibaan, inspirational Gursikhs, and books of Gursikhs like Bhai Sahib Randheer Singh Jee, Bhai Rama Singh Jee, Baba Harnaam Singh Jee. A lot of great stuff to read you can find in
Gurmat Literature section of this site. Other things you could do, is listening to Kirtan, doing Seva at local Gurdwara Sahib, 7 Bani Nitnem Paath (and more), sangat with local Rehitvaan Gursikhs, and of course Ardaas. When you feel ready, and are doing the aforementioned things, you can also begin to keep 5 Kakkars of Kach, KaRa, Kirpan, Kangha, Keski on the body. This article would also be worth reading: [
gurmatbibek.com]
2. Daily keshi ishnaan is essential and required for all Sikhs. Please read these threads for more: [
gurmatbibek.com] and [
gurmatbibek.com]
3. Cold water is required for ishnaan, as per the Rehat:
ਠੰਡੇ ਪਾਣੀ ਜੋ ਨਹਿ ਨ੍ਹਾਵੈ ਬਿਨ ਜਪ ਪੜ੍ਹੇ ਪ੍ਰਸਾਦ ਜੁ ਖਾਵੈ ||t(h)a(n)ddae paanee jo nehi nhaavai bin jap parrhae prasaadh j khaavai ||
Those who do not take their morning bath in cold water and those who eat before their Nitnem infringe the Rehat.
More in
this thread4. To hare the Kesh (aerify/rejuvenate the hair, the Gursikhs don't say "dry" hair rather Kesh are done hare, which I learnt from Bhai MB Singh Jee, thanks to Bhai Sahib
) usually Gursikhs do Naam Abhiyaas with Kesh left open and backwards overhead so they can become hare. So that gives plenty of time for Kesh to become hare. If you have Nitnem memorised (kanTh) you can do Paath without hesitiation with Kesh left open and not in Dastaar, however if using Gutka Sahib, we must oil, comb, and tie Kesh into Dastaar before handling Gutka Sahib. Very good that you are allergic to hair dryer, no rehitvaan Singhs I know use them. They are damaging to Kesh and should not be used.
I hope that answers your queries, and I do be forgiveness for all mistakes.