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Thick, healthy, luscious locks are the envy of a lot of people. If you find yourself being one of them or wanting your hair to grow for another reason, there’s a safe, natural way you can speed the growth process alone.
With its many benefits, Epsom salt can aid you on your journey to a healthy scalp and thick, flowing locks. Even better, you can use Epsom salt for various other things, so you don’t have to worry about the bag going to waste.
Many people use Epsom salt for various other health benefits, like relieving muscle pain and stress and reducing inflammation. Before we dive into using Epsom salt for hair growth, let’s discuss what this natural miracle worker is.
What Is Epsom Salt?
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Epsom salt, sometimes called magnesium sulfate or magnesium salt, is a naturally occurring mineral salt made of magnesium and sulfate in rock-like formation.
The name “Epsom” is indicative of the London town of Epsom, where many believe the salt was first discovered. Though Epsom salt resembles table salt, the similarities end there.
Epsom salt has a very bitter taste and is not ideal for consumption. Many people who use Epsom salt will dissolve it in a warm bath to soak sore muscles, relieve stress, or use it in a foot bath.
Benefits of Epsom Salt
Some common benefits of using Epson salt externally include:
- Muscle pain: soak in a warm bath with Epsom salt to soothe sore muscles.
- Stress relief: soak in a warm bath to help stabilize moods and relieve stress.
- Inflammation: magnesium in Epsom salt helps reduce inflammation in internal organs.
- Hair and scalp health: use in shampoo, conditioner, or hair spray to remove buildup and oil secretion and promote hair growth.
Let’s get into using Epsom salt for hair growth.
How to Use Epsom Salt for Hair Growth
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If you feel like you’ve tried everything to get your hair to grow, you may be skeptical about how salt can be the answer. Rest assured that this is no magic trick; you don’t simply consume the salt or pour it on your head, and it works.
You’ll need to follow a few processes to incorporate Epsom salt into your hair routine. Below are three of the best ways to use Epsom salt to promote hair growth.
1. Epsom Salt Shampoo Treatment
This Epsom salt shampoo treatment is best if you have oily hair. The salt will not only exfoliate your scalp and remove the grime and buildup, but it will also help control overly-active sebaceous glands on your scalp to regulate the amount of oil secreted.
There are a couple of ways you can create your Epsom salt shampoo: mix a couple of tablespoons right into your shampoo bottle or make a blend of equal parts shampoo and Epsom salt.
If you add Epsom salt directly to your shampoo bottle, use two tablespoons for every 16 ounces of shampoo. If you prefer the blend, mix equal parts Epsom salt and shampoo. With this method, you’ll need to create the mixture every time you want to use it.
Regardless of your chosen method, apply the shampoo to wet hair and gently massage your scalp. Rinse with lukewarm water and use your conditioner as usual.
2. Epsom Salt Conditioner Treatment
For those with brittle or dry hair, adding Epsom salt to your shampoo isn’t a good idea, and it can lead to more dryness and even damage. It’s best to add Epsom salt to your conditioner to reap the benefits.
Unlike the salt shampoo treatment for oily hair, you should prepare the Epsom salt conditioner as needed instead of adding it directly to your bottle of conditioner. Mix equal parts of your conditioner and the Epsom salt, preferably in a microwave-safe bowl.
Warm the mixture slightly before applying it to your hair. Test the mixture with your hand first to ensure it’s not too hot for your scalp. Wash your hair with your regular shampoo.
Rinse and apply the mixture to your scalp and hair, working it in thoroughly. It’s essential to cover all of your hair strands from root to tip. Let the Epsom salt conditioner sit for at least 20 minutes before rinsing it with lukewarm water.
3. Epsom Salt Hair Spray
Depending on the state of your hair, you can create a hair treatment that blends Epsom salt with other ingredients to improve the health of your scalp and promote growth. One way you can do that is by creating a hair spray.
The ingredients you’ll need for this are:
- 1 tbsp of Epsom salt
- 1 tbsp of sea salt
- 1 tbsp of coconut oil
- Five drops of your favorite hair oil (oils like rosehip, camphor, jasmine, canola, etc. will do)
- 1 tbsp of aloe vera gel
- 1 cup of warm water
To prepare this spray:
- Heat the water until nearly boiling.
- Add Epsom salt and sea salt and stir to dissolve.
- Add coconut oil and stir until melted.
- Add the aloe vera and stir, then add the hair oil.
- Mix everything thoroughly and transfer to a spray bottle (be sure to let the mixture cool down first, especially if using a plastic bottle).
Use the hair spray on damp hair while gently scrunching it to ensure full coverage. If your hair is excessively oily, use this spray only occasionally.
Read Next: How Often Can You Use Aloe Vera Gel on Your Hair?
How Effective Is Epsom Salt for Hair Growth?
Though there aren’t yet studies that support Epsom salt for health and beauty treatments, one thing is for sure; using Epsom salt in your shampoo, conditioner, or a hair spray can help remove excess buildup and cleanse the scalp to promote healthy hair growth.
Other Benefits
Other benefits of using Epsom salt on your hair outside of promoting hair growth include:
- Volumizing hair
- Enhancing curl pattern
- Mitigating hair loss
- Reducing dandruff/dry scalp
Frequently Asked Questions
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Epsom salt has become popular for various natural skin and hair remedies, so you might still have some questions. We’ve answered some of the most commonly asked below.
What are other uses for Epsom salt?
Besides using it for hair care, Epsom salt serves to relieve muscle pain, relieve stress, or reduce minor inflammation when dissolved in a warm bath.
How else can you use Epsom salt for hair?
Aside from improving hair and scalp health, Epsom salt is commonly used to add volume to hair, mitigate hair loss, and enhance curl patterns.
Is Epsom salt safe for everyone to use?
There generally aren’t any side effects from using Epsom salt, but if you suffer from severe skin inflammation or skin infections, or you have open wounds or severe burns, you should not use Epsom salt on your skin.
Can you put Epsom salt on your scalp?
Yes, you can apply Epsom salt directly to your scalp. If you are suffering from an itchy scalp, using Epsom salt on your scalp can provide relief. Just be sure not to scrub the salt into your scalp.
Does Epsom salt make your hair curly?
Epsom salt is often cited as a natural curl enhancer. It won’t make your hair curly, but it will amplify your natural curl. It activates curls via dehydration through a salt-protein interaction that generates more bounce.
So, Does Using Epsom Salt for Hair Growth Work?
Many people have found success in using Epsom salt in their hair routine. Like any shampoo or cleanser you can buy, Epsom salt removes grime and buildup, helps with oily hair, adds volume, and promotes hair growth.
Whether or not you’ll see your desired results or like using these methods is up to you. So give Epsom salt a try by adding it to your weekly hair routine!