How to Use Epsom Salt for Hair 

Transform your hair with Epsom salt! Discover how this humble, 100% natural ingredient can enhance your hair regardless of whether it’s in the dry or oily zone – or somewhere in between!

You’re probably recoiling at the thought of putting salt on your hair, but fear not!

Epsom salts are completely different from table salt (thank goodness…)

And with that, let me explain exactly what they are. 

What are epsom salts?

Often known by their chemical name (magnesium sulfate,) Epsom salts are simply a mineral compound, being a popular addition to warm baths salts after a heavy gym workout to help muscles recover. 

The important thing to know is that Epsom salt is 100% natural, making it a popular choice for a low-toxin lifestyle.

Plus, a lot of people believe it works great on oily hair to absorb excess residue, while others say it works equally well on dry, flat hair to give a boost of volume and shine. It simply depends on how it’s applied.

Today, I’m sharing how to use Epsom salt for hair for both dry and oily hair. Let’s get started!

How to use epsom salt for oily hair

Step 1: Mix the Epson salt with your regular shampoo 

All you need to do is combine ½ teaspoon of pure Epsom salt with your usual hair shampoo. A good ballpark figure is to use one tablespoon of shampoo per ½ teaspoon of Epsom salt. 

Step 2: Apply it to your hair

Simply work the Epsom salt shampoo into your scalp and hair, massaging as you go, and leave it to soak in for a few minutes before washing out. Condition your hair afterward as normal. 

Pro Tip: Be gentle while working it into the scalp to avoid scratching the skin.

How to use epsom salt for dry hair

Step 1: Mix Epsom salt with your conditioner

Combine ½ teaspoon of Epsom salt with one tablespoon of your usual hair conditioner. Mix well.

Step 2: Apply to your hair after shampooing

Once you’ve rinsed your hair of shampoo, apply the Epsom salt conditioner to the ends of your hair and leave it on for up to five minutes. 

Then, rinse off thoroughly and dry and style your hair as normal. 

Benefits of Epsom salt for hair

Benefits may include: 

Oil reduction: In greasy hair, some studies show a reduction in oiliness after shampooing with Epsom salt. This tends to be one of the most popular benefits in the beauty scene.

Volume enhancement: No official studies have confirmed this; however, as Epsom salt tends to remove excess oil from the hair, this could, in turn, cause hair to feel lighter while having more lift and bounce.

Scalp exfoliation: With its gently abrasive texture, Epsom salt promotes a healthier scalp by scraping off dead cells and dandruff, improving skin health near the hair root. Some people even think this might promote healthier, stronger hair growth! It’s worth a try, for sure. 

Removes product build-up: Another bonus of Epsom salt is it helps remove product residue that builds up over time from using various hair products. This will add to that gorgeous feeling of volume in freshly washed hair!

Hair thinning: Is your hair feeling frazzled from too much heat styling over the years? If so, Epsom salt might just be the thing to help it recover.

Use the Epsom conditioner once or twice a month, and over time, you’ll hopefully see your hair become thicker and stronger. 

Is Epsom salt good for your hair?

The belief is that the magnesium in Epsom salts can be really good for your hair.

It helps remove loose skin product residue and excess oil. It may also improve scalp condition and increase the appearance of hair volume.

Precautions to take

Generally speaking, as long as you follow the recipes, you should be fine using Epsom salt on your hair. 

Epsom salt is not considered toxic. However, you should check with your healthcare provider before using epsom salts.

Additionally, always dilute the epsom salts in shampoo or conditioner, as too much salt can dry the hair out. 

Lastly, if you have recently undergone a hair coloring treatment, perm or similar, consider passing on the epsom salt for now.

How often should I use it?

According to stylecraze, you should limit use to once a month unless you are dealing with excessively oily hair, in which twice monthly should be fine.

Of course, always check to see how your hair and skin reacts and adjust accordingly.

You can always build up to using it more often if you feel your hair benefits from it. 

What about using Epsom salt for hair growth?

It’s worthwhile mentioning the rumors out there claiming the benefits of Epsom salt for hair growth, yet I can’t find any scientific studies to support this claim, sadly. 

I do, however, know that rosemary water on the hair is extremely popular, with many comments on the linked post that talk about improved hair strength and vitality. 

Rice water is also another popular product for strengthening and promoting hair growth.

Saying that, from my understanding, if you improve the health of the scalp by using Epsom salt as an exfoliator, then surely you improve the chances of having healthier, stronger hair growth. Which in turn would mean hair ‘might’ appear to grow faster. 

Summary

I hope this post gives you the inspiration to try using Epsom salt on your hair, whatever way works best for you, whether it’s in your shampoo or conditioner.

Just remember to follow the recipes and don’t overdo it. Try it once and see how it works for you before doing it again; that’s my recommendation.

For more DIY hair care reads, consider these suggestions:

• Coconut water for hair
• DIY hair perfume
• Top 10 haircare recipes to try