Epsom salts (magnesium sulfate) are most commonly known for relaxing baths, but there are plenty of other ways to take advantage of their benefits!
1. Epsom Salt For Your Hair
What to Do:
Dissolve Epsom salts into your regular conditioner using a 1:1 ratio. Apply to your hair as you normally would, then rinse out after 15 minutes. Do this once a week.
What Does It Do?
The Epsom salts will counteract the “heaviness” of your conditioner, leaving your hair with more volume. For those of us who have naturally curly hair, this will actually work to define the curls quite a bit.
Don’t use this if your hair is dyed or if you have very thin or brittle hair. Our advice to everyone regardless of your hair type is to test it out once and monitor your hair’s behavior over the next week or so. If you find your hair feels dryer than usual or your scalp feels sensitive, it’s probably not the right fit for your specific hair type. Otherwise, enjoy!
2. Epsom Salt For Your Feet
What to Do:
Mix 1/2 cup of Epsom salts into a large bowl of warm, soapy water. Just relax until the water loses its heat, then dry your feet with a clean towel.
What Does It Do?
Epsom salts are basically the perfect exfoliant, so doing this regularly will help bring dry heels back to life. Epsom salts are also thought to be anti-inflammatory (source) and can help bring relief for sore or swollen feet. It’s the perfect end to a day of wearing uncomfortable shoes.
3. Epsom Salt For OutDoor Itches
What to Do:
Mix 2 tablespoons of Epsom salt into 1 cup of warm water and apply to your skin with a clean washcloth.
What Does It Do?
Whether it’s a bee sting, mosquito bite, spider bite, or poison ivy, this blend might help to soothe the itch. Spending some time outdoors? Bring a small bag of Epsom salt with you just in case.
4. Epsom Salt for Sore Muscles
What to Do:
For a hot treatment, dissolve 2 cups of Epsom salt into a hot bath, sit back and relax.
For a cold treatment (for an injury, for example), dissolve 1 teaspoon of Epsom salt into 1 cup of water and store in the freezer in a sandwich bag. Once frozen, remove from the bag, wrap in a washcloth and apply to the affected area.
What Does It Do?
Epsom salts are thought to help decrease inflammation, whether it’s from a pulled muscle or just overuse. The ice pack works well for specific areas while the hot bath can help soothe your whole body and put you in a relaxing mood before bed.