6 DIY Bath Soaks That Will Thicken Hair, Ease Eczema, Banish Bloat, and More
When the mercury plummets, what’s better than a soothing soak in the tub? A nutrient-infused bath not only fends off winter’s chill and leaves you feeling relaxed, it can also beautify your body from head to toe. Try adding one of these six concoctions to your next bath, and see the results for yourself!
Thicken hair with matcha tea and castor oil.
Potent antioxidants in matcha absorb into the scalp, stimulating hair growth while also keeping follicles in the growth phase. Plus, its B vitamins lock in moisture, strengthening hair to thwart breakage. And fatty acid–rich castor oil plumps the diameter of strands for instantly fuller-looking locks. (Worried about hair loss? Try one of the best brushes for thinning hair, too!) Just mix a quarter cup of matcha powder (like One Organic Matcha Green Tea Powder — Buy on Amazon, $12.95) and one tablespoon of castor oil and pour into bathwater. Rub water onto the scalp and let sit for 15 minutes, then rinse.
Repair raw hands with oatmeal and honey.
Anti-inflammatory properties in oatmeal alleviate parched, irritated skin. And emollient honey locks in moisture while its antibacterial agents ward off infection to heal painful cracks. Bonus: It will soften all of your skin, not just hands! Here’s how: Fill a sachet with a quarter cup of old-fashioned oats, add to warm bathwater with one tablespoon of honey, and let hands soak underwater 10 minutes.
Banish bloat with seaweed and peppermint oil.
Seaweed’s diuretic compounds absorb into skin’s many layers and help flush out the trapped toxins and fluids that cause the stomach to swell. And peppermint oil’s menthol increases circulation to speed lymph flow, further eliminating built-up toxins and fluids in the body. Pour a half cup of seaweed powder (like Herbaila Kelp Powder — Buy on Amazon, $14.49) and five drops of peppermint essential oil into a warm bath and soak for 20 minutes.
Calm rashy skin with baking soda and apricot oil.
Baking soda rebalances skin’s pH level to restore its barrier and reduce inflammation. And apricot oil’s vitamin E helps repair skin, stat! Try it: Add a half cup of baking soda and one tablespoon of apricot oil (like Aura Cacia Apricot Kernel Skin Care Oil — Buy on Amazon, $16.89) into a filled bath and soak for 20 minutes.
Nix body breakouts with charcoal and tea tree oil.
Compounds in charcoal absorb the acne-causing bacteria and oil that sit on skin, while astringent tea tree oil limits oil production to prevent new blemishes. It’s easy: Add a half cup of powdered charcoal (like Schizandu Organics Activated Coconut Charcoal Powder — Buy on Amazon, $23.97) and six drops of tea tree oil to a bath. Soak for 15 minutes.
Related: The Bath Add-In That Makes Any Soak Instantly More Soothing — 4 Easy DIY Recipes
Ease eczema with a bleach infusion.
A recent study found that a very diluted bleach bath can help kill the bacteria responsible for eczema inflammation. “It gently exfoliates skin to reduce the scaliness that accompanies eczema,” says New York City dermatologist Debra Jaliman, M.D. “And it’s completely safe!” Her caveat: “Limit a bleach-infused bath to once a week, since bleach can end up drying out skin.”All you have to do is add a quarter cup of bleach to a full bath and soak for 10 minutes.
A version of this article originally appeared in our print magazine, Woman’s World.
