Are bath bombs good for your hair?

A bath bomb is a colorful and delightful bath product. The two main ingredients that make them fizz are baking soda and citric acid. But how do bath bombs affect your hair? If you are a lover of bath bombs, then you might not have thought about whether these bath products are good for your hair or not.

When a bath bomb is placed into bath water, you are adding a mixture of chemicals and other ingredients. Some of these include Epsom salt, essential oil (tea tree oils, lavender oils), and flavorings.

So, are bath bombs good for your hair? The majority of bath bombs use organic ingredients that contribute to the softness and smoothness of your skin; they are also not harmful to your hair's health.

Ingredients Inside Bath Bombs

When you purchase a bath bomb, there are many varieties. But they will all come with some basic ingredients to make them fizzy and last during your bathtime. Let’s discuss the main ingredients in bath bombs.

• Epsom salt (also known as magnesium sulfate) is probably something you’ve heard of – it’s composed of sulfur, magnesium, and oxygen.
  • Uses: For hundreds of years, it’s been used to treat insomnia, fatigue, muscle pain, and fibromyalgia, but it’s important to note that these benefits haven’t been really researched as treatment.
  • While some people do drink it (not recommended), most people use epsom salt soaks as a way to manage stiffness, muscle pain, and swelling
• Sodium bicarbonate is a combination of citric acid and baking soda. This is what gives the bath bombs that fizzy consistency when the citric acid and baking soda are introduced into the bath water.
  • Uses: The results of these ingredients hitting the water (through some amazing chemical reactions) is the release of carbon dioxide gas, which forms the bubbles in the water, eventually giving you that delightful fizzy feeling.
• Cornstarch is another ingredient it’s likely that you’ll see listed on the label of your bath bombs and it serves a very important purpose.
• Uses: to slow down the chemical reactions so that the fizz (carbon dioxide – a gas) last longer.

The Benefits of Bath Bombs: 7 Reasons Why You Should Be Using Them

There are so many reasons why you should be using bath bombs, but we can’t list them all here. To give you a taste of the goodness, here are 7 awesome benefits of using bath bombs. 

1. They help relieve aches and pains

You can relieve these aches and pains by taking a nice warm bath with a bath bomb that contains oils such as eucalyptus, peppermint, and/or lavender. These oils are known for their anti-inflammatory properties and can alleviate the pain caused by your aching muscles. Alternatively, you can try using bath bombs that contain ingredients such as menthol and/or camphor, which also have anti-inflammatory properties and can help relieve your aches and pains. 

2. They can help you relax

If you have a stressful, hectic, and busy lifestyle where you barely have time to breathe (let alone relax), you might find yourself constantly on the edge and unable to relax. Well, you can use bath bombs to help you relax and unwind when you come home from work or school. You can do this by using bath bombs that contain ingredients such as lavender, eucalyptus, or chamomile. These ingredients have been proven to have calming and relaxing properties and can help you relax and unwind after a long day.

3. They can be used to de-stress

Along with helping you relax and unwind after a long and tiring day, bath bombs can also be used to de-stress you. You can do this by using bath bombs that contain ingredients such as peppermint, rosemary, and/or lemon balm. These ingredients are known for their ability to de-stress you and help you relax after a long and tiring day. 

4. They can be used to moisturize dry skin

If you have dry skin, you can use bath bombs to help moisturize it and make it softer. This is especially useful for people who suffer from eczema and/or psoriasis. You can do this by using bath bombs that contain ingredients such as shea butter, cocoa butter, and/or jojoba oil. These ingredients have moisturizing properties and can help soften your dry skin. 

5. They have aromatherapy benefits

Some people use aromatherapy as a means to relax and unwind after a long and tiring day, while others use it to help treat their ailments and/or chronic diseases. You can use bath bombs that contain ingredients such as lavender, peppermint, and/or rosemary for these purposes. Lavender is known for its calming and relaxing properties and can help you unwind after an especially stressful day. Peppermint, on the other hand, is known for its ability to de-stress you. 

6. They can exfoliate your skin

If your skin is very dry, you will know how difficult it is to exfoliate it. This is especially true for people who suffer from eczema and/or psoriasis. This is because these skin conditions make your skin very dry and difficult to exfoliate. We all know that exfoliating your skin is important because it can help prevent acne, as well as remove any dead, dry skin cells and boost collagen production. 

7. They can help improve your sleep quality

You can help improve your sleep quality and make it much easier to fall asleep by taking baths with bath bombs that contain ingredients such as lavender, chamomile, and/or valerian. These ingredients have been proven to have sleep-inducing properties and can help you fall asleep faster.

Are bath bombs generally safe?

Bath bombs are perfectly safe as long as you use them as intended. Since most bath bombs are made with natural ingredients, they can be used in baths to moisturize the skin and relax.

Their benefits include treating overactive oil glands, loosening damaged layers of skin, exfoliation, and of course relaxation.

However, skin irritation may occur in people with sensitive skin or an underlying condition.

Is it safe to wash your hair with a bath bomb?

If you are planning to get your hair wet, then you should check your bath bomb ingredients. It is generally okay to use a bath bomb to wash your hair as the mild ingredients won't damage it.

The exception is bath bombs containing citric acid which can lower the pH level of your hair. Most bath bomb products contain similar ingredients to regular hair products. You can use a lush bath bomb or other bath bombs to safely wash your hair.

If you have light or colored hair, then you should use clean water to rinse it right after washing it with a bath bomb.

Bath bombs containing surfactants are great for removing grime, grease, and dirt from hair. Surfactants are general cleaning products that create bubbles in any shower gel, shampoo, soap, conditioner, and bath bomb. So, it is not a bad idea to wash your hair with this kind of product.

The Verdict

Bath bombs can provide an enjoyable pamper session, but their impact on hair depends largely on the specific ingredients and your hair type. With some precautions like pre-treating and avoiding drying varieties, the occasional fizzy soak may be indulged in without major tress stress. However, those with high maintenance hair may want to use bath bombs sparingly.