Picking the right bath salts as a man starts by understanding what’s going to be needed (or at least wanted) from the bath, but don’t worry, we’re going to cover all the bases here. With the knowledge we’re going to give you about picking the right bath salts for men you’re going to know exactly what to pick, for what type of man, for every situation.
For most men, the best bath salts will be a blend of Epsom Salts and Himalayan salts. To get a bit more detailed about this; if you’re a sports person or athlete, you’re going to want an Epsom Salt based bath salt. For men looking to relax after a tough day/week/year(!) you’re probably going to want to go with a Dead Sea Bath Salt. If you’re planning on sharing your bath with another person, you should go with a blend of Epsom Salt Himalayan Salt and a fragrance that’s going to work for you both.
OK, so that’s the real basics out of the way, so how about we dive in (pun intended) to the details about Bath Salts, starting with a little bit about why you might use them, what the (basic) types are and then we’ll look at the right Bath Salts for each type of man, in each type of situation. Let’s go….
Why would a man use bath salts?
Bath Salts have an incredible history and have been used through the ages (yes, perhaps as far back as 2700 BCE they were rumoured to be used in China, they were known to be a feature of spa bathing by Cleopatra and Hippocrates (an ancient Greek physician) encouraged people to bathe in salts)). Why have they been loved by so many and consistently used throughout the ages? Well, some of the stories you’ll read range from the weird to the wonderful (and many aren’t backed up by science), so we’ll stick with some facts:
- Adding bath salts mimics the water composition of Hot Springs and natural sea-bathing. Bringing you a little bit closer to nature, not to mention creating a composition of salt-saturated water infuses your skin with minerals you probably don’t get enough of on a day-to-day basis.
- Increases the density of bath water. This allows you to float more easily, reducing the weight at stress on joints and allowing you to relax just a little bit more.
- Carriers of fragrance. Many (but not all) bath salts carry a fragrance, minerals, oils (or even CBD!). These bath additives are typically too potent to add to a bath without a base ‘vehicle’ to carry it. Bath salts move around the bath as they dissolve, spreading the load evenly.
There are other reasons to use Bath Salts too. They’re commonly seen as a great exfoliant (they have a detergent action that softens calloused skin), and they can relax muscles, draw up lactic acid and ease joint stiffness. At the very least, there’s a great range of bath salts and muscle soaks that come with well designed scent combinations and essential oils that will help you to relax in the warmth of an evening bath.
What are the different types of bath salt?
So, there’s a HUGE range of different types of bath salt (depending on how you want to group and define them) so let’s stick with the basics here:
| Bath Salt | Content | What it’s good for |
|---|---|---|
| Epsom Bath Salt | Epsom salt is a pure mineral compound of magnesium sulfate in crystal form but it’s technically not sodium chloride (common salt). | Great for those with a Magnesium deficiency, good for exfoliation and for soothing muscle pain |
| Himilayan Bath salt | Over 80 trace minerals, often a gentle (natural) pink colour. Sometimes called Ancient Sea Bath Salts | Spa baths and use in face scrubs and exfoliation. |
| Dead Sea Bath Salt | Pure Sodium Chloride (Chemical Compound NaCL) | Often used to treat dry skin conditions like psoriasis and eczema as well as reducing inflammation |
Of course there’s other types, but let’s stick with these for the moment. I you want to know a little bit more, don’t hesitate to reach out and ask us a question.
The best Bath Salt for a Male Athlete
So, if you’re a male athlete, sports person, or just a regular guy that’s getting a decent amount of exercise, then the chances are that when you hop into a bath with bath salts, you’re going to be be tired, achy, sore, perhaps with inflamed joints and/or calloused skin. For that reason – we’re going to recommend Epsom Salts. It’s a clear winner in this scenario because Epsom salts are known to:
- Help reduce toxins from your body
- Help exfoliate dead skin
- Sooth muscle pain (more about this in a moment)
- Draw up lactic acid
Epsom salts have a detergent action that soften calloused skin, so if you’re involved in a sport with equipment (Weightlifting, Gymnastics, Tennis, Baseball, Climbing etc) then you’re going to benefit from this.
The other thing to keep in mind is that Bath Salts will increase the density of the water in your bath (we’re not going to get into the science here, but the end result is that it’s easier to float). This is going to relieve the pressure on your joints and help you get that lovely ‘weightless’ feeling in your bath.
The best Bath Salt for a man to relax
You’ve had a hard day/week/month/year at work. We hear you – and we feel the same! So, in your bath you’re going to be looking for something that’s just going to help you relax a little. For this we’d recommend Dead Sea Bath Salts. OK, we’re not the first to make this recommendation, but we’re riding on the back of some pretty conclusive history. Cleopatra set up her day spa on the banks of the Dead Sea (if you’ve not heard of her, she’s from the times of Ancient Egypt and was kind of well known for not really ageing!) and that’s where you’re going to find the origins of this Bath Salt. Generally much (much!) higher in naturally occuring minerals than regular sea salt, Dead Sea bath salt can contain up to 10x the Potassium, Iodine, Chlorine, Sodium, Calcium, Magnesium and Bromine levels.
Dead Sea bath salts are also very ‘dry’ and so are often used to absorb essential oils in their composition, that are then released gently (and well distributed) into your bath (check the details of the brand you buy though). This release of essential oils (and any aromas added) gives you the experience the benefits of Dead Sea salt and aromatherapy in the privacy of their own home.
The best Bath Salt to have a romantic bath
Here’s where it gets really good. Bath salts can have a wonderful calming, and romance inducing effect, so if you’re going to share your bath with a loved one, you’ll want to be looking at a blend of Epsom Salts and Himalayan Salts. There’s a great range of blends on the market so have a browse around, but we’d recommend looking at something like Westlab’s range of Bath Salt Blends. This “Zen” blend of Epsom and Himalayan Bathing Salts contain added scents of Cedarwood, Neroli and White Sage to create a create a fragrant, mineral-infused bath (they also do one with Lavender and Jasmine which is worth a peek).
Romantic bath salts
Our top picks for romantic Bath Salts are:
- Westlab’s “Zen” blend of Epsom and Himalayan Bathing Salts. Containing Cedarwood, Neroli and White Sage to create a fragrant, mineral-infused bath to calm the mind and soothe the soul.
- Aveda Stress Fix soaking salts. Contains 100% organic ingredients including French-sourced lavender, lavandin & clary sage. Delivers a relaxing aroma to pacify stressed spirit.
Taking a romantic bath with a loved one (or perhaps a recent acquaintance!) is a great way to relax together, chat and get yourself clean… but we’d suggest leaving any… errr… more ‘energetic’ pursuits until your out of the bath. High concentrations of salt, with the body’s nooks and cranny’s isn’t a good mix.