I found the following recipes at MSN's frugal living community: http://groups.msn.com/FrugalLiving/epsomsalt.msnw

What do you all think of them?  I was wondering if the epsom salt recipe for oily hair would help w/ my CO problems.  


For oily hair
Add 9 tablespoons of Epsom Salt to 1/2 cup of liquid shampoo made for
oily  hair (the Epsom Salt acts like I magnet to soak up the oil from the
hair).
Apply one tablespoon of this mixture to dry hair. Massage in well,
then rinse with cold water. Next, add the juice of one lemon and a cup of
luke warm water. Pour on your hair and leave it for 10 minutes. Finally,
rinse thoroughly with cool water.

For hairspray and gel buildup
Combine a gallon of distilled water, a cup of lemon juice (fresh or
bottled), and 1 cup of Epsom Salt. Cap the mixture and let it sit for
24 hours. The next day, pour the mixture into your dry hair and let it
sit for 20 minutes. Then shampoo as normal.

To add body to your hair
Combine 3 tablespoons of deep conditioner with 3 tablespoons of Epsom
Salt. Microwave the mixture for 20 seconds. Work the warm mixture through
your hair from scalp to ends and leave on for 20 minutes. Rinse with warm
water. Promotes body and life in your hair and restores curl to permed hair.

Sounds interesting.  Not having oily hair I don't think I will be trying any of these receipes myself.  (I'd be concerned about the roughness of the crystals on my fine hair).

If anyone does try them, let us know your results.

Two things:

1. I'd be nervous about putting any sort of concentrated mineral salts on my hair, as formation of crystals can damage the cuticle.

2. I can't think of any way Epsom salts could absorb oil. They are just mineral salts. They are never used for that purpose. Also, in a water solution they have no oil-absorbing properties. However, they are somewhat alkaline, which added to a pH-neutral shampoo may strip oils a little better. But they neutralized the pH of that shampoo for a reason, to make it gentle. High pH is harsh on the hair.

I have a degree in chemistry, FWIW.

Thanks for the info.  I'll try lots of things, but since I had never seen anything like this wanted to check first.