How to Cover Grey Hair with Coffee

Co-authored by Mindy Nguyen

Last Updated: October 9, 2022 References

Coffee Dip

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Coffee Conditioner

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Henna and Coffee

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Expert Q&A

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Tips

If you're hoping to cover up your grey hairs using coffee, there are several different methods for you to choose from. Dip your hair into freshly brewed black coffee once it has cooled to dye your entire head of grey hair, or mix coffee with conditioner to leave the mixture in your hair while the coffee dyes your hair. For a stronger method, apply henna to your hair made of coffee. Whichever method you choose, know that you'll likely need to apply it more than once for your grey hairs to truly be dark.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Coffee Dip

1
Brew 1-2 pots of strong, dark coffee. After placing a fresh filter in your coffee machine, scoop your coffee grounds from the coffee container and into the filter. Fill the machine with water and follow the machine's instructions on how to brew a pot of coffee.^{[1]
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- If you don’t have a coffee machine, you can make coffee by boiling water and then adding the coffee to the water.
- 2–3 tablespoons (30–44 ml) are used to make 1 cup (240 ml) of coffee.
- Use your favorite brand of dark coffee to dye your hair.^{[2]
  X
  Expert Source
  
  Mindy Nguyen
  Holistic Cosmetologist
  Expert Interview. 8 October 2021.}
2
Let the coffee sit for 15 minutes in a large bowl or basin. Allow the coffee to cool down so that you don’t burn yourself when dipping your hair in the coffee. Once it has cooled, pour the coffee into a bowl, basin, or pot large enough for you to fit your head in so the coffee will reach your roots.^{[3]
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- Set a timer for 15 minutes to let the coffee cool down before you start using it.
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3
Dip your hair into the coffee and leave it there for several minutes. Lean over in front of the bowl and dip the sections of your grey hair that you’d like to color into the coffee. Once you've dipped your hair, stay in that position for at least 3 minutes to let the coffee color absorb. Know that dipping brown or black hair in coffee to fix grey roots may make the rest of your hair slightly darker, while dipping blonde hair into coffee to fix grey roots will have a more drastic result. ^{[4]
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- Wrap a towel around your neck and wear an old T-shirt in case you get coffee on yourself.
- If you’re only dyeing certain sections of your hair, clip back the other sections using hair clips or hair ties so they don’t get in the coffee.
4
Rinse the coffee out using cool running water. Slowly lift your head out of the coffee. If your hair is long, twist is up on top of your head to keep it from dripping everywhere. Rinse the coffee out of your hair, massaging your hair under cool water to be sure you get all of the coffee out. Once the water runs clear, you’re finished rinsing.^{[5]
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5
Repeat this process to make your hair darker each time. If your grey hairs aren’t as dark as you’d like them after the first soaking, repeat each step to soak your hair in the coffee again. The more soakings you do, the darker your grey hairs will become.^{[6]
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Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Coffee Conditioner

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Combine 2 packets of instant coffee with 1 cup (240 ml) of conditioner. It’s okay if your measurements aren’t precise, as the coffee conditioner recipe is very flexible. Pour the coffee and conditioner into a bowl.^{[7]
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- If you don’t have instant coffee packets, use 3–4 tablespoons (44–59 ml) of coffee grounds instead.
2
Mix them together so the coffee is distributed evenly. Use a spoon to mix the coffee grounds and conditioner together. Stir until the coffee is evenly distributed in the conditioner and the conditioner has turned a brown color.^{[8]
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- Don’t worry if the coffee grounds are visible spots in the conditioner.
3
Wrap a towel around your shoulders to keep your clothing stain-free. Use a towel that you don’t mind getting stained. It’s also a good idea to put on an old shirt that you don’t mind getting dirty as well.^{[9]
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4
Cover the grey hairs with the conditioner using a dye application brush. Scoop out a small amount of the coffee conditioner with a dye application brush. Smooth the conditioner out over each section of grey hair so that your hair is well covered with the mixture.^{[10]
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- If you don’t have a dye application brush, put gloves on your hands and use your fingers to spread the conditioner.
- Purchase a dye brush from your local big box or beauty store.^{[11]
  X
  Expert Source
  
  Mindy Nguyen
  Holistic Cosmetologist
  Expert Interview. 8 October 2021.}
5
Let the conditioner sit in your hair for 1 hour. Set a timer for 1 hour so you know how long to leave the conditioner in. This gives your hair enough time to absorb some of the coffee’s darker color to help dye your grey hairs.^{[12]
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Rinse the conditioner out using cold water. After the 1 hour is up, position your hair under cold running water and massage your hair gently to remove the conditioner. Once the water runs clear, the conditioner and coffee should be out of your hair.^{[13]
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- Rinse your hair out in the sink or in the shower, depending on which is easier for you.^{[14]
  X
  Expert Source
  
  Mindy Nguyen
  Holistic Cosmetologist
  Expert Interview. 8 October 2021.}
7
Repeat this process several times to tint your greys darker. It’s likely that you’ll need to use the coffee conditioner in your hair multiple times for your grey hairs to truly be covered up. Repeat this process the next day to tint your hair even darker.^{[15]
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- Once you’ve achieved the right color, you’ll only need to use the coffee conditioner twice a month.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Henna and Coffee

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Pour 0.25 cups (59 ml) of henna powder into a bowl. Measure out the henna using a measuring cup and pour it into a ceramic or plastic bowl. This is a good amount if you’re just planning on touching up your grey hairs. If you’re planning on dyeing your entire head of hair, it’s best to use more henna.^{[16]
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- Look for henna powder designed specifically for hair at a big box store, beauty store, or online.
2
Add warm black coffee to the henna in small amounts. Brew a batch of fresh black coffee—the darker the better. Once it cools down a little but is still warm, pour the coffee into the henna in small amounts to ensure you don’t add too much at once.^{[17]
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- For example, you might pour the coffee into the henna 2 tablespoons (30 ml) at a time.
3
Stir the henna and coffee mixture until there aren’t any lumps left. Once you’ve poured a bit of coffee into the henna, mix it together using a spoon. Keep pouring small amounts of black coffee into the henna and mixing them together until you create a consistency similar to pancake batter.^{[18]
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- Try to remove as many lumps as possible by stirring the henna and coffee thoroughly.
4
Cover the mixture with plastic wrap to let it set for 4-6 hours. After the coffee and henna are thoroughly mixed together, place a piece of plastic wrap over the top of the bowl. Press the plastic wrap down on the sides of the bowl so it stays in place, or use a rubber band to keep it tight against the bowl. Let the henna and coffee sit for 4-6 hours before using it.^{[19]
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- Some henna packets might instruct you to leave the henna out for longer than 6 hours, such as overnight. Follow the instructions that come with your specific type of henna to be sure you're using it properly.
5
Apply the mixture to your grey hair using your fingers or a dye brush. If you’re using your fingers, wear gloves to keep the henna and coffee mixture from staining your skin. Scoop small amounts of the mixture out using your fingers or a dye application brush and rub it onto the strands of grey hair. Cover each section of grey hair with the mixture to be sure it dyes your hair.^{[20]
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- For example, you might apply it to your roots only, to certain strands of grey hairs, or to your entire head.
- If you’re applying it to your entire head, section your hair into more manageable clumps using hair clips.
- Find a dye brush at your local beauty store, big box store, or online.
6
Cover your hair with a shower cap to let it sit for 6 hours. Place the shower cap or a plastic bag over the entire dyed section of hair so it’s secure and won’t move. Set a timer for 6 hours to be sure you know when to take the shower cap off and rinse out the mixture.^{[21]
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- If you’re feeling uneasy about how the henna and coffee will affect your hair, leave the mixture in for a shorter amount of time.
7
Rinse the coffee and henna out of your hair before shampooing. Remove the shower cap and use cool water to rinse the mixture out of your hair. Keep rinsing your hair until the water runs clear, meaning you’ve removed all the coffee and henna. Shampoo and condition your hair as you normally would, and enjoy your freshly dyed grey hairs!^{[22]
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Expert Q&A

Question

Does coffee really cover grey hair?

Mindy Nguyen
Holistic Cosmetologist
Mindy Nguyen is a Holistic Cosmetologist and the Owner and Founder of Mai Blossom Organic Salon, an organic hair salon in San Diego, California. With more than 35 years of experience in the beauty industry, she specializes in combining Eastern philosophies with Western science to provide organic hair coloring and holistic hair styling.

Mindy Nguyen

Holistic Cosmetologist

Expert Answer

It can, but you may need to apply the coffee more than once to get the results you're looking for.
Question

How should I prepare my hair before coloring?

Mindy Nguyen
Holistic Cosmetologist
Mindy Nguyen is a Holistic Cosmetologist and the Owner and Founder of Mai Blossom Organic Salon, an organic hair salon in San Diego, California. With more than 35 years of experience in the beauty industry, she specializes in combining Eastern philosophies with Western science to provide organic hair coloring and holistic hair styling.

Mindy Nguyen

Holistic Cosmetologist

Expert Answer

Wash your hair with a clarifying shampoo, focusing especially on where the gray hair is.