DIY Natural Hair Dye | Will Coffee Cover Gray Hair?

I guess I’m just one of those lucky people that go gray before their time. Between the grays and my thinning hair, I’ve been feeling older than my years. I’m constantly reminded every time I see myself on a video and I’m haunted by the long, thick, and beautifully-colored tresses that so many women seem to have these days. I keep telling myself they’re extensions, they’re wigs, they aren’t real! But lately, that doesn’t seem to make me feel any better.

I thought a wig might be the answer to both the color and thinning issues, so I went with my mom to try some on. I didn’t find the perfect one for me, either the color or the style was off—usually both. And, honestly, when I’m looking in the mirror, it doesn’t bother me that much. It’s when I see myself on camera or when I’m comparing myself to others. Why do I still do that? Am I having a midlife crisis? Ugh. I need to work on it.

Anyway, I thought I would try a DIY hair dye that was also a natural hair dye, not permanent, so I wouldn’t have to worry about touch-ups later. The reason I stopped coloring my gray hair in the first place was because of that awful root line that must be retouched every few weeks. I want something that will wash out evenly over time and something that won’t further damage my aging hair. I was going to the salon for demi-permanent or semi-permanent color, which works the way I need it to. But, the time and cost didn’t seem worth the couple weeks of gray coverage.

So, I started researching at home hair color and natural hair dye alternatives. The most frequently returned results for a DIY natural hair dye were for coffee hair dye. So, I started watching. The more videos I watched, the less I knew and the more frustrated I became. The few people that actually showed themselves doing this did not have my hair color and definitely didn’t have any visible grays. Most videos, though, didn’t show people at all, but had hundreds of thousands, even millions of views. Double UGH!

I’ve tried this out for myself, not to chase some YouTube algorithm, but to find out once and for all if using a coffee hair dye will darken hair and cover grays. I hope that if you have been considering this for yourself, our video will help you decide whether or not it’s worth trying. I’ll show you all my gray hair, the exact recipes I used and the results of each.

#grayhair #aging #wigs #coffeehair #diyhaircolor

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[TeresaAngelena]

Just so you know, Honestly your natural gray hair looks really nice on you! Looks like natural highlights. Looks Very PRETTY as is .

[lorri]

I was a hairdresser for several years so I know how haircolor works. The ammonia in haircolor lifts the scales on your hairshaft which allows the pigment to enter the shaft and deposit the color. Another option is henna which works in two ways: intense staining properties and also coats the hair shaft. You will get more and more color and shine from henna with additional applications because it builds on itself.

[trenawawrzyniak]

At 57 my hair is white n I love it. Started getting gray at 23 n dyed my hair all the time. My hairdresser always did a great job with my hair. 10 yrs ago I just stopped dying it. I love my edgy pixie hair cut n I love my white hair. I fully embrace my natural hair color.

[Alice-fref]

As a small child my grandmother always combed my hair with black coffee and castor oil. I hated the smell and always cried but she told me it would make my hair very black. I am now 80 but up until about 5 yrs ago, people always asked me if I dyed my hair because it was so black. I had never colored my hair and still do not but it has now begun to turn gray which I don't like because I am not used to that color at all. So coffee and castor oil worked. It was not instant coffee but Folgers Drip Coffee and the Castor Oil.

[Stephanie-lgcm]

Your hair is beautiful, from the photos you shared, it’s always been beautiful. I’m 65 and have allowed my grey to shine for the last 5 years and I love it! No colour maintenance, loads of compliments and great condition. I’m very low maintenance, had my brows and eyeliner permanently airbrushed on and I keep my nails shot and natural. As I age I feel that time is best spent with the people I love doing the things I love, rather than trying to keep the clock from ticking forward.

[pynogrl]

Thanks for doing this. You saved me time, and frustration. I wasn’t worried about you ruining your hair, because none of the ingredients were toxic. Actually, box dyes are probably more worrisome.♥️

[Kay.in.FL.HI.SA.JP.OZ.NZ.RIO..]

The function of conditioners is to close the hair cuticle AFTER the cuticle was opened (and color had time to penetrate the hair). Conditioner then closes the cuticle to lock the color in.

The first step is to open the cuticle with mild shampoo (or chemicals). Then add color, wait for it to penetrate (a warm bonnet/towel wrap helps); then condition and rinse. Then use "color safe" hair products to keep the cuticle closed, so color doesn't leach out as fast.

On the other hand, using coffee (and other things like beets, henna, etc) will 'stain" the outside of the hair strands (it does not penetrate the hair shaft like dyes do). If you stain your hair, be aware the stain will buildup on the ends & dry areas; so you'll want to compensate for this during repeat applications. Stained hair may fade somewhat, but will remain until it's cut off or stripped out of hair (using stripper, lemon, etc.) Which will definitely dry out your hair.

Beware some hair is more or less "resistant" to dyes and/or stains; thus may not be viable (especially if using conditioner at the onset).

[josietartamella]

I used 1 egg yolk 3 tbs of olive oil and I tbs of instant coffee put it on my hair covered with a plastic wrap left it for 2 hours I had instant results my white hair is now caramel Color and last long

[billiep]

Use Black Walnut hulls, & use gloves 🧤🧤& old towel. It lasts about a month in between regular washing. My Grandmother would scrape out the insides of the hull every year when we gathered the walnuts. She would heat it to a low boil, & let cool, strain it into Mason jars.She kept them in the bottom of the pantry. I helped apply it to the strands of her hair when she got older, & needed help. We also used it to stain furniture, weaved baskets, etc. It works great as a scratch covering on many things.

[doyoubelieveityall]

Thank you, I've tried this twice, and absolutely nothing happened. You've saved me from feeling like I was doing something wrong.

[joegoe]

I think your natural greying hair is beautiful! Maybe someone has already suggested this, but, the best friends my hair and my looks had at your age (i am in my 70s now) was a great hair cut - even if that cut was a trim, precision is the keyword, and secondly, get your colors done and rethink your wardrobe top to bottom, including accessories and jewelry. Also with your upwardly mobile age, your style along with your lifestyle is changing. Don’t lose sight of that.

[GloriaLafont]

I've been using coffee on my hair for a few years. It does not completely cover my grey completely but it gives it a golden hue that mixes nicely with my darker hair. The color doesn't come off. You don't need to mix it with conditioner, coffee is a natural product with vitamins and antioxidants, I put it on my hair and leave it till it's dry, then rinse and wash with a mild shampoo, it leaves my hair super shiny and feeling strong and healthy. I use expresso coffee because it's what I drink, just make a strong brew and put in on. Hope it helps.

[MarleneBertrand]

Thank you for your wholehearted effort. I tried using coffee and it didn't work for me either, but then I thought maybe I didn't put enough effort into it. I was just about to try it again and then I saw your video. Thank you for saving me a lot of time and anguish.

[thinkcentre]

Another urban legend . Thanks for saving us time & effort.

[chrismickel]

Make a concentrated rinse from sage leaves, rosemary & guava leaves. Apply the rinse & leave in hair for at least 4 hours or more, covered in shower cap to keep moist. Then rinse out with water. Do this about 4x/week to start. Then gradually taper off to once/week. Herbs are our great allies. They work gradually over time to darken your hair. I have been extremely happy with the results.

[starkiss]

I would avoid using conditioner for the purpose of coloring your hair. It will prevent the colour to penitrate. I know boiling walnut leaves can dye your hair brown. Use the liquid as rinse. Let it sit on your hair for a while. Henna is also efficient in dying your hair just make sure you get the right colour. It tends to be red. I ended up with red hair once.

[faunanightshade]

I have blonde hair but what worked for me was simple extra strong brewed espresso coffee no conditioner and dipped the clean hair in the still warm not hot coffee and it took almost instantly but I left it on for an hr. . . Then rinsed in cool water to close the cuticles and used My conditioner. This made my hair soft and a nice caramel color. The coffee seems to act as a clarifying treatment. (My theory is the warm water opened up the hair cuticles allowing the staining of the coffee to be deposited easier.) Next test I will be doing is black tea with the same application 😊

[CC-qgzl]

I don't use conditioner. Conditioner coats the hair and reduces potential absorption of colour. I pour it on over a bowl then squish my hair around in the bowl, even decant it again over my hair into another bowl. Leave it under a shower cap...do my thing, then condition (seal) and rinse. It definitely has a blending affect.

Rosemary, rooibos and coffee ( grounds and all) all feed the root, exfoliate the scalp and boost circulation.

Don't give up!

[mattmcmahon]

your hair is so beautiful even with the gray!

[carmenmarcinkiewicz]

Your hair is naturally any added color!!!