Coffee For Hair: Benefits, How To Use, And Precautions

Morning coffee is the ultimate energizer most of us need. But, if you are amazed by so many hair care products with caffeine and wondering, “Is coffee good for hair? the answer is yes. Applying coffee to your hair can promote hair growth! Moreover, anecdotal evidence suggests that it is good for your hair health. The caffeine present in coffee also prevents hair loss, enriches the hair color, and makes your hair shiny and smooth. This article discusses the benefits of coffee for hair, how to use it, and a few safety precautions you need to take. Read on to get all the information here!

Know Your Ingredient: Coffee

Who Can Use It?

Anyone can use coffee on their hair as it is a safe ingredient.

How Often?

You can use coffee on your hair once or twice a week.

Caution

Coffee may cause irritation or redness if you have a sensitive scalp. Therefore, do a patch test before applying it. Also, ensure not to apply hot coffee to your hair.

Is Coffee Good For Your Hair?

Yes, coffee is good for your hair in many ways. It benefits your hair as it has many nutrients and vitamins that your hair needs. From preventing hair loss to supporting healthy and strong hair growth, it does wonders for your hair.

Coffee has become one of the most popular home remedies for hair growth. It promotes scalp health and is often used in beauty treatments for hair. Check out all the benefits of coffee for hair in the next section.

Quick Tip

Use organic coffee preferably to avoid leaching your hair with unwanted pesticides and chemicals.

Benefits Of Using Coffee On Your Hair

1. Stimulates Hair Growth

Did you know that the matrix cells in a healthy hair follicle divide every 39 hours? The caffeine in coffee stimulates these matrix cells to divide, which in turn, stimulates the growth of hair (1). Also, caffeine contains antioxidants that reduce trans epidermal water loss and stimulate healthy hair cell production (2). Researchers also observed that drinking coffee for hair growth can increase follicles in both females and males.

The hair matrix is a critical part of the hair follicle structure. It produces keratin – a major protein that makes your hair. A research study conducted in Germany found that caffeine stimulates the proliferation of keratinocytesⁱ  Skin cells that majorly constitute the epidermis (upper skin layer), which help in skin repair and restore the epidermal barrier. (3). Furthermore, since caffeine is a stimulant, it also increases blood circulation to the hair follicles, which can enhance hair shaft elongation.

2. Exfoliates The Scalp

Coffee grounds may help exfoliate the scalp due to their gritty texture. When gently massaged onto the scalp, it helps remove dead skin cells, product buildup, and impurities. Coffee’s natural exfoliating properties may promote better circulation and scalp health. However, it’s necessary to be gentle to avoid scalp irritation or hair damage. Also, ensure to wash your hair and scalp with warm water afterwards to avoid any buildup.

3. Prevents Hair Loss

If you have weak hair follicles, you may face abnormal hair loss and baldness. Coffee stimulates hair follicles and fights against the loss of hair. You can witness hair loss with age, and it affects both males and females. The topical application of caffeine formulation has been found to reduce hair loss and promote regrowth (4).

In males, baldness occurs mostly due to the sex hormone, dihydrotestosterone (DHT). It damages the hair follicles and leads to hair loss. Caffeine blocks the effects of DHT in male hair follicles (5). It also prolongs the anagen (hair growth) phase. Women with high DHT levels also experience hair loss and can overcome this problem with coffee.

4. Promotes Healthy And Shiny Hair

The antioxidant properties and nutrients of caffeine strengthen the hair follicles and, thus, add shine to your hair (6). Anecdotal evidence suggests that rinsing your hair with coffee reduces the dullness of hair and makes it smoother. This can also reduce frizz and revive your hair’s appearance.

You might think that caffeine has a drying effect on your hair because of its diuretic effect. But, on the contrary, it does not strip away the natural oils when you apply it to your hair. It helps your hair retain its moisture and natural shine. Furthermore, it increases blood circulation and helps the nutrients reach the roots of the hair, resulting in healthy and shiny hair.

5. Darkens Your Hair

If you want to dye your gray hair or darken your hair color naturally, a coffee rinse is the best option. Coffee stains your hair with its dark color. It is also a quick fix to hide your gray hair. Use strong coffee for the best results.

Sky, a blogger and self-professed tree hugger, tried a DIY coffee rinse to achieve silky brown hair. In her blog, she explained how she darkened her medium-brown hair. She writes, “If you have lighter hair and want to try it out, know that it will probably darken your hair to some degree. If that’s not a desirable effect, this probably isn’t for you. However, the darker your hair, the less that will show, so if like me, it doesn’t do much to your color then have at it and enjoy the ensuing silkiness (i)!”

Listed in the next section are a few ways to use coffee to improve hair health. Check them out!

How To Use Coffee For Hair Growth?

1. Coffee Rinse For Hair Growth

If you are looking to dye your hair to hide gray strands, prevent hair loss, or improve the shine of your tresses, a coffee rinse is your savior.

Making a coffee rinse at home is simple.

What You Need

• Brewed and cooled coffee – 2 to 4 cups
• Spray bottle
• Shower cap

What To Do

1. Depending on the length of your hair, pour 2 to 4 cups of brewed coffee into a spray bottle. Make sure that it has cooled down completely before you do so.
2. Spray the brewed coffee on your wet hair, making sure to saturate all your hair strands.
3. Massage the coffee into your scalp for a few minutes.
4. Put on a shower cap and allow the rinse to sit on your hair and scalp for 20 minutes.
5. For an extra layer of moisture, you can mix the brewed coffee with your favorite leave-in conditioner before applying it to your hair.
6. Rinse off the coffee from your hair with cold or lukewarm water.

2. Coffee Hair Mask

What You Need

• Ground coffee – 2 teaspoons
• Honey – 1 tablespoon
• Carrier oil (olive oil or coconut oil) – 1 tablespoon

What To Do

1. Mix the three ingredients well to make a smooth paste.
2. Apply this mixture to your scalp and scalp.
3. Cover your hair with a shower cap and leave it on for 20 minutes.
4. Rinse off the hair mask with lukewarm water.

Quick Tip

You can make an alternative hair mask by mixing 1 tablespoon of ground coffee with an egg yolk for an added protein boost to your hair.

3. Use Intense Thickening Shampoo

Washing and conditioning your hair with caffeine-based shampoos give your hair a fuller and more voluminous appearance. These shampoos are enriched with hyaluronic acidⁱ  A naturally occurring compound used on hair to make it moisturized and frizz-free and to add volume. and biotinⁱ  A member of the B complex vitamins that helps in various metabolic functions and also promotes hair growth. that help stimulate the hair follicles and improve hair density.

4. Make A Conditioner

This is a simple hack using coffee for hair growth. You can create a moisturizing conditioner with brewed coffee. For this, all you need to do is rinse your hair with a mild sulfate-free shampoo. Squeeze out any extra water and apply brewed coffee all over your hair. Leave it on for 5-10 minutes before rinsing it off with lukewarm water.

5. Coffee Scrub For Scalp Exfoliation

If you are looking for an effective solution to clean scalp buildup and promote hair growth, prepare a coffee scrub. The coarse coffee powder gently scrapes off the dead skin cells from the scalp and stimulates blood circulation.

What You Need

• Coffee grounds – 2 tablespoons
• Coconut or Olive oil – 2 tablespoons
• Honey – 1 tablespoon
• Bowl

What To Do

1. Mix all ingredients in a bow into a paste-like consistency.
2. Wet your hair with lukewarm water and dry it with a soft towel. Ensure the hair is damp, not wet.
3. Section the hair and apply the scrub directly to the scalp. Massage the product gently for 3 to 5 minutes in small, circular motions.
4. Let the scrub sit on the scalp for 10 minutes, allowing the product to penetrate the scalp properly.
5. Wash the hair with lukewarm water.
6. Follow up with a sulfate-free shampoo and conditioner to remove residual scrub from the scalp.
7. Dry the hair with a soft towel and apply a moisturizing hair mask.

6. Use Caffeine Hair Serum For Hair Density

Finish your caffeine hair care routine with a caffeine serum that is formulated to help you achieve visibly thicker, healthier, and fuller hair.

Now that you know how to use coffee for your hair, learn about the possible side effects of using it in the section below.

Side Effects Of Applying Coffee On Hair

Applying coffee to your hair may lead to side effects such as temporary hair staining and dryness due to coffee’s natural acidity. The abrasive coffee grounds may also cause scalp irritation and itching, and other allergic reactions such as redness. However, these side effects vary depending on each person’s hair type and scalp sensitivity. Perform a patch test to check for sensitivity, use coffee treatments in moderation, and ensure thorough rinsing to minimize these risks.

Precautions

• While choosing coffee powder for hair, use unflavored coffee for your hair rinse. Anything with added flavor or an instant coffee mix will have extra sugar and is likely to be less potent.
• Don’t use hot coffee on your scalp. Wait until it cools down completely before applying it to your hair.

Infographic: Top Benefits Of Using Coffee For Hair

All the many benefits of coffee for your hair has probably given you a new reason to go out and stock up your pantry with its aromatic grounds. There’s something for everyone here – whether you are looking for anti-aging remedies or a new natural solution for your hair-shedding problem.

Check out the infographic below to learn more about the best advantages of using coffee for your hair.

Illustration: StyleCraze Design Team

Frequently Asked Questions

Can coffee replace my regular hair care products?

No. Avoid replacing your entire hair care regime with coffee-based products to ensure you get all the benefits other hair ingredients can provide. Instead, incorporate coffee in the form of masks or scrubs into your regular hair care routine to reap its hair benefits.

Can coffee damage your hair?

If you leave coffee powder in your hair for too long, it might clog your hair follicles. So make sure to wash it off with water and shampoo.

How long should I leave coffee in my hair?

You can leave coffee in your hair for about an hour. If you want to stain your hair, leave coffee in your hair for 2-3 hours. But wash it off with warm water and a mild shampoo.

Can coffee make the hair gray?

No, coffee does not cause graying. It improves hair health, growth, color, and feel.

Can I mix coffee with shampoo?

Yes, you can mix coffee with shampoo to attain its hair-improving benefits. You can also buy hair care products, like shampoos, serums, and masks containing coffee extracts.

Coffee is a great natural remedy for hair growth. Learn the wonderful benefits of using this simple ingredient to improve your hair health from the video below.

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Dr. CP ThajudheenMD

   

Dr. CP Thajudheen has over 20 years of experience in various lasers, light-based devices, and other advanced equipment. He was one of the beginners who introduced cutaneous lasers in India. He carries out dermato surgeries regularly, including hair grafting and vitiligo surgeries.

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