How to Tint Your Hair With Coffee

Although coffee is notorious for staining clothing and other fabrics, it can be used to tint your natural or dyed brown hair or to give your hair a dramatic change if you have a light hair color. This natural and safe color treatment temporarily adds intensity to your hair by bringing out natural highlights and deepening the current color. Similar to temporary hair color, the coffee will easily wash out after one to two washes with a mild shampoo.

Things You'll Need

• Ground coffee
• Coffee maker
• Medium-sized bowl
• Old shirt
• Old towel
• Mild shampoo

Instructions

1. Brew a pot of coffee. The coffee should be a dark roast or espresso roast, as darker roasts will provide more of a noticeable color difference. The longer or thicker your hair is, the more coffee you'll need to make in order to tint your hair. Medium-length hair requires 2 to 3 cups of coffee to cover the entire area. Allow the pot of coffee to cool, because applying hot coffee to your scalp can cause severe burns and irritation.

2. Pour the coffee over your hair. Place a bowl underneath you while you pour the coffee over your hair in order to reuse the excess coffee. Evenly distribute coffee through hair after shampooing and conditioning your hair. Squeeze any excess moisture from your hair, and blot your hair dry with an old towel. Do not use a newer towel, because the coffee will stain the material. Style as usual.

3. Add coffee to your hair after shampooing. Clean hair allows the coffee to absorb better, which creates a richer look for your hair color. Pour 1 cup of coffee onto your hair, followed by 2 more cups of coffee. Allow the coffee to sit in your hair for 10 to 15 minutes, then rinse it out with cool water. This rinsing process ensures the coffee stains evenly, and should be followed with a color-preserving conditioner to prevent the new tint from fading. Saturate your hair with the conditioner, then rinse it out with warm water.

4. Repeat weekly. Coffee rinses are temporary, and require maintenance to keep the tint fresh. Avoid using instant coffee, because it usually contains artificial ingredients that may damage your hair.

Tips & Warnings

• If you can't stand the smell of coffee, you can substitute black tea to tint your hair.

• Do not use shampoos that contain sodium lauryl sulfate because it strips the hair of buildup and natural oils, and will remove the coffee rinse from your hair.

References

• "The Hair Bible;" Susan Craig Scott and Karen W. Bressier; 2003
• NaturalNews.com: The Dangers in Hair Coloring and Safer Alternatives