Yes, coffee can darken hair. It acts as a natural hair dye, offering a subtle darkening effect rather than a dramatic color change.
How Coffee Darkens Hair
Coffee's pigments and acidic properties contribute to its hair-darkening capabilities. The strength of the coffee directly impacts the intensity of the darkening effect; stronger brews lead to more noticeable results. However, the degree of darkening is usually limited to one or perhaps two shades. This method is best suited for those seeking a subtle change in their hair color, rather than a complete transformation.
Several sources confirm this effect:
- Reddit: Users have reported successfully using coffee rinses to darken their hair, although results vary (https://www.reddit.com/r/TheGirlSurvivalGuide/comments/1swijv/request_has_anyone_tried_using_coffee_to_dye/, https://www.reddit.com/r/beauty/comments/107b7lx/if_anyone_has_tried_dying_your_hair_with_coffee/).
- Spoon University: A detailed guide outlines using strong coffee as a hair dye, indicating a noticeable darkening effect (https://spoonuniversity.com/school/ufl/how-to-dye-your-hair-with-coffee/).
- WikiHow: A step-by-step tutorial confirms coffee's ability to darken hair, specifying that stronger coffee produces darker results (https://www.wikihow.com/Dye-Your-Hair-With-Coffee).
- Resplendent Cosmetics: This source mentions coffee's potential to darken hair color, noting that it's a relatively temporary effect lasting around 7-10 days (https://www.resplendentcosmetics.com/blog/side-effects-of-applying-coffee-on-hair.php).
- Healthline: This article lists coffee among natural hair dyes, stating it can darken hair a shade or two (https://www.healthline.com/health/natural-hair-dye).
- Death Wish Coffee: This blog post confirms that darker roasts of coffee will result in a darker hair color (https://www.deathwishcoffee.com/blogs/lifestyle/coffee-hair-dye).
Cautions
While generally safe, using coffee to darken hair should be approached cautiously, especially if you have light, red, or dyed hair. The results might be unpredictable.
