What Really Happens When You Dye Your Hair With Coffee

Making a DIY coffee hair dye is as easy as turning on your coffee maker, though you'll need a little time to get the job done. The recipe and proportions vary a bit according to the source you use, so you may want to experiment to see which blend works for you.

First, brew two cups of coffee. Any brand will do, though a dark roast will result in a darker shade. Reserve the grounds. While the coffee cools, wash your hair with your favorite shampoo, wring out the excess water, and leave the towel over your shoulders. Now comes the messy part: You'll be mixing the brewed coffee with the coffee grounds and a leave-in conditioner. Healthline's recipe calls for half a cup of brewed coffee, 2 tablespoons of grounds, and 1 cup of conditioner. However, Death Wish Coffee suggests up to 3 tablespoons of grounds and "2 to 3 squirts" of conditioner along with the java. Spoon University, which made the coffee-dye hack popular, recommends skipping the liquid coffee altogether and just blending 2 cups of conditioner with 4 tablespoons of grounds.

Once your preferred dye is ready, apply it all over your hair, then let it sit for 30 minutes to an hour. Next, rinse your hair to remove the grounds, and shampoo once more — or, take a tip from Leaf.tv and use apple cider vinegar instead to avoid stripping the color.