How to Dye Your Hair With Tea, Coffee, or Spices

Co-authored by Mindy Nguyen

Last Updated: March 8, 2024 Approved

Commercial hair dyes can be expensive, not to mention that they are full of chemicals and irritants. Many people have allergies to over-the-counter and professional hair dyes. However, you can use natural products such as coffee, teas, fruits, and vegetables to color your hair. Keep in mind that these methods are semi-permanent and will wash out over time. This article contains tips on how to dye hair with multiple all-natural substances.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Darkening Your Hair

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1
Make a tea from sage and rosemary. This is also a great method for covering gray hair.^{[1]
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- Mix equal parts of sage and rosemary to one cup of hot water.
- Steep the herbs for at least 10 minutes.
- Strain the herbs from the water.
- Use the liquid as a rinse, repeating daily until hair is darkened to the desired shade.
2
Make a strong black tea rinse. This is best for brunettes who want to darken their hair.
- Use three black tea bags in 2 cups of boiling water.
- Allow it to steep for 5 minutes then allow it to cool.
- Apply to hair using applicator bottles, then let it sit for about one hour before rinsing.
- To cover gray, add an equal amount of sage to the water with the tea while it is steeping.
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3
Use brewed coffee and leave-in conditioner. Coffee is a great and cheap natural product that you can use to dye your hair darker. Be sure to buy organic coffee as non-organic coffee can contain other chemicals.
- Make a strong coffee with organic coffee. You should make it too strong to drink and use a dark roast or espresso. This will provide the most potent dye.
- Let your coffee cool down. You don't want to burn your scalp in the process!
- Mix 2 cups of leave-in all-natural conditioner with 2T of organic coffee grounds and one cup of cold strong brewed coffee. Always mix your materials in a non-metal bowl, as metal can affect your color.
- Apply the mixture to your hair with applicator bottles. You can get these at beauty supply stores.
- Let the mixture sit for one hour, then rinse. Your hair will now have a beautiful chocolate color.
4
Make a coffee rinse. This procedure might need to be repeated a few times for best results.
- Shampoo your hair, then pour strong brewed coffee (that is cooled) over your hair.
- Leave the coffee on for 20 minutes.
- Rinse your hair with apple cider vinegar. This will remove the coffee and help to seal in the color.
- Repeat rinses as needed to get even darker results.
5
Make a rinse from black walnuts. You can use walnut powder or the walnut hulls. Walnut hulls will provide the most potent dye and tend to stain.
- If you are using hulls, crush them and cover them with boiling water. Let this soak for three days.
- If you are using walnut powder, boil water and pour 5 tablespoons of powder into it (depending on the darkness you want). Let the mixture soak for a few hours or longer if you want darker results.
- Apply the mixture to your hair and let it sit for at least 20 minutes and let it air dry. Your hair should now be several shades darker.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Lightening and Adding Highlights

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1
Add yellow highlights with tea made from chamomile. This is an effective natural way to lighten your hair.
- Steep chamomile tea bags in boiling water for at least 30 minutes.
- Shampoo and towel dry your hair.
- Pour tea rinse over your hair and let it air dry.
- Repeat for a few days until you reach your desired shade.
2
Use lemons to lighten hair. This method works slowly over several uses.
- Apply pure lemon juice to hair. It will act as a natural bleach.
- Lightening effects can be intensified by exposing the treated hair to sunlight.
- This method works slowly over several applications. Be patient.
3
Make a tea from turmeric, calendula, and chamomile tea. Turmeric is a bright yellow spice known for its use in Indian cooking and fabric dying.
- Add equal parts turmeric, calendula, and chamomile to boiling water.
- Steep for 20 minutes, then strain.
- Apply to hair, leave on for 15-20 minutes, then rinse.
- Repeat as desired for enhanced results.
4
Create bright highlights with rhubarb root and water. You will want to use the dried root of the rhubarb plant for this method. ^{[2]
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- Simmer 3-4 tablespoons of dried rhubarb root in a quart of water for 20 minutes. Don't breathe the steam.
- Let this mixture sit overnight and strain in the morning.
- Pour mixture on hair, catching the liquid in a bucket. Repeat 2-3 times.
- Air dry without rinsing.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Enhancing Red Tones and Highlights

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1
Enhance reddish tones with paprika and rose hips. Paprika is a reddish spice that can enhance red tones or add red highlights to hair.
- Make a tea from rose hips. Brew rose hips in boiling water.
- Let the tea cool.
- Make a paste using the tea and paprika and apply it to hair. You might find it helpful to use an applicator brush. You can find these at beauty supply stores.
- Leave the paste on hair for at least 30 minutes then rinse.
2
Apply beet and carrot juice to hair. This method is simple but may require multiple applications for enhanced results.
- Mix beet and carrot juice together in equal parts.
- Apply the mixture through the hair and work it through.
- Leave the mixture on for at least 60 minutes before rinsing.
- This method works best to enhance color in red hair.
- In blondes, the results tend to turn out a bright strawberry blonde.
3
Use rose hips to add a light reddish tint to hair. You can do this method by making a strong herbal tea from dried rose hips. ^{[3]
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- Bring 2 cups of water to a boil.
- Add 1 cup of rose hips.
- Let the mixture steep until the water turns a deep red color.
- Cool the mixture and then strain it.
- Massage into hair and then let it sit 20 minutes before rinsing.
- Repeat as necessary.

Tips

Buy applicator bottles from a beauty supply store.

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Make your mixtures the day you intend to use them unless otherwise directed.

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Do your hair dyeing in an area that is to get messy. Some dyes may stain clothes, skin, or other surfaces.

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