How to use coffee for hair growth?

Coffee is a beverage loved by millions of people around the world, but besides being a faithful companion to face the day with the right energy, it can also help us in caring for our body, skin, and hair.

In recent years, several studies[1] have investigated the benefits of coffee on hair and science has confirmed that this “grandma’s remedy” really works. Here are the blessings of this “beauty elixir” and a few tips to avoid unpleasant side effects.

Coffee benefits for hair

1. Coffee stimulation for hair growth: caffeine contained in coffee is known for its ability to penetrate hair follicles and increase blood circulation, promoting faster growth. In addition, caffeine can inhibit the action of dihydrotestosterone (DHT), a hormone that prevents vitamins, proteins, and minerals from reaching hair follicles and ultimately causes the much-feared baldness.
2. Improving hair structure: applying coffee to the hair can make it stronger and thicker. Caffeine in fact helps strengthen the hair structure, reducing brittleness and tendency to breakage. It is also particularly useful in the case of hair that is difficult to detangle, very brittle and breaks easily. The antioxidants in coffee help fight free radicals, improving the overall health of the scalp and hair, which look more manageable, vital, and shiny.
3. Scalp exfoliation: ground coffee can serve as a natural exfoliant for the scalp, helping remove dandruff and dead cells, and promote a healthier environment for hair growth.
4. Dye hair with coffee: thanks to the many shades of its roasted beans and the energising action of caffeine, coffee helps to “plump” the hair pigments, intensifying the colour of dark hair and even covering grey hair. As it is a temporary colouring, it usually wears off after a few washes.

Disadvantages and side effects of coffee on hair

So, is it enough to have a few extra coffees a day? Not really!

Unfortunately, constantly consuming coffee does not help to achieve long and healthy hair in record time. On the contrary, although caffeine is beneficial, it is essential to consume and apply it in moderation, as too much of it could have adverse effects and cause problems, such as premature hair growth interruption, stains on the scalp, and excessive dryness that makes the hair brittle. Moreover, if not rinsed properly, ground coffee can cause scalp irritation or allergic reactions. It is therefore advisable to always test a small area of the scalp before proceeding with full application.

The best coffee varieties for hair wellness

When it comes to choosing the type of coffee to apply to your hair, there are a few considerations to make:

1. Organic coffee: preferred to avoid exposure to pesticides and other chemicals that may be present in non-organic varieties.
2. Fresh ground coffee: ideal for making masks or scrubs with coffee grounds, due to the higher concentration of nutrients and antioxidants than instant coffee.
3. Dark coffee: these blends generally contain higher amounts of caffeine and antioxidants, which make them more effective for hair treatment.

How to use coffee on hair

For best results, it is advisable to opt for topical use of coffee on the hair, in the form of coffee hair masks, compresses, scrubs or shampoos specific to the hair type. Here are some common methods of using coffee on the hair:

1. Coffee rinse: prepare a cup of strong coffee, let it cool and use it as a rinse after shampooing, leaving it for 10-15 minutes.
2. Coffee mask: mix ground coffee with coconut oil or yoghurt, apply to hair and scalp, leave on for 20-30 minutes and rinse well.
3. Coffee scrub: mix ground coffee with sugar and olive oil to create an exfoliating scrub, massage in gently and rinse thoroughly.

Conclusions

Coffee offers numerous benefits for healthy hair, from stimulating growth to improving structure and shine. However, moderation is needed. Over time, in fact, an excessive intake of caffeine and antioxidants in general can jeopardise the well-being and health of the entire body.

Therefore, always remember: coffee is a great ally in everyday life, as long as it is used in the right quantities!

[1] Source: Differential effects of caffeine on hair shaft elongation, matrix, and outer root sheath keratinocyte proliferation, and transforming growth factor‐β2/insulin‐like growth factor‐1‐mediated regulation of the hair cycle in male and female human hair follicles in vitro – Fischer – 2014 – British Journal of Dermatology – Wiley Online Library