3 Ways to Use Coffee for Hair Growth: The Kitchen Staple Can Reverse Hair Loss, Restore Hair Color and More

There are so many home remedies for promoting hair growth. You’ve probably heard about hair loss treatments such as using rosemary, rice water and more — and they actually work! Well, that container of ground coffee in your kitchen can also do the trick to thicken thin hair and help with female pattern hair loss. Coffee for hair growth is a great way to encourage new, healthy hair growth and there are a few different ways it can be used. Keep scrolling for everything you need to know about using coffee for hair growth.

Does coffee for hair growth work?

In short, yes. The magic behind coffee for hair growth is its caffeine content. Caffeine has been shown to promote growth and is even as effective as minoxidil. That’s because hair has a growth cycle and hair follicles can enter a dormant/resting phase, but stimulant caffeine helps “wake” these follicles up, boosting hair regrowth.

TikToker and dermatologist Neera Nathan, MD, goes into more details about topical caffeine for hair growth and how it works.

How to use coffee for hair growth

Read on to see the three best ways to use java in your hair care routine and promote hair growth. Plus, coffee can also restore vibrancy to dull brunette hair.

1. Coffee hair rinse

An easy way to get the coffee for hair growth benefits is to use brewed coffee as a hair rinse. Not only is it quick, but it can be used a few times a week using any leftover coffee from your morning pot making this a win-win! TikToker @ricewatergirl talks about how using a coffee rinse is helpful for reversing hair loss in the video below.

Note: This treatment and the ones mentioned below work best for those with darker tresses as coffee’s tannins can stain lighter locks – some may want to avoid this side effect. And the tannins can actually revive faded brunette hair color since they add richness back to strands.

To do: Pour 2 cups of cooled, brewed coffee over damp hair. Massage into the scalp for one minute, then let sit for 5 minutes before rinsing out with water or shampoo. Repeat two to three times a week.

2. Coffee hair mask

Doing a weekly or biweekly deep conditioning treatment with a hair mask is helpful for repairing damage and restoring moisture. And using one with coffee will stimulate hair growth by absorbing into follicles and helping put them in an active growth phase.

To do: In a bowl, combine ? Tbs. of ground coffee, 1 Tbs. of olive oil and 2 tsp. of honey. Apply all over damp or dry hair and let sit 15 to 20 minutes before rinsing. 

If you already have a hair mask that you love, you can mix ? Tbs. of ground coffee in with a palmful of the mask before applying it to your hair. Watch the TikTok below from @swankylexiss to see just that. Or for a ready made coffee hair mask, try Difeel Caffeine and Castor Faster Growth Hair Mask.

3. Coffee scalp scrub

Keeping the scalp healthy by using a scalp scrub works two-fold to reverse hair loss. And a scrub made with coffee boosts the benefits! First, the scrub removes dead skin cells, product residue and other impurities that can build up on the scalp, which clogs hair follicles and stunts hair growth. Second, the massage motions of rubbing a scrub on the scalp improves circulation and blow flow to the scalp — the caffeine in coffee is also a stimulant that does this, delivering hair growth-encouraging nutrients to follicles.

For a premade coffee scalp scrub, try frank body Caffeinated Scalp Scrub. Or you can make your own by mixing 1 Tbs. of coffee grounds, ? Tbs. of melted coconut oil and 3 drops of rosemary or peppermint oil. Massage onto a damp scalp for one minute, then let sit 1 minute before rinsing. Check out this TikTok from @heirbae for another DIY coffee scalp scrub recipe.

Bonus: You can get similar benefits by adding coffee grounds into a dollop of your shampoo. See how it’s done by watching the video video from @anneli.bv on TikTok.

See more tips that help with hair loss:

Best Hair Extensions for Thin Hair: 5 Styles That Mask Thinning Hair, a Receding Hairline and More

How Does Minoxidil Work? Hair Experts Explain Why It’s the Best Ingredient to Treat Thinning Hair

How Laser Hair Therapy Reverses Thinning Hair! Plus the Best at-Home Devices to Use