by Sabrina Perkins of SeriouslyNatural.org
Coffee is what gets me going in the morning but this amazing beverage should not just be limited to your morning Joe. Yes, coffee has excellent benefits for your skin and hair, and since almost everyone has some in their home, it is easily accessible and ideal for DIY recipes. From hair rinses to exfoliating scrubs, coffee is the gem you never realized you had or needed for healthy hair.
Grown in about 80 countries in Africa, Asia, the Caribbean and South and Central America, coffee comes from tropical evergreen shrubs. The two most commercially important species are the Coffea Arabica and Coffea canephora. Coffee has numerous benefits that can help people with conditions from depression to liver disease. Coffee has antioxidants, anti-inflammatory and anti-cellulite properties, which are all ideal for skincare products.
Coffee also contains caffeine, a naturally occurring stimulant that is excellent for penetrating the hair follicles and stimulating them. Caffeine can also add a natural sheen to hair, but many use it to help in slowing down hair loss while speeding up hair growth with hair follicle stimulation.
Rejuvenate Your Hair & Scalp with Coffee
Coffee can be used as a scalp-exfoliating scrub, a hair scrub and/or a hair rinse, with each one stimulating hair growth. The exfoliating properties help to remove dead skin cells, dirt, dandruff, oil and even product build-up, which can clog your scalp’s pores. Here are some DIY recipes for all three that can change your hair and coffee game drastically for the better.
Condish + Coffee Scalp Scrub
Simply add some coffee grounds to your favorite deep conditioner and mix until a grainy texture is formed. Apply the mixture to your scalp using circular motions, then leave it on for 5 to 10 minutes. Rinse it off and wash your hair with shampoo before styling as usual.
Coffee Scalp Scrub
4 Tbsp carrier oil (coconut or olive preferred)
6 Tbsp very fine coffee grounds (previously brewed is fine)
A few drops of tea tree oil
Mix all ingredients well and store the scrub in an airtight container at room temperature or in the fridge. When ready to use, scoop out enough of the scrub for your entire scalp and massage it in for 5 to 10 minutes before rinsing well and washing your hair with shampoo. (This is an excellent recipe for a face scrub too.)
Coffee Hair Scrub
2 tsp coffee grounds
2 tsp raw honey
2 tsp olive oil
This DIY recipe is great for reviving dry, dull hair. Mix all three ingredients well and apply to your strands and scalp. Make sure all strands are covered and massage the scrub into your scalp in a circular motion for a few minutes. Rinse well and shampoo before styling as usual.
Simple Coffee Hair Rinse
Simply brew some strong coffee, then allow it to cool. Shampoo hair as usual, then take the cool coffee and pour it over your head. You can use a big bowl under your head to capture the excess and re-dump it over your head again for added coverage. Place your hair in a shower cap and let it sit for up to an hour. Rinse out with warm water, then allow your hair to air dry or style as usual. This rinse can darken your hair (so it may not be ideal for lighter-colored women), add shine and help strengthen your strands.
If you just want the exfoliating effects of coffee for regular cleansing and conditioning, simply add some grounds to your shampoo or deep conditioner bottles to boost the product’s ability to exfoliate and aid in hair growth. I know I talk about coffee A LOT, but it really should be a staple in your beauty regimen because it’s so simple to use, it’s inexpensive and it has a host of amazing benefits.
Which DIY recipe above are you going to try?
