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The Benefits Of Mixing Coffee Grounds Into Hair Conditioner, Explained By Our Stylist

While you may adore your morning cup o' joe for the ritual — and the jolt of energy, of course — coffee may have an additional, unforeseen benefit when it comes to your hair. It may sound a bit odd at first, but caffeine isn't just for coffee anymore, and the used coffee grounds you usually toss in the bin can actually be used on both your scalp and the ends of your hair. So, before you discard them, consider setting them aside to extend their purpose just a little further. Who doesn't love a sustainable hack?

To get the low-down on using coffee grounds with your conditioner for extra luscious locks, we spoke with Raven Hurtado, a stylist at Maxine Salon in Chicago, Illinois. "Mixing coffee grounds with conditioner helps nourish the hair by making it shiny and smooth. Also, you can apply coffee grounds to the scalp to exfoliate can help promote blood circulation and decrease hair loss," Hurtado exclusively told Glam. "By rubbing coffee grounds on the scalp, [you] can also help the pH balance of the scalp and hair." Here's how to reap these benefits.

How to use coffee grounds to benefit your hair

If you're skeptical about caffeine and coffee's hair-boosting abilities, look no further than the science. A 2007 study published in the International Journal of Dermatology found that using caffeine on hair "led to a significant stimulation of hair follicle growth." So, not only might you experience less frizziness thanks to coffee grounds' smoothing properties but you may also experience a thicker mane — and who doesn't want that? 

If you're ready to try out the process and see what kind of hair luminosity results you can yield — and possibly even hair growth you can experience — here's what you'll need. "To get the most benefits, mix 1 tablespoon of coffee grounds with your favorite conditioner and apply, massage it in, [and] then rinse out. You can do this once to twice a week to see results," Raven Hurtado exclusively told Glam. In addition to mixing coffee grounds into your favorite conditioner, coffee rinses can add depth and dimension to your hair color (via Healthline) — another unexpected perk of these magic beans.

Who should consider using coffee grounds in their hair?

Essentially, if you're craving some extra shine and potential hair growth, incorporating coffee into your haircare routine could be for you. Plus, it's important to add scalp exfoliation into your routine anyway, so this is a win-win situation. However, if you have lighter hair, you may want to be cautious of the coffee tinting your hair. 

Outside of potential discoloration, "using coffee grounds works on everyone," Raven Hurtado exclusively explained to Glam. She added, "Try to be mindful [that] if you are sensitive to caffeine, it can irritate a little, and if you do plan on [exfoliating] using coffee grounds on the scalp, there's a chance it can cause slight staining on the scalp and hair." Then, when you're done, just "make sure the product is thoroughly rinsed out so you get no coffee drips/stains on [your] clothing or bed sheets."

If you're not quite ready to bring the coffee grounds into the shower to mix into your conditioner, using a shampoo or conditioner with caffeine already in its formula is another option. But reaping the benefits of something you already have on hand, like coffee grounds, is well worth a shot if you want to dip your toe into the world of caffeine haircare without splurging on new products.