3 Ways To Naturally Cover Grays Without A Trip To The Salon

There are a number of reasons to want to find an alternative to dying your grays at home. Hair dyes come in different types and formulations, and some of the many possible ingredients are believed to cause cancer. There are also many mistakes you can make while dyeing your hair at home, especially when using box dyes. The safe middle ground is finding a way to naturally cover gray hair without resorting to chemicals. 

But first, what qualifies as a "natural" way to dye your hair? As the name implies, natural dyes come from organic sources like plants, not synthetic sources. Additionally, natural dyes don't contain alkaline chemicals like ammonia. Ammonia and similar chemicals help open your hair cuticle (your hair's outer layer) so the color can really get in, bind, and last longer. Unfortunately, this process can irritate your scalp and may even gradually damage your hair.

If you're looking to natural dye methods, you'll want to avoid getting swept up by social media DIYs for coloring gray hair that don't actually work. To give us the facts, Glam spoke exclusively to Penny James, board-certified trichologist and owner of the Penny James Trichology Center. We asked her to walk us through the safest ways to dye gray hair, as well as some purported natural dyes that don't work. "For blonds, using chamomile flower tea can increase hair shine and maybe make the blond appear more buttery yellow," she says. "But it will not cover or change unpigmented hair color (gray) to a buttery blond." Thankfully, there's a decent list of other options you can use to naturally dye your hair.

One of the most natural ways to color gray hair is to use coffee, which you probably already have at home. But before you reach for the beans, Penny James explains in our exclusive chat that you might need to adjust your expectations. Since you're not using a cuticle-opening agent like ammonia, it won't be equal to a dye job. "The coffee might stain the hair shaft on your already gray hair, but it cannot permanently cover gray hair," she says. Interestingly, though, some say that mixing coffee grounds into your hair conditioner can help boost the growth of your locks.

When using coffee to dye your grays, the secret is in the mixture. Start with washed, damp hair and a really strong cup of coffee — dark roast is best. From there, a mixture of coffee beans, brewed coffee, and leave-in conditioner are all you need. Carefully distribute your coffee hair "dye" among your strands and cover it with a shower cap or plastic bag. After about an hour, rinse it with water and inspect your hair. You may need to repeat this process to see starker results, but you should see some change.

If you're trying to naturally cover gray hair, this pantry ingredient might be what you need. Cocoa naturally has strong pigments, which is why it's brown and turns pastries brown or even black. To use this on your hair, you need to make a paste from cocoa powder and leave-in conditioner. You can double or even triple this mixture depending on how thick your hair is. Carefully apply it to your tresses, and you can also wear a shower cap or a plastic bag to help the color stick. Leave it in for 20 to 90 minutes at a time and rinse it out. However, remember that you'll likely need to do this several times to get the color to stick. On TikTok, it's also been common to see folks dusting their heads with equal amounts of cocoa powder and cornstarch as a homemade "dry shampoo" mixture that can help with hair-color balance.

Discussing the use of coffee on hair, Penny James exclusively tells us, "Since ... ingredients are mixed to dilute and for easy application, no real harm will happen to the hair," and the same is true for cocoa powder. It's a safe coloring method, but James adds that you might not get a deep shade of brown or black with these items. You can deepen your locks, but don't expect a strong, chocolate-brown shade. 

If you're looking to add a fun tinge of pink to your gray tresses, beet juice might be all you need. "Beet juice, due to its red pigment, will stain grey hair a soft pink color," Penny James exclusively tells Glam. However, she adds that if you want a solid red color, beet is not the right choice for you. "Only a trained hair colorist will achieve that for you by using ammonia and hydrogen peroxide to change the hair's natural pigmentation," James explains.

To use beet juice, start with cleaned beets and a food processor or blender to make a smooth paste. Add in a carrier oil, which is an oil made from plants like coconut, rosehip, jojoba, or olive, and mix thoroughly. Finally, apply it generously to your hair, making sure to coat it evenly. Wear a shower cap or wrap a plastic bag to help the color stick. After an hour to 90 minutes, rinse it out. 

Another reason to try this method is that there are added benefits to dyeing your hair with beet juice. It can help relieve itchiness, fight dandruff, and add nutrients to your hair — what's not to love?