How to Hide Grey Hairs Naturally with Black Tea

Save money on expensive hair dyes and opt for a DIY version instead! Black tea makes a perfect dye alternative for hiding grey hairs. Enjoy this simple black tea for hair recipe at your leisure!

Black tea? As a hair dye?

I know. I thought it sounded weird too. But then, we do use green tea as a hair rinse, and I even use herbal teas in bath recipes, so this really shouldn’t have come as a surprise!

I was surprised with the results when my husband told me he was going to try this recipe on his graying hair (haha!) 

He spritzed some on after showering, left it in for a few minutes, then rinsed and dried his hair with a towel – typical man style. 

And an hour or so later, his hair looked totally different. Darker, with less grey! 

Now, I personally don’t mind his graying hair, but he hates it, so the fact that such a simple recipe can hide grey hairs made him immensely pleased. 

In this post, I’ll share the secret recipe for how to darken gray hair naturally – by just using black tea and water in a spray bottle. 

It works great! And it is super easy to make. Do note, black tea only works on naturally dark hair and has not been tested on dyed hair.

If you’re feeling at all self-conscious about graying hair or simply want to get rid of those greying wisps, then this black tea for grey hair is the product for you!

Black tea for grey hair

It turns out that black tea to dye hair is not that new on the beauty scene.

I mean, it was new to us when we tried it! But worldwide, black tea hair dye has been used for centuries. 

It’s a traditional method used to dye grey hair in countries such as China and India, made famous because it’s a natural and non-toxic dyeing method, heralding back to ancient times. 

The darkening effect of black tea on hair isn’t permanent, however. It will likely last a couple of washes, but that’s it. You can always add more, though, when you want to. 

The dyeing effect of black tea comes from the natural tannins contained in tea leaves.

So too, the caffeine in tea is a great contributor to hair health. It acts as a stimulant for the hair, and some even believe it helps hair grow stronger and faster.

Why you’ll love this recipe

It works! If graying hair is your nemesis, black tea might just be the answer. 

It’s natural. Compared to a bottle of toxic hair dye (which will only ever damage your hair), this black tea for grey hair recipe will do the opposite. It’ll nurture hair, add strength and condition, and cover the greys. What’s not to love?

It’s easy to make and use. Follow the recipe below and spritz this onto your hair when required. 

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How to darken gray hair naturally

You will need the following:

• 3 cups of water
• 4 tea bags of black tea

Instructions:

Bring the water to the boil.

Remove the pot from the heat, add the tea bags, and steep for at least an hour.

(I let it steep with the lid until it cooled completely, but you can remove the lid after an hour to speed up the process.)

Once cooled, transfer to a spray bottle (for easy application) and store in the fridge until ready to use.

How to use black tea to darken grey hairs

The best way we’ve used this recipe to cover gray hairs is to apply it using the spray bottle mid-showering. 

So, start by shampooing your hair as you would normally. 

Then, before adding conditioner, you spray the black tea on generously and leave it in while you wash your body in the shower. 

(You only need to leave it in for a few minutes to let it do its job, but the longer you leave it, the greater the effect.)

He worked it into the strands and let it sit for 1-2 minutes before rinsing it back out.

After those few minutes, simply rinse and condition your hair and then dry it naturally or with a blow dryer. 

Black tea benefits for hair

• Darkens gray hair naturally – the tea tannins carry out the dyeing process without damaging the hair, which is great news, as gray hair is naturally fragile and prone to breakage. 
• Natural and non-toxic – using black tea spray is considered safe for hair. 
• Adds shine and condition – did you know? Black tea tannins help revive the hair, adding strength and vitality to your beautiful locks. 
• May stimulate hair growth – the caffeine content of black tea is believed to prompt the hair to grow quicker and more robustly, especially if you apply it to the scalp region. 
• Delivers antioxidants – tea is naturally full of antioxidants that fight harmful free radicals, reducing ‘wear and tear’ on the hair strands. 

FAQs/Tips

• Use a towel to dry your hair that you won’t mind spoiling. Black tea is notorious for stains and marks on clothing and can ruin home items if you’re not careful!
• This black tea spray works great for darkening a few wisps of grey hair, but it won’t cover a whole head of gray – neither is it suitable for blonde or lighter hair. Only try using this if you have naturally dark hair. 
• You can leave this black tea spray in for up to an hour at a time. The longer you leave it on, the stronger the result. 
• This is a low-cost and easy way to darken gray hairs. No need for expensive hair dyes!
• This black tea spray lasts up to 2 weeks stored in the fridge. 
• The dye effect is temporary… black tea spray is certainly not permanent and will need ‘topping up’ every few days if you wish to hide gray hairs for longer. 

I hope you enjoyed reading this post. It’s definitely one of my husband’s favorite gray hair home remedies!

Let me know how using this black tea for grey hair works for you. I enjoy hearing from you always. 

If you enjoy hair care tips and recipes, you may like reading one of these next! 

• How to use rosemary water for hair
• Why bay leaves benefit the hair
• How to lighten hair naturally
• How to use rice water for hair
• My top 12 natural hair care recipes