The Natural Way To Cover Gray Hairs With An Ingredient You Probably Already Have On Hand

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While most people head to the salon to cover up gray hair, there's an at-home trick that can refresh your roots quickly. The best part? You probably already have the ingredient in your pantry: cocoa powder. "Cocoa powder can give a soft, temporary 'blur' effect on grays, almost like a tinted dry shampoo," says Stanley Nolan, a master cosmetologist at Ogle School in an exclusive interview with Women.com. "The fine particles cling to the hair and add a bit of depth, which is why some people dust it along their roots to soften the look of gray in between salon visits."

Of course, this quick trick won't work for everyone. You'll have more success if your hair color is close to the color of cocoa powder. It works best for those with medium to dark brown hair, and it's ideal for the chocolate brown color trend we're seeing everywhere. "It won't provide much coverage on lighter shades or if you have a lot of grays, and can actually make the hair look a little ashy or dull," explains Nolan.

It's also not a long-term solution. "Since it washes out completely, think of it as a very short-term fix, just until your next shampoo," says Nolan. You'll need to use real hair dye if you want more permanent coverage of your incoming grays. "If you want a natural-looking quick touch-up, cocoa powder can be a fun trick," she adds. If you're looking for more even coverage that doesn't come from the kitchen, she recommends root touch-up sprays like R+Co Bright Shadows Root Touch-Up Spray.

Whichever root touch-up technique you prefer, using a little cocoa powder to obscure incoming grays can help you keep your tresses looking fresh between salon trips — until you're ready to embrace the new twist on traditional salt and pepper hair known as "gray blending." "This works PERFECTLY," wrote one Reddit commenter. "AND it smells good." But making it work is a little more complicated than just shaking chocolate dust over your hair.

"If you'd like to use cocoa powder to soften grays between salon visits, my advice is to keep it really simple," Stanley Nolan exclusively tells Women.com. "Go for pure, unsweetened cocoa powder." One Reddit commenter noted that cheap, dry cocoa works better than more expensive varieties with a higher fat content, which can leave hair looking greasy. And, of course, be sure to reach for cocoa powder, not hot chocolate mix that contains dehydrated milk and sugar. That is, unless you want, as another Reddit commenter observed, to "have mini marshmallows in your hair, as a treat for later."

Then, apply the powder cautiously to avoid going overboard. "Use a fluffy makeup brush to dust it just where you need it," says Nolan. "Start light and build slowly so it blends in seamlessly with your hair." She recommends doing a patch test first to check for any sensitivities, and always washing your scalp thoroughly afterward to avoid the accumulation of any powdered residue. Finally, take to ensure the cocoa powder doesn't stain anything besides your roots. "Be cautious with clothes and pillowcases since the powder can rub off," she says.