Coca-Cola to Enhance Curls

Woman with curly hair and Coca-Cola
Photo: Ecosy/Shutterstock
Q: Is it true that when you put Coca-Cola on your hair and rinse it, it will give you beautiful curls? How can Coke curl your hair?
 
A: It is true that Coca-Cola has been used for countless purposes over the years, and adding texture to the hair is one of the more unusual beauty tricks people have experimented with. While some people claim it gives their hair more texture and bounce, what actually happens isn't so much that the Coca-Cola "curls" the hair, but that it temporarily helps bring out the hair's natural, existing wave pattern.
 
The secret is this: Coca-Cola contains phosphoric acid. This gives the beverage a very low pH level (Coca-Cola Classic has a pH of about 2.5). Because it is highly acidic, applying it to the hair causes the cuticle - the outer protective layer of each hair strand - to contract, tighten, and lie flatter against the shaft. This tight, sealed cuticle reflects light much better, making the hair appear shinier while reducing surface frizz. At the same time, the extreme acidity temporarily stiffens the hair protein structure, helping it hold its shape.
 
For people whose hair is naturally wavy or curly, this tightening and stiffening of the hair structure can make the existing curl pattern appear much more defined and bouncy. Instead of creating curls where there were none before, the Coke simply encourages the hair to return to its natural shape. Hair that is completely straight is unlikely to become curly from a Coca-Cola rinse.
 
Another reason people notice extra texture is the beverage's high sugar content. The sugars temporarily coat the hair strands as they dry, making them feel slightly thicker and rougher. This added grit and traction gives the appearance of more volume, acting very similarly to a sea salt spray.
 

How to Try the Coca-Cola Rinse

If you want to experiment with this beauty hack, follow these steps:
 
1. Wash your hair first: Wash your hair with your regular shampoo and rinse it out completely.
 
2. Apply the Coca-Cola: Pour Coca-Cola over damp hair until it is evenly saturated. The soda can be flat, since the carbonation has no effect on the acidity. Leave it on the hair for about 5 to 10 minutes.
 
3. Rinse with water only: Rinse your hair thoroughly with plain, warm water. Do not shampoo your hair again immediately. Shampoo contains cleansing agents that will instantly strip away the texturizing sugars and wash off the acidic coating, completely defeating the purpose of the hack. Rinsing thoroughly with water removes the excess sticky sugar while keeping the volumizing, cuticle-smoothing benefits intact.
 

A Word of Caution

This is a fun, one-time beauty experiment rather than a viable long-term hair care routine. Frequent use is highly discouraged.
 
The extreme acidity of Coca-Cola (pH 2.5) is much lower than the hair's natural pH (around 4.5 to 5.5). Repeated exposure can make your hair brittle, dry, and prone to breakage over time. Furthermore, leaving sugar residue on your scalp can feed Malassezia (the natural yeast on your scalp), leading to intense itching, scalp irritation, dandruff, and clogged hair follicles.
 
Enjoy the experiment, but make sure to shampoo your hair and scalp thoroughly afterwards!
 
©Hairfinder.com
 
See also:
 
Building a better curl
 
How to maintain curly hair
 
What should I be using to bring out the curl in my hair?
 
What does curl shampoo do? How does it work?