Recently, many have inquired about the advantages of utilizing rice water for hair and skin care. Many before and after photographs have been shown to us, yet they are often deceptive.
- Can hair breakage be avoided with rice water rinses?
- Can rice water promote hair growth?
- What advantages does rice water provide for natural hair?
What Is Rice Water?
Rice water is just the starchy liquid left behind after draining cooked rice.
We advise cooking rice in a pot of boiling water per the directions on the package to prepare your rice water.
Hair milk formed from rice water is produced when the starch from the rice is released into the water.
You are done after you filter away the rice. This procedure yields “rice water hair milk,” that is often being called as.
So clearly, rice is used to make rice water. It is water that has either boiled or soaked rice grains, absorbing many of their excellent characteristics in the process.
Rice water mostly includes rice starch.
Rice has starches in it by nature. In actuality, it contains a considerable amount of starch—between 70% and 80%. These starches are released into the water when it is heated, boiled, or even washed.
Rice water is the liquid that is still present. Depending on the color of the rice, it will resemble white and have a gritty or milky feel.
An Overview of Rice Water’s Use in Hair Growth
The Red Yao tribe presently resides in a place named Huangluo Yao Village in China.
Because many of the ladies in the Huangluo Yao Hamlet are renowned for having long, attractive hair, the village is often referred to as the “Land of Rapunzel.”
The Guinness Book of World Records even made mention of this community of people with long hair.
So what is the secret there?
The villagers’ women use rice water to wash their hair.
Japanese ladies were renowned for having lovely long hair hundreds of years ago. They had a trait similar to Red Yao tribe women in that they both used rice water to wash their hair, which is an intriguing fact.
Even though it happened centuries ago, it has become a custom that has been handed down over the years to many generations.
More individuals from all over the globe have had the opportunity to investigate and learn about many cultural hair care customs, including the usage of rice water, as time and technology have progressed.
Let us face it: individuals in the past were often more creative than modern ones. They made an effort to utilize every portion of the plants they farmed, just as they did with the animals they killed or reared.
Additionally, there was no running water (at least not the way that we do now). Water was not wasted as a result, even if it often had to be obtained and transported from wells or other sources.
Due to need, the surplus water from cooking rice was presumably utilized for bathing or washing, which is likely how the enormous advantages were found.
It is uncertain if this information was acquired independently by many civilizations at the same time or whether it was transferred from one culture to another. It is most likely a combination of the two.
Its usage in Japan during the Heian Period is well-documented (the 8th-12th centuries CE). They credited Yu-Su-Ru and termed rice water-treated hair Suberakashi (the water leftover from rinsing and cooking rice).
Artwork depicting ladies with thick, floor-length hair has also survived.
Additionally, Yao women in Huangluo, China still utilize rice water to grow very long hair and stop it from becoming gray. As a result of their very long hair, they are often referred to as “real-life Rapunzels.”
Women in many Asian societies may have used rice water up to the present.
But it has not been until lately that western ladies have learned this age-old beauty trick, giving truth to the notion that nature has the finest cures.
Why the Rice Water is so effective?
Although there is research backing rice water’s effectiveness, the Internet is replete with anecdotal evidence to the contrary. Essential vitamins and minerals are abundant in rice, which are transported to the water when rice water is produced.
These include the fantastic hair-friendly vitamins B and C. Additionally, it has antioxidants and amino acids that may help cleanse your hair.
A paper on the advantages of utilizing rice water on human hair was published in the International Journal of Cosmetic Science in 2010. They concluded that utilizing rice water has two key advantages: improving the hair’s suppleness and decreasing surface friction.
The term “hair elasticity” describes how far a hair strand can be stretched without breaking. Your hair will break less often the more elastic your hair.
It is particularly beneficial for ladies who like changing up their hairstyles since doing so often requires tugging and straining the hair strands.
For healthy hair, reducing surface friction is also crucial. Simply put, the term “friction” refers to two objects rubbing against one another.
The majority of surface hair friction is caused by hairs rubbing against one another (though hair friction also happens when you style, dry, straighten, curl or comb hair). Greater rubbing or friction causes more harm to the hair.
Therefore, a rice water treatment may aid in maintaining the condition of your hair by enhancing airflow between your hair strands and decreasing surface friction.
Ample research has also shown that rice water functions as a natural conditioner for your hair (as long as you do not use too much) and is beneficial for your scalp, particularly if it is dry.
It may also relieve inflammation on your skin and scalp, which can sometimes be the root of dryness or even dandruff.
Additionally, rice water may add shine to your hair. The shiny factor is mostly supported by anecdotal data since shininess is hard to quantify scientifically.
However, a lot of consumers of rice water mention this advantageous side effect. Therefore, we see it as one of the numerous aesthetic advantages of employing a rice water hair treatment.
Ways To Create Rice Water for Hair Care
Rice water may be made in a variety of ways, and we have included several excellent recipes in the following section. But first, let us review some fundamentals.
You must separate the rice starches from the rice grains to create rice water. It does not matter what sort of rice you use since you are only extracting the starches.
Just utilize the water from washing and cooking the rice if you eat it often. If not, you may get affordable rice at any grocery shop.
Although it is not the same method, creating rice water is about as easy as making rice itself. This is because when you boil rice, the grains absorb practically all of the water in the pot. Let us examine several recipes.
How to Cook Rice Water for Hair: Recipes for Rice Water for Hair Growth
Prepare your ingredients and equipment beforehand. Depending on the technique you choose, you will also need a strainer, measuring cup, spray bottle, or container to put the completed rice water in, along with rice and water. Simple enough!
Before making the rice water, several recipes advise quickly washing the rice in a fine-mesh strainer (so you would let this water wash down the drain).
While some starch will be lost, any contaminants will be washed away, which is excellent.
It is not strictly required, however.
There are three basic methods you might use after rinsing. Soaking is the first option and is also the easiest.
Soaking Technique
- In a bowl, combine uncooked rice with almost four times as much warm water as the rice (an effective baseline is two cups of water and half-cup of rice).
- Let is sit for approximately 30 minutes or until the water becomes opaque and hazy.
- Put the bowl’s contents through a sieve, collecting the water in a separate container.
- The rice water will be ready for use with the hair care regimen after being added to a spray bottle.
You will not likely need to add any more water to the rice water for dilution with the soaking technique.
Boiling Technique
Many people choose the boiling process since the heat promotes the extraction of starch. The rice water could, however, turn up grainier.
The rice is also ready to be eaten when the water is drained, which is another advantage of the boiling procedure.
- Two cups of water and half a cup of uncooked rice should be added to a pot or saucepan.
- Heat to a rolling boil over medium-high temperature.
- While lowering the heat, let the rice take around 15 minutes to boil.
- Make sure the water is not evaporating too rapidly by keeping an eye on it. If so, lower the heat even more or cover the pot.
- Retain the water after straining the rice.
- Consume the rice from your favorite rice dish.
Using Fermentation (Making Fermented Rice Water)
The fermentation process is the final technique for producing rice water at home. Many individuals, including famous ones, support fermentation.
This is because the procedure lowers the pH of the water, which promotes vitamin and mineral absorption and may be less irritating to the skin.
- Rice should be soaked for 20 minutes in two cups of water with a half cup to a cup of rice.
- Every five minutes, stir the rice.
- Put the water through a sieve to filter it (you will note that the first few stages of the soaking process are quite similar to this).
- In a glass container, let the water stand all night or for a few days if necessary. The water should still be turbid and smell unpleasant.
- Put your rice water in the refrigerator as soon as it starts to smell sour. It has fermented and is prepared for use.
Rice Water Shampoo:
Directions for making shampoo from rice water in the recipe section .
- Use one of the first two techniques above to create rice water.
- Rice water that has been filtered includes natural soap nuts.
- The liquid should become soapy as the soap nuts disintegrate. If extra water is required, add it.
- To extend its shelf life, we advise cooking it in small batches and keeping it in the refrigerator.
Always mix up rice water before using it and keep it in the refrigerator.
How Can Rice Water Be Used to Promote Hair Growth?
Use rice water for healthy hair in a variety of ways. Typically, the procedure works better on clean, moist hair.
Remember to shake your rice water before using it—this is a vital step!
While the therapy is sitting, its components may separate; shaking the treatment will mix them again.
- Use rice water to create your shampoo and conditioner (see the recipe above). Due to the diluting of the rice water and the avoidance of direct application, this is a fantastic solution for women with dry scalps. However, keep in mind that rice water is perishable, so only create a little amount at a time.
- After washing, spritz your hair and scalp with rice water for treatment. Spray rice water liberally over your hair and scalp after washing and conditioning. If you want it to absorb more quickly, massage it in. To stop drying, you may place a shower hat over your head. After applying it to your hair for 20 to 30 minutes, properly rinse it off.
- Use it as a rinse in the shower. Hair may also be shampooed, then rinsed with rice water. If you wash your hair almost daily or have greasy hair, this is the best option. If you need to, apply a conditioner once the rice water is entirely removed. Let it sit on your hair for a couple of minutes.
- Using rice water has several advantages, so feel free to experiment with all three to find your preferred method. Additionally, you may develop your technique or combine many of them. Just remember to thoroughly rinse the rice water after each use.
The Advantages of Using Rice Water to Hair
Are there advantages to utilizing rice water as a hair rinse, hair spray, or treatment for hair breakage?
How to get FAST and LONG hair growth! RICE WATER to Grow Hair! Rapunzel-style Chinese method
Maryam Hampton talks about utilizing rice water to promote hair growth using the traditional Long-Haired Rapunzel methods in the video up top.
In addition to the most recent scientific research, there is a good deal of anecdotal evidence, including before and after pictures, that suggests that rice water has several advantages.
The majority of beauty bloggers that discuss this issue cite an essay from the International Journal of Cosmetic Science. We are unsure if the article can be relied upon to be a stand-alone source.
The article makes reference of Heian-era hair-care practices. The Heian era in Japanese history lasted from 794 to 1185.
It is improbable that the research utilized up-to-date scientific controls that were centered on an independent variable because of the study’s age.
Therefore, rather than being an experiment carried out in a well-controlled test setting, this research is most likely an anecdotal report.
This specific article investigated the results of a hair rinse made by boiling rice and applying the resulting rice water to the hair.
The objective was to investigate the development of Japanese women’s hairstyles and hair-care customs.
For instance, many ladies used Yu-Su-Ru to comb their hair every day during the Heian period (i.e., rice water). The idea was that rice water would improve elasticity and lessen hair breakage.
So, while combing your hair, can rice water improve elasticity and lessen friction?
DIY Rice Water To Get Silky Hair And Repair Damaged Hair — BeautyKlove
In this video, a beauty blogger, Keren, who goes by the YouTube moniker Beautyklove, applies “hair milk” to damaged parts of her hair using rice water.
According to the International Journal of Cosmetic Science publication, rice water may perform these functions.
Although the text-only talks about Japanese customs from the Heian era, it does not state that scientists performed controlled tests.
Therefore, they may have discovered some kind of proof, such as the Heian-era writing.
The tradition of utilizing rice water to encourage hair growth and other cosmetic treatments is mostly backed by anecdotal data since scientific research on the topic is still in its early stages. Simply said, it is a cultural tradition that relies on word-of-mouth.
For instance, you will come across some ladies who claim that castor oil promotes hair growth or renewal around the borders of thinning hair.
We can only rely on anecdotal information since there is not any scientific data to back up the castor oil claim.
It is also important to note that, even though rice water rinses originated and were widely used during the Heian era, they are not a solution that is just available to those living in Asia.
According to the research we have seen, African, European, and Asian hair varieties all have essentially the same structural characteristics.
Even yet, there are variations among the various hair kinds. Straight, wavy, curly, or kinky hair types exist. In general, the cortex is encircled by a cuticle layer in all hair types, which is a common structure.
Use of Rice Water’s Side Effects
There are not many negative consequences associated with using rice water, according to scientific research, and anecdotal evidence supports this.
The only negative aspect is dryness, which is more probable if your scalp or hair is already dry. However, using rice water properly may assist in restoring your scalp’s natural balance, which can ultimately lessen dryness.
According to the 2010 research mentioned above, one of the less desirable side effects of utilizing rice water on hair is flaking, which is often brought on by dryness.
They did learn, however, that utilizing rice water extract, which you can get online, may solve this issue.
There are no known components or substances that adversely affect rice water. All hair types, even hair that has had color treatment, may be used without risk.
If you have dry or curly hair, you should only apply the hair treatment once a week since it might have a drying impact.
Generally speaking, we advise beginning by drinking rice water just once or twice a week and then increasing the frequency if necessary to get the desired benefits.
Frequently Asked Questions
How quickly can rice water for hair growth provide results?
Although it may seem implausible, some women see hair growth rather soon after taking rice water. Humans normally grow hair at a pace of roughly half an inch every month, on average, according to the American Academy of Dermatology.
However, according to some women, hair treated with rice water may grow around two inches every month. Although it seems implausible, even little improvements add up.
To give you some perspective, untreated hair will grow around six inches a year (on average). Your length retention might more than quadruple by including a rice water treatment in your hair care regimen (leading to longer hair).
Additionally, rice water encourages hair fullness, so in addition to making your hair longer, it will also make it thicker.
Since rice water increases elasticity and reduces surface friction, both of these qualities encourage healthier hair, which also grows more quickly than damaged hair (growth retention or length).
Earlier, we said that rice water can or may help hair growth, not necessarily that it would.
How Frequently Should You Use Rice Water on Your Hair?
Given that it differs from person to person, this is not the most straightforward question to answer. We highly advise you to test out various rice water preparation and application techniques to find what works best for you.
For the majority of hair types, twice a week is usually plenty. Start once a week and watch what happens if you have dry or curly hair. For best results, apply the treatment three times weekly if your hair is very greasy.
Do not use rice water more often than you wash your hair since you want to use it on clean hair.
However, if you wash your hair regularly, some of the minerals from the rice water will be washed away quicker, so you may need to apply the treatment more frequently.
How much water should be added to the rice water?
Depending on how you prepare, you may need more or less water. Use three to four times as much water as rice while soaking the rice. This ratio results in a lot of rice water since the rice will absorb relatively little water.
If you want to boil the rice, you may need a little bit more since part of the water will evaporate and some will also be absorbed by the rice, but not a lot more.
Your rice water will get more diluted the more water you add. You may always purchase rice water for hair products online if the ratio worries you.
You may also add extra water afterward to weaken your rice water if you feel it is too powerful. The addition of ordinary water to fermented rice water is likewise acceptable.
You may just rinse the rice water out in the shower with running water if you are unsure of how much water to use. It ought to take less time than rinsing shampoo.
Each individual has a different preference for the ideal water-to-rice ratio while producing and consuming rice water. Fortunately, this is another area where you can experiment to determine what works best for your hair and scalp since it is so cheap to prepare.
Which Culture Utilize rice water on hair?
Today, people use rice water for hair throughout the globe. It has almost become a viral trend worldwide. In fact, during the last year, searches for rice water online have increased by 5000%.
However, Japan, China, and Southeast Asia in particular have been using the method for millennia. It is also a significant component in Korean beauty regimens.
Given that rice is a staple crop in those areas and grows quickly and profusely, this makes sense. As was already said, pre-modern and ancient societies were highly resourceful and seldom wasted anything, even water.
The usage of rice water was undoubtedly well established by the time of the Heian era in Japan, which is why affluent ladies found it so appealing.
Although it cannot be confirmed, it is possible that impoverished women taught wealthier women about the advantages of rice water. One of the reasons was that disadvantaged women were more likely to marry rice farmers.
Another reason is that they often had to gather their water, so they would not have wasted any, even after they had cooked the rice for their family.
Long hair was a symbol of prosperity and beauty by the time of the Heian era, which is why the wives and daughters of wealthy men made such dramatic use of it.
Although it is still a relatively recent practice in the west, using rice water as a hair treatment has probably been used for millennia in Asia (primarily in Europe and North America).
More and more Westerners are turning to natural solutions in recent years for everything from food to cosmetic goods to pain management. Rice water is a natural match with this historical development.
Celebrities like Cardi B, Khloe Kardashian, and Kim Kardashian have all gushed about how effective it is, which has helped it gain popularity. Celebrity hairstylists like Rita Hazan also advertise the advantages of it.
It is hard to predict whether utilizing rice water for hair treatment will last or whether it will just be another short-lived craze. However, we anticipate that those who have fantastic results would want to continue.
What herbs are suitable for putting rice water in your hair?
Since rice water does not interact negatively with anything and has no contraindications, you may theoretically add anything to it.
Some people prefer to add fragrant ingredients to cover up the naturally sour aroma that the rice water emits. Some individuals flavor their rice water with a few drops of their preferred essential oil.
We like using clary sage oil, ylang-ylang oil, lavender oil and rosemary oil. A little piece of orange peel, a sprig of rosemary or mint, or other naturally fragrant components may also be added. These are excellent additions to your therapy.
First, because you will be washing the rice water out, there is a strong probability that your hair will not wind up smelling like whatever you add in the end. Typically, it only improves your olfactory perception while you are receiving therapy.
Additionally, components and particles from the additive will soak into the rice water if you intend to let it sit. You may want to research this beforehand, even though it probably will not be hazardous.
Make sure to add anything you choose to the rice water after it has fermented. Since the fermentation’s greatest observable characteristic is its scent, adding anything prior might disrupt that process, making it hard to determine when the fermentation is finished.
What Kind of Rice Promotes Hair Growth?
The fact is that the kind of rice you use probably will not matter all that much. Due to the kind of rice used to create it, be alert if someone tries to sell you an expensive rice extract.
Rice may be brown or white, long or short grain, jasmine, arborio, basmati, or even wild rice. It can also be medium or short grain. This is because you mostly want starch.
To determine which rice works best for you, experiment with a few different varieties. Many consumers like using organic rice.
This is not because organic rice is more efficient in any manner; rather, certain individuals like organic farming’s methods for cultivating food.
Even though it could cost a bit more, if you have moved to largely organic or locally produced goods, you might desire organic rice for your rice water as well. However, such changes are too extensive for this essay.
How long should rice water be fermented for hair?
The process of rice fermentation may be impacted by several different variables. Let us go through those elements first.
Temperature: The rice water will ferment more quickly the warmer it is. While you do not necessarily need to turn up the heat in your house, you should store it away from drafts of the outside air.
Light: Fermentation proceeds more quickly in dimly light or dark settings. It is OK to expose it to some light, but avoid placing it directly in the sun or next to a lamp.
Time: It will ferment more the longer you leave it. The rice water does not need to ferment for very long, and because it smells strong, you probably do not want to.
Simply leave your rice water in the refrigerator overnight, or around 12 to 24 hours, in most houses. Almost often, fermentation takes at least eight hours.
Give it a smell to determine when it is ready. It ought to smell sour and just a little bit pungent. If it is ready, you will recognize it right away; if you are unsure, let it sit for a few more hours.
Concerning the Scalp
The same vitamins and minerals that have been incorporated in the rice water and are so beneficial for your hair are absorbed by your scalp when you massage it in. In the end, healthy hair follicles produce healthy hair.
The scalp plays a far larger role in why rice water could encourage hair development than anything else.
Dr. Kari Williams, a trichologist (a physician who specializes in the study of the hair and scalp), claims that the antioxidants in rice water aid in the healing of damaged hair follicles and cells on the scalp, promoting quicker hair growth. It also promotes healthy hair growth.
Keeping Rice Water for Hair
Rice water may be stored rather easily. Since you will usually use a spray bottle to apply it to your hair, it is better to store it in one.
For a few reasons, we advise utilizing glass bottles rather than plastic ones. Glass is firstly better for the environment. Second, some plastics contain contaminants that might contaminate the contents. If you must use plastic, look for a BPA-free bottle.
Because rice water is perishable, it must be kept in the fridge. Because of this, we advise against preparing a lot of rice water at once. The ideal is small batches!
If there are any leftovers, put them back in the fridge after you finish your shower.
Rice water has a four to five-day shelf life. After that, it will not hurt you since you are not eating it, in particular. But because you want the goods to be as fresh as possible, discard them at the very least after a week.
Other Potential Uses
Do not throw away the surplus rice water if you created a large quantity or skipped a treatment. It has a ton of different applications. Using rice water on your skin is fantastic.
The majority of the following skin benefits have not been thoroughly researched by scientists, but there is a ton of anecdotal data to support their effectiveness in these areas. Furthermore, as we have seen, rice water has been used for hundreds of years.
Finally, it is fair to believe that rice water will also be effective in treating the following ailments since it includes several minerals that help do so.
Generally speaking, using fermented rice water on your skin is preferable. Even so, refrigerate it, and after five to seven days, throw it away.
Replace your toner or face wash with rice water for one of the easiest ways to utilize rice water on your skin. Apply a tiny quantity on a cotton ball and massage the mixture into the skin to use it.
Or use your palms and fingers to massage it in. Next, rinse it off. Since it would not harm your skin to leave some rice water on it, it is not necessary to rinse it.
A lot of individuals think that using rice water will calm skin that is affected by eczema, acne, or other forms of irritation. It may relieve skin irritation, especially dry skin brought on by the use of products containing harsh ingredients.
The most exciting of all is that fermented rice water in particular possesses antioxidants that help lessen the effects of aging and improves the quantity of collagen in the skin.
Rice water was identified as one of the plant products that may help shield skin from the sun in a paper that was published in the International Journal of Cosmetic Science.
By mixing rice water with sea salt and a little citrus, it has been utilized as a natural exfoliator. Add a few drops of essential oils for a lovely fresh scent as well.
Even by itself, rice water may assist in clearing away dead skin cells from the skin’s surface, giving your face a fresh appearance.
For a homemade soak, you may add rice water to your bath. Add as much as you would like, along with some natural bubbles, soap, and Epsom salts, to your bathwater.
Applying makeup may be aided by including rice water in your regular facial care routine. Some customers have mentioned that it facilitates the creation of a natural matte, the ideal base for applying cosmetics.
Some individuals swear by rice water as a potent, all-natural energy drink due to its high starch content and plenty of other beneficial components. However, it may not be as good as a latte.
Rice water may be used to hydrate plants or strengthen soup stock. It may also be used to clean, and it works very well to remove harsh odors from plastic containers.
Last but not least, rice water may be utilized to cure disease. It is very beneficial for severe diarrhea. Even though it is unpleasant, diarrhea causes your body to lose vital vitamins and minerals in addition to fluids.
While being gentle on your hurting stomach, rice water may assist in replenishing these vitamins. Even cholera has been treated with it.
Because of this, it may also be utilized by those who often have digestive problems. People with these diseases must constantly consider consuming more nutrition.
In the end, whatever consequences a rice water rinse has on one kind of hair, it is likely to have on another form of hair, even natural hair.
What is rice water then? It is rather easy. Rice water is the milky water that is produced when you cook rice as you normally would.
For the majority of recipes, you may use white, brown, jasmine, basmati, or any other variety of rice.
Lastly, is rice water beneficial for hair? I believe so, but I am not sure (honestly). The research that we have linked to on this page has been cited by many individuals as a reliable source of information.
However, the truth is that I would want to see additional studies to support the claims made about the benefits of utilizing rice water treatments to promote hair growth.
Whatever the case, there does not seem to be any justification for not using the rinse. I advise trying it out. Continue using it if you enjoy the way it makes your hair feel and look.
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