What Exactly Is Rice Water?
Rice water is the starchy water that remains after cooking or soaking rice. It contains natural ingredients such as vitamin B and E, minerals and amino acids, antioxidants, and inositol, which act as a protein treatment to improve the hair shaft, hair healthy, and scalp.
In Asian countries Japan, the women in the Heian period (794 to 1185 CE) used to have long straight hair. A modern-day version of this story can be seen in China. The Yao women, living in a place called HuangLou village in China, are famous for having hair that averages six feet long.
It seems that the impact of rice water on the hair mainly stems from anecdotal evidence. They claim that rice water hair treatment is good for themself. However, there has been some study into the scientific evidence of inositol.
Is Rice Water Good For Hair Growth?
Yes, it can help you to get healthier long hair. What makes it so special? Studies show that rice bran contains inositol, which helps the hair follicles (hair roots) grow new hair. The benefits of rice water are as follows:
1. Inositol in rice helps lower DHT levels
People with androgenetic alopoecia could benefit from inositol because it moderates the excessive DHT levels present in this type of aloepahia. It can help hair grow, improve hair elasticity, and help heal damaged hair to achieve hair health.
2. Promotes hair increase
Rice water helps hair regeneration. This, in combination together with vitamins B, C, and E, promotes hair regrowth and get healthy hair.
3. Protects hair
Rice water contains inositol, which can help repair injured hair, encourage healthy hair growth and make hair stronger. Rice protein forms a protective barrier on your scalp that helps prevent hair loss.
4. Increases hair shiny
Rice water not only promotes hair to grow but also increases hair volume, making the hair smooth and getting shiny hair too.
5. Detangles hair
Rice water reduces surface friction, which helps prevent the hairs from tangling.
How to make rice water for your hair?
There are three common methods of preparing rice water:
- Soaked rice water
- Fermented rice water
- Boil rice water
All of these methods use uncooked rice. Use organic rice instead of regular rice to have a hair treatment. Rinse the rice at least three times before cooking it to get rid of any dust and dirt.
1. The Soak Method
Soaking is the easiest way to get rice water.
First, put rice in a glass jar,1/2 cup of rice,2 cups of water, cover it completely with water, and leave it alone for about 30 to 40 minutes.
To help release the nutrients from the rice, stir the mixture around a few times. If your water looks cloudy or has a milky appearance, then it probably contains too many nutrients.
After letting it sit for a few minutes, swirl it around to see if there is any cloudiness.
In the end, strain the water out into a different bowl.
2. Fermented Method
Fermented rice water is thought to be more beneficial for hair than normal rice water because of its higher antioxidant content.
A 2012 study found that antioxidants were able to fight damage to skin and hair cells. For making fermented rice water follows the basic steps of the soaking method.
You can strain the rice water and soak the rice overnight, but you must first seal the rice water and then let it sit at room temperature for up two days, allowing it to get fermented. If you notice a sour smell, don't let it ferment any further. Put it in the fridge and keep it there for a week.
Notice: If you're pregnant, breastfeeding, or have a condition that affects your immune system, you should probably avoid this method.
3. Boil Method
If you don't like the sour smell of fermented brown rice, then try boiling it. Boiling water helps extract important minerals from rice.
Pro tips: If your scalp is protein sensitive, I recommend diluting it with plain (not distilled) water before applying it to the scalp because it’s too concentrated, or use the “soak” method with added diluted water.
To ensure that there is plenty of water left over after cooking, I always use more than enough water.
- Bring to a boil and stir frequently so the rice doesn't stick.
- Once boiling, turn down the heat to medium and continue stirring.
- After cooking for about a minute, remove from heat.
- Let the rice water cool completely before using it.
After boiling the rice, the rice water will become concentrated and will have a slightly creamy texture. When it has cooled down, you can mix it up in a clean bowl with some essential oils such as Tea Tree Oil, eucalypti, coconut oil, peppermint, or lavender which have antiseptic and antibacterial properties.
When cooling, the rice water can then be applied to your hair for conditioning.
Leftover rice water can be stored in the refrigerator for up to a week. Shake it well before each use.
How To Use Rice Water In Your Hair?
It's safe to follow the manufacturer's hair care routines for any hair care products ( like castor oil ) you use containing rice water or rice amino acid supplements. For your own concoction, you should be able to complete it within 20 minutes. If you're looking to find a routine for your hair with a rice water rinse, follow our steps below:
- Wash your hair with shampoo and then rinse it out.
- Dry your hair using a towel.
- Put the rice water on your wet hair.
- Massage the rice water into your hair and scalp to add extra moisture.
- Put a plastic cap or bag over your head.
- Use it for up 20 minutes at a time, but no longer than that.
- Wash your hair with warm water thoroughly and then style it how it looks best for you.
Notice: There are plenty of people who swear by rice water for hair growth, but there are just as many who've had less than positive experiences with it, including flaky buildup, protein excess load on the hair cuticle, dry hair, and breakage.
People with baby fine hair or thin hair should be careful when experimenting with using rice milk for their hair because the high starch content can cause brittle hair and breakages over time.
Rice water is not recommended for people with low porosity hair because it creates a protein buildup on the scalp that can lead to extreme dryness and damage to and dry scalp.
Conclusion:
There is one thing to be aware of when using rice water treatment: It may cause bad results if you use too much of it.
Make sure to rinse off excess water thoroughly and don't overdo it, as too much protein in the water could dry out your hair if you're not providing enough moisture. Healthy hair begins with a healthy scalp.
Start out by only using it as a hair mask twice a week and check how your hair feels. If it's still too dry after using the rice water, cut back on usage to once a week, and add a conditioner to the rice water before use.
Increase usage gradually, until you find the perfect balance for your beautiful hair.
FAQs
It’s up to YOU! Some people only use this once a week, while some use it once a month, and some use it daily. I use it two times a month.
2. How soon will I see the results?
It takes some time before seeing results, and you'd need to use it regularly for a certain period of time.
3. Is rice water hair safe for color-treated hair?
Yes. It is safe for colored hair because it contains no chemicals that would strip the color from the hair.
4. Can you get protein overload using rice water to rinse?
No, you cannot. Because rice water is a good source of plant-based proteins.
5. Is rice water beneficial for high porosity hair?
Yes! My hair has high porosity, and it’d be color treated. It has improved my hair tremendously, so I highly recommend it.
6. Do you use unprocessed rice or can I use Uncle Ben’s rice?
You can use raw rice, which is the most common way to do it. However, I wouldn't recommend using Uncle Ben's rice because it is enriched.
7. Is rice water good every all hairstyles?
Rice water is good to use for any hair type, but it might work better for some types than others. Hair with low porosity should be treated with care.
Good luck and happy hair-washing!
If you have a better proposal, please share it with us in time below.See More Info