Rice Water For Hair Health: How & Why You Should Start Using It

I. What Is Rice Water?

Rice is the most widely-consumed staple grain that supplies the daily needs of food for a large part of the world’s population, especially in Asia. Before cooking rice, you usually rinse it off to remove the excess starch, don’t you? However, have you ever considered the benefits of the leftover water after washing off rice? That is rice water. This amazing liquid is regarded as a secret assistant of Asian women for centuries to make their hair and skin youthful-looking and shiny all the time. And now, in the modern world with a strong wave of beauty products, rice water is still an easy and effective remedy for hair.

Thanks to its nutrients, rice water can be an affordable and natural way to beautify your hair when it is used as a hair rinse. To discover more the benefits of rice water and the methods to apply it to your hair and scalp, please continue reading this article on Effective Remedies.

II. Is Rice Water Good For Hair?

The immense benefits of rice water for gorgeous hair seems to be doubtful for some people because it is hard to believe that one commonplace thing that we have every day can be a high-end beauty product for hair. However, here are some convincing reasons for you to not throw away this wonderful liquid.

Rice water is a great source of vitamins, minerals and amino acids including ferulic acid and allantoin that are essential for hair health. In particular, the amino acids found in rice water can help to regenerate hair and make it grow faster and stronger. These important acids also play an integral role in reducing split ends which result from the inadequate maintenance and pollution.

Besides, vitamins B, C, and E in this liquid also join to work with the amino acids to further nurture the hair cells.

Rice water is chock-full of proteins that have the ability to tame the frizzy hair and keep your hair shiny and silky in any circumstances. In addition, the anti-inflammatory properties present in rice milk can cure irritation and itching, accordingly tackling many troublesome problems of your scalp such as dandruff or dry scalp.

More noticeably, many researchers have investigated that rice water contains a special substance called inositol which is proved to be helpful to promote elasticity and prevent hair damages, leading to the considerable improvements in hair health.

Discover more natural home remedies for dry hair

III. How To Make Rice Water For Hair

Method 1: Plain Rice Water For Hair

Rice water is the milky white liquid you get after soaking or cooking rice. It can be diluted or fermented to maximize its effects on hair. All the things that we need to make this amazing liquid are:

• ½ cup of uncooked rice (jasmine, white short grain, white long grain)
• Water

Instructions:

Step 1: Remove dirt and impurities of the rice by rinsing it with a cup of water

Step 2: Put the rice in a bowl and fit it with water

Step 3: Soak the rice for about 15-20 minutes until the rice water turns cloudy

Step 4: Strain out the rice water into another bowl and use it for hair rinse

Method 2: Boiled Rice Water For Hair

Boiled rice water can be understood as a concentrated liquid which is the excess water left after cooking rice. To make boiled rice water, please follow these simple steps below:

Step 1: Fill a tumbler with rice and water (more water than usual)

Step 2: Boil the rice for a while

Step 3: Take the excess water that is on the top layer

Method 3: Fermented Rice Water For Hair

Fermented rice water is generally regarded as the rice water that is fermented before using. Fermented rice water is proven to enhance the benefits of the plain rice water, nourish hair follicles and promote hair growth. Moreover, fermentation produces a special substance called pitera that is responsible for promoting cell regeneration.

To make this potent liquid, please go through these steps below:

Step 1: Soak a half cup of rice with water and leave it for 15 minutes

Step 2: Strain the rice and take the water

Step 3: Put the rice water into a container and cover it

Step 4: Let the rice water sit at room temperature for 12 to 24 hours (do not leave it for more than 24 hours)

Step 5: Refrigerate the fermented rice water after using

Learn more home remedies for hair growth

IV. How To Use Rice Water For Hair

1. Boiled And Plain Rice Water For Hair

Step 1: Take an adequate amount of rice water and add some drops of essential oil such as rosemary, lavender or chamomile

Step 2: Shampoo and pour the rice water over your hair, then leave it for 5-20 minutes

Step 3: Massage gently your hair and scalp with fingers

Step 4: Rinse your hair as carefully

Do this method at least once a week for a healthier texture of your hair.

2. Fermented Rice Water For Hair

It is interesting to note that using fermented rice water is much better than using the plain or boiled ones. Additionally, it is recommended that the mixture of fermented rice water and mustard can be one of the most effective remedies to improve hair health. It sounds weird to use mustard for hair, isn’t it? However, the effects that mustard brings about are indeed astonishing. The mustard powder contains many different kinds of vitamins including vitamin A, B, C, and D that are great natural healers for damaged, split and thin hair. Besides, the essential oils and fatty acids present in the mustard powder can soothe the irritated scalp, moisturize and restore fragile and weak hair strands. So, it is much better if you use fermented rice water with the mustard powder. Let’s learn how to use this mixture by following these simple steps:

Step 1: Mix fermented rice water with a reasonable amount of mustard powder until it turns to a smooth paste

Step 2: Add some drops of favorite essential oil to the paste

Step 3: Apply the paste thoroughly to your scalp and hair

Step 4: Leave it for 20 minutes and wash your hair gently

Find more effective home remedies for split ends

After reading this article, I bet that you will be surprised at the wonderful effects of one home-made liquid that you can get every day. If you are trying these methods above, don’t forget to share with us your feelings in the comment section below to see how rice water works for your hair. To learn more the natural treatments for other hair conditions, please visit our Hair Care page.