Rice Water and its benefits for Hair

What is rice water?

Rice water is starchy water that forms when you leave to soak the rice or is left when the rice is cooked. It is said that this water benefits your hair; it makes them smooth, shiny and healthy. Applying it to the scalp helps to make your hair grow faster.

It is one of the best hair care products our ancestors used to apply dates back centuries. It is a secret from your kitchen cupboard that treats your hair fall, dull and dry hair. This hair elixir is a cloudy composition that clings with so many nutrients that it makes it one of the best & most important food sources. 

Rice water is a hair rejuvenator enriched with minerals, amino acids, antioxidants, vitamin B & E, fiber, magnesium, manganese and zinc. 

Don't use plain rice water for your hair as it has a higher pH value than your hair. Use fermented rice water, as its fermentation brings down the pH level of rice water. 

The vitamins and nutrients get multiplied when the rice water is fermented. It nourishes the hair follicles, promotes healthy growth & conditions the hair. 

During the rice water fermentation process, a substance known as 'pitera' forms in it. It is high in the content of vitamins, amino acids, minerals & organic acids. It encourages cell regeneration & makes hair healthy. The acidic nature of fermented rice water reinstates and balances the pH of your hair.

How to make rice water for natural hair?

Know the two ways of how to wash hair with rice water to take utmost advantage of it for your hair:

1. Boiled Rice Water

When the amount of water is added in excess while boiling the rice, the leftover water after straining the rice is beneficial for hair. This concentrated liquid has a plethora of benefits to offer your mane.
How to make it?
a) Take a cooking pot and fill it with a considerable amount of rice (white, brown, basmati or jasmine rice).
b) Fill the pot with more water than you usually do while cooking rice.
c) Boil the rice ( a normal process that you follow).
d) Either take out the excess water that comes onto the top layer or wait till the rice is cooked & then strain the excess water and collect that water in a tumbler.
e) This cloudy water is highly concentrated.

2. Fermented Water

It is known as fermented water when the rice is soaked in water for a while to ferment before use. It is a potent liquid that should be diluted before use.
How to make it?
a) Take a cup of rice & soak it in two cups of water.
b) Keep it at rest for 12-24 hours.
c) When the liquid smells sour, stop the fermentation and shift the liquid to another jar & keep it in the fridge.
d) Add 1-2 cups of warm water before use as the fermented water is highly potent & direct use is not recommended.

How to use rice water for hair growth?

You should know how to use rice water for hair. As mentioned above, there are two ways to get rice water for your mane, follow the steps to get desired hair growth results:

1. Boiled Rice Water

a) Add a few drops of rosemary, lavender or chamomile essential oil in a mug of boiled rice water.
b) Shampoo your hair & then pour the rice water over it. Leave it on for 15-20 minutes.
c) Gently massage your hair during this time.
d) Rinse your hair with regular water thoroughly. Use it at least once a week and notice the change in health & appearance of the hair & its texture.

2. Fermented Rice Water

a) Shampoo your hair gently.
b) Saturate your hair with rice water, beginning from the ends of the hair.
c) Pour the leftover solution onto your scalp & massage it into your roots & through to hair strands.
d) Leave it in your hair for 20-30 minutes & then rinse it off with regular water.

How frequently should you apply rice water?

If you are a beginner, apply it once or twice a week. After a while, you can adjust to using it once a month, especially if you have treated your hair with other treatments. 

How does rice water aid in hair growth?

The use of rice water for hair has umpteen benefits as it is backed with the power of antioxidants & vitamins that works best to keep a check on hair health & its growth. 

The nutrients in this water are supplemented with folic acid, niacin, magnesium & inositol. Amino acids are also there in this solution that acts as a protein treatment to build it up stronger & healthier. 

Get a dig into how these vitamins & minerals are working for your stressed & damaged tresses.

1. Folic Acid (vitamin B9), niacin (vitamin B3) and selenium
• Increases cell turnover
• Enhances overall health of the scalp
• Nourishes hair follicle
• Stimulates hair growth
• Strengthens, thickens and voluminous hair

2. Niacin (vitamin B3) and allantoin
• Vitalize the hair
• Intensify the elasticity of hair follicles
• Reduces inflammation by increasing blood flow within the scalp

3. Magnesium
• Liquify calcium build-up on the hair from hard water
• Rejuvenates hair follicles

4. Inositol
• Boosts hair elasticity
• Makes hair stronger
• Stimulates hair growth
• Reduces hair thinning

5. Amino acids
• A combination of 8 amino acids is present in rice water
• Makes protein & keratin that forms hair
• Works wonder for hair fall

What does rice water do to hair?

Applying rice water to your mane is an ancient practice that was followed by Asian countries. Continuous use of it makes your hair stronger, shinier & healthier. It is fuel for dull, dry, lifeless, damaged and hair fall problems. Here are the benefits of rice water for hair that you should know:

1. Boosts hair growth

Rice water for hair is a magical potion that continuously works to decrease hair fall & improves hair growth. The hair-nourishing amino acids help in the regeneration of hair & aid in faster hair growth. This water is nutrified with vitamins B, C and E that help in hair growth & re-growth.

2. Tapers split ends

A big enemy of hair growth is split ends. It not only stops hair growth but also makes your hair look messy. Split ends need protein to avoid split ends and rice water is aggrandized with plenty of it. Lack of hair maintenance & pollution is the foremost factor of split ends. Are you noticing more split ends? Get them to chop and use rice water to minimize their formation as they degenerate the overall health of your hair. Amino acids have the strength to rescue & bring back life in the damaged hair. Dip your split ends in rice water for 20-30 minutes & then wash your hair. You'll see the desired results. 

3. A great conditioner

Rinsing your hair with rice water instead of conditioner is the best thing you can do for your tensed mane. This elixir vitae will offer goodness in abundance- improves the texture of hair by increasing elasticity, adding volume, taming the frizziness & makes your hair look smoother & shinier. And above all, your hair will be strong & healthy.

4. No more hair damage

Rice water is a cure for all hair ills. It reduces surface friction & improves hair elasticity. It is enriched with carbohydrate-inositol that aims to offer life to damaged hair & protect them from all the woes.

5. Strengthens hair from roots

The amino acids work fantabulously for your hair, from the roots to the tips. It is an elixir for hair life as it imparts strength, shine and smoothness from the roots.

6. Alleviate dandruff

Dandruff is a commination. It causes itching like a plague attacking the scalp. The pesky dandruff flakes come on the clothes, which reduces our confidence and hampers the mood. It is also a factor of embarrassment. Rice water is a cure for dandruff as it has antifungal properties that solve the problem altogether.

7. Smoother, silkier and shinier hair

Everyone wants the texture of the hair to be smoother, silkier & shinier. Rice water can do this for real. Apply rice water as a hair mask, leave it for 20 minutes and wash it off.

8. Bye lices

Lices ruin your peace & suck the blood out of you. Rice water works as a curative; its starch content in rice water tackles & kills the lice & nits instantly.