Rice Water: How It Benefits Your Hair

Table Of Content

• Every Head Spa session consists of 5 essential steps for a complete experience.
• What to Know About Rice Water for Hair
• How to Use Rice Water For Hair
• How Ayurveda Helps Us Navigate Modern Life
• Gua Sha Experts On How To Lift & Depuff Your Eyes In No Time
• Rice Water Shampoo
• Don't Miss This Rare Sale On My Favorite Product For Supple Skin & Healthier Hair

Zinc supplementation has been effective in reducing hair loss in people with a zinc deficiency. As far as hair growth goes, there are no shortages of tonics, topicals, and DIY remedies that promise longer, stronger hair. Finding one that works for you may take some trial and error—but there are a few options that have stood the test of time.

Every Head Spa session consists of 5 essential steps for a complete experience.

While most of rice water's proof of effectiveness is limited to history and tradition, there is scientific reasoning behind its benefits. Long before rice water went viral on TikTok and YouTube and ended up on Kardashian blogs, the beauty practice had been used for centuries by women in Asia. According to research published in the Journal of Cosmetic Chemists, court ladies during Japan's Heian Period (794 to 1185 CE) used Yu-Su-Ru (a.k.a leftover water from washing rice) on their floor-length hair. Soaking the rice for at least 30 minutes is recommended to allow the nutrients to infuse into the water. You can also soak it for up to 2 hours for more potent rice water.

What to Know About Rice Water for Hair

When applying the rice water, try to really focus in on your scalp and work your way out. You’ll probably notice immediately how strong and thick your hair feels. The rice water should keep in the fridge for up to a week, so you have plenty of time to reap the awesome hair benefits. A reaction may look like redness, roughness, scaliness, or a dry appearance. However, if you're buying a skincare product formulated with rice water, there's a higher chance that you may have an allergy to another ingredient.

How to Use Rice Water For Hair

"It contains antioxidants, amino acids, vitamins, and a substance called, inositol, which all contribute to making the hair shinier and stronger." Fast forward to today, and you'll also find rice-derived ingredients in a growing number of hair products. Below, experts break down the beneficial components of rice water for hair and the scalp, and we share some of our favorite rice-water products to try out for yourself. Hill says try it if you're interested, but know that it might or might not work. “So just be very careful.” If your main concern is hair growth, make an appointment with a dermatologist or trichologist to address the cause of your hair loss. But if you've checked your hair porosity and are looking to try a home remedy because you're bored, just keep in mind this advice.

How Ayurveda Helps Us Navigate Modern Life

Our experts continually monitor the health and wellness space, and we update our articles when new information becomes available. My hair was still extremely soft, but not in a feathery, light way — in a fuller and more noticeable way, like I had developed a partial mane. I wore my hair half up in a bun with a regular ponytail holder (I usually always need to use scrunchies to prevent breakage, no exceptions), and effortlessly pulled it out, letting my hair fall as if it had never been pulled up. Cover ½ cup of rice with double the water typically used for cooking. Cook the rice in boiling water and strain the rice water into a clean bowl before use. Stylists have come to Salon Riviera from all over, and we all work together as a close, supportive group.

Mielle Rice Water Hydrating Shampoo

Before using the product, my hair would fall flat or become greasy quickly after styling, so this was a huge pro. Don’t just take my word for it—according to a clinical trial, the treatment was found to make hair up to two times stronger and decrease breakage up to 60 percent after just one use. Overall, though, Dr. Bhanusali calls rice water "a low-risk way of trying to add more life to hair." The experts who spoke to Allure all agreed that it's probably worth a try, though. Rice water may be over-hyped on TikTok — after all, most trends on that app are — but there's a reason it's been used for generations. In short, yes — healthy hair grows from a healthy scalp, after all. "Rice water acts as a gentle cleanser and toner, so it can help remove traces of buildup or to refresh the scalp," explains King.

Gua Sha Experts On How To Lift & Depuff Your Eyes In No Time

However, you know very little about this powerhouse ingredient and are unsure if it should become a regular in your beauty arsenal. If you’re dealing with weak, damaged hair or a dry scalp or simply want to level up your hair-care routine to help strands be as strong and healthy as possible, adding rice water to your hair-care routine could be key. The dual-action treatment protects against breakage while nourishing already damaged hair. The formula includes rice protein complex, B vitamins, and algae extract to achieve both strengthening and hydrating results. Once a week, I apply a few pumps of the treatment to clean, wet hair and let it sit for 10 minutes.

Rice Water Shampoo

How to make rice water for hair and skin? Details explored - Sportskeeda

How to make rice water for hair and skin? Details explored.

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Her go-to is Shu Uemura’s Izumi Tonic Strengthening Rice Water Treatment. “The lightweight spray is great for those with sensitive scalps and it strengthens, hydrates, and nourishes the hair,” she says. People with most hair types can safely try a rice water rinse, but those with thin hair may want to tread lightly, as the proteins might weigh it down, Reslan warns. On the other hand, Dorram says rice water is a gentle, effective treatment for those with highly porous, bleached, or damaged strands that are looking to bring their manes back to life. Rice water contains antioxidants, minerals, and amino acids. The antioxidants are a vital part of hair health, as they neutralize free radicals, which can cause major stress to strands.

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Don't Miss This Rare Sale On My Favorite Product For Supple Skin & Healthier Hair

Keep reading for more information on the benefits of rice water and how to use it. You're probably not looking at any long-term risks, but rice water may cause residue that builds up and makes hair look dull. If you want to avoid potential residue build up, Dr. Mariwalla suggests only doing this treatment once per week.

Rice water is also said to help repair damage and fortify strands by infusing them with depleted vitamins and minerals. Rice water has been shown to increase the elasticity of hair strands, which, in turn, reduces static and breakage from brushing [source]. It’s also loaded with starch that helps strengthen hair so it can grow longer and thicker without breaking. People with scalp inflammation, such as those with eczema or atopic dermatitis, should be cautious in using a rice water rinse. It might be wise to try it on a small patch for a shorter time to see if there is any reaction.

If you’re thinking that all these supposed rice water benefits sound too good to be true, we’re right there with you. That’s why SELF asked hair care experts to break down what’s behind the hype—so you can determine if using rice water on your hair is a trend worth trying. "Once a week would be the max [amount of times] and be sure to wash it off after 15 minutes," he says. "If you leave it on too long, it can potentially dry your hair out and cause more harm than good. Avoid the treatment altogether if you have very fine or thin hair since rice water could weigh it down."

Your hair and scalp hover around 5.5 normally (studies even show that when your hair products are at or below 5.5 pH, it can reduce damage and frizz3). Since water is a neutral pH and most shampoos are alkaline, simply taking a shower changes the pH of your hair. So rinsing your hair with diluted apple cider vinegar post-shower can bring down that pH, improving the appearance in the process.

Talk to your derm if you're unsure whether it's right for you. If you’re dealing with scalp inflammation, however, Dr. Khetarpal cautioned against using rice water to avoid additional irritation. Aside from depleting your pantry supplies, there’s little reason to worry about using rice water on your hair. “There are no harmful chemicals or additives to it, so that really limits your risk of damage,” says Dr. Khetarpal. To ferment rice water, follow steps 1–4 of the soaking method. Before straining, leave the rice water to stand at room temperature for up to 2 days, allowing it to ferment.

There’s no denying that rice is nutrient-dense—it’s rich in minerals, vitamins, and antioxidants, says Dr. Graf. That being said, how much of that good stuff ends up in the water and how, exactly, it can affect your hair remain to be seen. While there are some studies in the works, the science that’s exploring the anecdotal claims is still in the early stages, she adds. "While I don't think patients should expect increased hair growth, there can be simple benefits with the overall appearance," Dr. Bhansuali says. "Think of the water as a hair coat that helps get a better shine and texture." Of course, if you don't want to go the DIY route, the below hair-care products are spiked with the ingredient to offer similar effects. Creating a rice water hair growth spray with biotin, rosemary, and rice bran oil can be a powerful combination to nourish your scalp and promote hair growth.

For example, vitamin B5 (also known as panthenol) can help soften hair,  while fiber might theoretically coat your strands and make them feel thicker. That said, Hill and board-certified dermatologist Morgan Rabach, MD, point out that there is no reliable scientific evidence to prove that rice water promotes hair growth. “There haven’t been any large, randomized, controlled studies to support the claims that rice water helps with hair growth,” Dr. Rabach explains. In other words, while you wait to see if that rice water works, you might also wanna pay a visit to your doctor for scientifically-backed treatments that address the cause of your hair loss or thinning. Dr. Zeichner recommends thinking of rice water as a primer for your hair.