Rice water is the cloudy starchy water that is left over when you soak or cook rice in water. Normally this by-product is thrown away in most households, but did you know that this free and abundant by-product has some serious beauty benefits?
Rice water is nutrient rich, being abundant in antioxidants, vitamins (vitamin E and B), minerals, inositol and amino acids.
The practise began centuries ago when women in Japan and China, who were known for their beautiful hair, started soaking their hair in the leftover rice water to protect and promote its growth. Soaking your hair in rice water or massaging it into your hair can help your hair grow longer, makes your hair stronger and thicker, combats greyness, detangles it, and leaves your hair feeling smooth and looking shiny.
The inositol in rice water is known to penetrate damaged hair and can repair it. It can also nourish the hair follicles.
How should you use rice water for your hair?
The steps are:
- Wash your hair as you normally would with shampoo. Rinse your hair with water to remove the shampoo.
- Now pour rice water over your head and hair.
- Massage the rice water into your scalp and into your hair.
- Leave the rice water on your hair and scalp for anything between 5 – 20 minutes depending upon how much time you have.
- Wash the rice water away with normal water.
Does rice water have any benefits for your skin?
Yes it does. It has been shown to help with dermatitis.
Can you store rice water?
Yes you can. You can store it in a plastic container in the fridge for up to a week. Take the container with you when you have a shower.
Can you add other things to the rice water?
Of course you can:
- Lime juice.
- Aloe Vera.
- Essential oils such as lavender or rosemary.
- Tea tree oil.
- Cider vinegar.
- Orange peel.
How often can you use rice water on your hair?
You can use rice water once or twice a week on your hair.
For those of you who do not know, how do you make rice water?
There are two ways you can make rice water
Method 1 – Soak 1 cup of uncooked rice in 3 glasses of water for 1 hour. Drain the water into a plastic container and store in the fridge.
Method 2 – Add 1 cup of uncooked rice to a pan of boiling water (about 4 glasses of water). Once the rice is cooked and soft, strain the water. Cool the water and store in a plastic container in the fridge. This rice water will be concentrated so you will need to dilute it with water.
Does anyone need to apply caution if they want to use rice water?
- If you have dry hair and scalp you should use rice water maximum once a week. You should do a patch test first on your scalp to see if the rice water causes any flaking.
- If you have an irritable scalp, inflammation or a skin condition then you should consult your doctor, beautician or therapist before using rice water on your hair in case it makes your condition worse.
If you would like to share your experiences with rice water please let us know on our forum and social media! Share some of your thoughts with others and start a conversation.
DISCLAIMER
Before you start any new diet, health programme, exercise routine, and ingest or topically use any oil, vitamin, mineral, product or compound, it is very important to consult your doctor, therapist or do a patch test to make sure you do not have any adverse reactions.
We do not offer any form of medical or psychological advice. The information in our wellbeing articles are offered for educational purposes only. Our wellbeing articles are not intended to diagnose, treat or prevent any disease. Thank you.
