Rice is arguably the most popular food in this part of the world. What makes it even more special is the fact that it cuts across every tribe, religion, and culture: Everyone eats rice!
One of the procedures for preparing this beloved staple food is washing and rinsing before proceeding to cook it. Some people even go further by parboiling it to get rid of or minimize the excess starch, and when done, they dispose of the water.
But, what if I told you that the key to your quest for full, shiny, healthy hair is what you’ve been pouring away all this while?
Why rice water is perfect for your hair
Rice water for hair might be trendy at the moment, no thanks to the numerous videos by Tiktok content creators, but this practice stretches as far back as 794 AD, during the Japanese Heian period.
The Yao women had a beauty routine that included washing their luscious, long, black hair with fermented rice water;and the results can be seen in the choice of adjectives used in describing their locks in this sentence.
The following are some proven benefits of treating hair with rice water.
Boosts hair strength
If you have weak hair that breaks, then rice water might just be the solution to your heartaches.
Nutritionists say rice water is rich in Vitamins like C, B, and E – especially E which, according to reputable health sources like Medical News Today, is a natural antioxidant that can help support the scalp and hair.
They vitamins aid the reduction of oxidative stress and free radicals that cause hair follicles to break down.
Again, a study carried out on 38 humans who were suffering from hair loss showed that all the volunteers experienced massive improvements in their hair after treatment with Vit. E, compared to those who received placebos.
Boosts hair growth
The amino acid content in rice water gives it the potential to help boost hair growth, study says. This is because amino acid, according to experts, aids in the regeneration of hair. The fact that it is also rich in essential vitamins like B, C, and E also further increases your chances of having improved hair health when using it. These vitamins help to give strength to the hair shafts, which is needed for hair growth.
Increases gloss and shine
Exposing hair to harsh elements like heat, chemicals, and some over-the-counter products can greatly reduce its shine and make it go dull. Instead of further burdening it even with chemicals from artificial oil brands in a bid to restore the gloss, an all-natural alternative like rice water could be a better, healthier option
Multiple sources across the internet all attest to the fact that the starch content of rice water helps to gloss up the hair and also improves its texture. According to Brittany Ladin, a writer for HealthLine, “The morning after my first rice water rinse, my best friend told me that my hair looked brighter and blonder.”
Moisturizes hair scalp
The scalp serves as the earth which our hair grows from. Our hair gets support, life, and nourishment and life from it, which highlights the importance of scalp treatment.
Your scalp health determines your hair health: simple and short.
A dry, flaky scalp would nearly always has negative effects on the hair, which is why moisturizing the scalp is highly important for healthy hair.
Instead of wearing down your hair with harmful artificial brands of moisturizers, you can take advantage of the goodness of rice water, what with its essential vitamins like Vitamins B, C, and E, which would help restore and balance scalp moisture, getting rid of dandruff and other scalp infections.
Preparing rice water for hair treatment
There are three different methods for this: regular rice water straining, parboiling, and fermenting. According to sources, each of them is effective, even though history favors fermentation ahead of the other processes.
Regular method
Get half a cup of raw rice. Wash it thoroughly to get rid of dirt and other debris. Then pour it into an airtight container. Add 2-3 cups of water, close the container and allow it to sit at room temperature overnight.
Then strain the rice water into an empty spray bottle for ease of use. Spray the rice water on your hair and massage it to ensure it soaks in properly.
Parboiled method
Get half a cup of rice and cook in a pot. Strain the water into a separate container when the rice is halfway cooked and leave to cool. Proceed to rinse your hair with the rice water when cooled.
Fermentation method
Pour half a cup of rice into a container and add about 2-3 cups of water. Cover the mixture and leave it for 2–3 days at room temperature before straining the water into a clean bowl.
Rinse your hair with the rice water and keep the remaining in the refrigerator to stop it from further fermentation.
