We often see our hair as a reflection of our identity because it is both personal and public. Many women feel that a bad hair day equals to a bad day. When a woman’s hair is too fine, too frizzy, too dry, turning grey or falling out, her self-esteem is seriously affected. This deep personal relationship between hair and self-esteem is evident even when we take ourselves in example. Often, we tend to overlook little things— especially when it comes to beauty. We’re drawn to the glitz, the glam, and the clever marketing materials.There is something very easy to keep that self-esteem and your hair growth going, washing it with Rice Water.
What is rice water?
Women in China, Japan, and Southeast Asia have used rice water as a hair treatment for centuries.Rice water is the starchy water left over after rice is cooked or left to soak. It is thought to make the hair smooth and shiny, as well as help it grow faster.Rice water is thought to contain many of the vitamins and minerals contained in rice like amino acids, B vitamins, vitamin E and antioxidants.
One of the best parts about this beauty product is that it’s so easy to make. All you need is rice and water.
- Soaking is the quickest way to make rice water. Just keep half a cup of rice in some water overnight and voila! It’s done.
- Another way to make rice water is by boiling the rice. 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.
How to use rice water?
As easy as it is to prepare rice water, it’s even easier to use it.Rice water can replace a commercial conditioner. To do this, a person should first wash hair with shampoo and rinse thoroughly with tap water. Then pour rice water onto their hair, massage the rice water into the hair and scalp and leave on for up to 20 minutes. At the end your rinse hair thoroughly using warm tap water. Do this twice a week for healthy hair. For your skinuse this water every day as part of your cleansing and toning skin care routine, two times a day.
- Use rice water as part of your face and body cleanser.
- It is a great substitute for your regular toner and helps in reducing the size of the pores on your skin.
- You can also use it as a part of a moisturizing face mask to fade age spot and relieve acne.
- Rinsing your hair with rice water repairs and strengthens hair while providing elasticity, shine and smoothness.
- Make a rice bath soak along with your favorite herb and treat your skin to a fabulous DIY spa.
- For smooth and baby soft skin, grind the left over rice and use as body scrub.
Plain Rice Water vs. Fermented Rice Water – Which Is More Effective?
Rice water sounds like a seemingly simple entity. But it has a few variations, of which plain rice water and fermented rice water are better known. Plain rice water’s pH is higher than your hair’s ph. Fermentation brings down the pH levels of the rice water to that of your hair and helps close the cuticles, thereby protecting the hair.
Fermenting rice water enhances the existing vitamins and nutrients levels in it, which nourish your hair follicles. It promotes healthy hair growth and improves the overall condition of your hair. Also, during fermentation, a substance called ‘pitera’ forms in the rice water, and it is rich in vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and organic acids. Pitera is known to promote cell regeneration and keep your skin and hair healthy.
Fermented rice water is acidic, and when you rinse your hair with it, it restores and balances the pH of your hair. Fermented rice water enhances the benefits of plain rice water, and you can use either of them depending on the level of repair and rejuvenation you need.
Why is rice water so much trusted?
According to researchers, women in the Heian period in Japan had floor-length hair they kept healthy by bathing it in rice water. A modern-day equivalent of this story can be found in China. The Yao women, who live in a village called Huangluo in China, are famed for having hair that averages 6 feet long.
In addition to its incredible length, the Yao women’s hair is said to keep its color for longer, as they do not begin to get gray hair until they reach their 80s.The Yao women credit the length and color of their hair to the fact they bathe it in rice water. Hair and beauty is a multibillion-dollar industry, and the average woman spends approximately $50,000 on her hair over her lifetime and almost two hours a week washing and styling her hair.
This is not just because many of us believe that appearances are important, but also because our hair represents our personality, thoughts and beliefs. For centuries, women have been able to play different roles by changing different hairstyles, and from their stories, we can see that hair contributes greatly to women’s self-esteem, actions and motives.
Studies have found that inositol, an ingredient found in rice water, is able to penetrate damaged hair and repair it from the inside out. It even protects hair from future damage. In recent years, beauty advice websites and product developers have caught on to this tradition. Now, the rice water trend is spreading.
Benefits of Rice Water
As the popularity of using rice water for hair increases, there is growing anecdotal evidence about its benefits. Rice water reduces surface friction and increase hair elasticity. However, the study relies on historical examples to draw unsupported conclusions.
Advocates of using rice water for hair believe it:
- Detangles the hair
- Makes hair smoother
- Increases shine
- Makes hair stronger
- Helps hair grow long
Rice water not only benefits your hair but also your skin. For the skin, rice water is said to be an inexpensive, effective beauty balm for cleansing, toning and lightening hyperpigmentation, sun and age spots. Helping with smoothing texture, hyperpigmentation and a porcelain finish, rice water illuminates, firms and tightens skin to appear refreshed and reduces pore size, leaving a powdery, soft feeling behind. Rice water is also good for acne since it reduce redness and clear blemishes, and the starch in the water is said to soothe the inflammation of eczema.A 2002 study found that the starch in rice water helped damaged skin heal for people with dermatitis.
Conclusion
Rinsing hair in rice water is a traditional beauty treatment popular in many regions in Asia. Having gained attention online, this alternative beauty remedy is now popular across the world. Many people find rice water to be a beneficial hair treatment. Historical examples and anecdotal evidence suggest rice water may improve the strength, texture, and growth of hair. While its benefits for hair remain unproven, using a rice water hair rinse is safe to try at home and may also be used on the skin. It has been found to promote skin health in people with dermatitis.
