Using rice water for hair goes back a long way. It’s been used in Japan and China for thousands of years. It’s extremely beneficial for both hair and skin due to its nutrients, vitamins, amino acids, and minerals. Here’s all you need to know when it comes to rice water
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Benefits of Rice water
Rice water has amazing benefits when it comes to hair. Here are some of the benefits:
- Rice water contains starch which can help strengthen your hair The presence of starch can help to strengthen hair.
- The rice water contains inositol which can help penetrate damaged hair and protect it
- Rice water helps improve scalp health by stimulating blood flow to the scalp
- It reduces dandruff due to its antioxidant properties
- Adds volume, softness, curl definition, and shine
- Promotes hair growth
- Boosts shine and curls as it hydrates hair strands and sometimes helps repair split ends
- Helps soothe scalp inflammation
- It increases the manageability of the hair because it increases elasticity making it easy to detangle.
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Plain Rice Water Vs. Fermented Rice Water
There are different ways you can use rice water for hair. So which is better? Plain water, fermented water? Plain rice water has a higher pH than your actual hair. Fermented rice water has a lower pH. Fermenting the rice water enhances the vitamins and nutrients which improves your hairs overall condition and nourishes your hair follicles.
Fermentation helps in balancing your hairs natural pH. You can use either plain water or fermented rice water based on your hairs needs. However, fermented rice water has multiple benefits when it comes to your hair.
Fermenting enhances the existing vitamins and nutrients levels in it, which nourishes your hair follicles. It promotes healthy hair growth and improves the overall condition of your hair.
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How to prepare the water
1. Fermented Rice Water
Fermented rice water is water that is left to ferment for a while before use. Fermentation turns the rice water into a potent liquid that needs to be diluted before use.
How To Make Fermented Rice Water?
- Soak half a cup of rice in water for half an hour
- Strain the rice and extract the rice water.
- Store the water at room temperature for 24 -48 hours.
- Once your rice water develops an odor transfer your rice water to a storage bottle and store it in the fridge.
- Dilute the fermented water before using it on your hair as it’s highly concentrated.
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2. Plain Rice water
All you need to make plain rice water is half a cup of rice and water. Let the water soak in the rice for 30 minutes to an hour and the rice water is ready to use.
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How to Use it
For you to start seeing the effects of rice water you need to include it in your hair care regimen. Use it consistently so as to see the best results. Here are the various ways you can use rice water:
- Shampoo rinse: After washing your hair you can do a rice water rinse and allow it to sit for 15 minutes and rinse it off
- Treatment: You can use it as a hair treatment.
- Shampoo: You can include it in your shampoo or use it directly as a shampoo. However, it can be drying.