Why Rice Water Can Be a Lifesaver for Damaged Hair, and How to Use It Correctly

Asian cultures have long been reaping the benefits of rice and even consider it to be a symbol of “women and fertility.” But its powers go beyond nutrition. For example, researchers discovered that women in Asia have been using rice water to grow long and healthy hair for centuries. And even though Western women are a bit late to the party, they’re now also enjoying the transformative magic rice has on their hair (and other things too, but more on that later).

We at Bright Side are more than intrigued with this hair treatment and are rushing to share the promising healing power of rice water with all of you. Stick around for the bonus section to find out how you can use leftover rice water for your face and even your plants.

Benefits of using rice water on your hair

Rice water is full of antioxidants, minerals, vitamins B and E, and amino acids, all of which, together, sound like a divine combination for maintaining our beauty. Here’s how this mixture can improve your hair:

• Increases elasticity
• Boosts shine
• Smoothes out tangled hair
• Promotes hair growth
• Improves overall strength

The only thing we’re confused about is why we haven’t been doing the rinse all this time! Many women have tried rice water on their hair, and some results are obvious, even after the first use.

How to do a rice water rinse at home

The rinsing process is very similar to any hair mask — it’s easy, but requires a little bit of time. Start by making the mixture. First, rinse half a cup of uncooked rice, place it in a bowl, and soak it in 2-3 cups of water for 30 minutes. Strain the water into a clean bowl and move onto showering. Do your usual shampoo routine, then pour rice water all over your hair, massage it into the scalp, and leave it for 20 minutes. In the end, just rinse it off with warm water and you’re done!

Bonus: other ways to use rice water

1. As a skin care booster

A study has confirmed that rice water slows down skin aging. It reduces the formation of new wrinkles and smoothes out existing fine lines. In addition, it helps with skin irritation, thus brightening your complexion. You can use it as a toner after cleansing or by simply washing your face with it.

2. As a plant fertilizer

The starch released when soaking rice in water can encourage beneficial bacteria in your plants’ soil (it’s all those antioxidants and vitamins we mentioned earlier). The nutrients help your plants grow stronger and become more resistant to disease. Use it as you would any other fertilizer and become the proud plant parent you deserve to be.

Have you ever used rice water in your routine? Do you know of any other unconventional beauty methods?