Rice is a staple food you’ll find across the world, especially in Asia. While cooking rice, it is soaked in water, and most times the water is thrown away. But what you did not know that rice water for hair is very beneficial. Using rice water for hair will make it lustrous, smooth and fast-growing. While it hasn’t been too popular in recent years, using rice water for hair is an age-old technique to ensure good hair health. If you want to know about the benefits of rice water for hair, read on. You will find out about the history of using rice water for hair, the many benefits of it and how you can make rice water for hair care.
RICE WATER FOR HAIR: BENEFITS
The benefits of rice water for hair are multiple. Here are the main ones.
Rice water for hair: Strength
If you’re looking for strong hair, then make sure to use rice water for hair. The amino acids in rice strengthen the hair roots. It also has inositol, which is a carbohydrate that helps to strengthen the hair. The rice water makes it easy to detangle hair which leads to less hair breakage.
Rice water for hair: Shine, smooth and lustre
Using rice water for hair is an easy way to ensure the hair look shiny and full of lustre. As the rice water adds a layer of protection especially against the pollution in the air, heat-inducing electronic hair appliances, chemicals in hair care products, etc. These make the hair loose its shine, and the rice water ensures that the hair remains smooth and shiny. Rice water is a natural conditioner that gives the hair a good bounce.
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RICE WATER FOR HAIR: HOW TO MAKE
There are many ways one can make rice water. There are different methods – soaking, boiling and fermenting.
Making rice water for hair by soaking
For this, you need to take half a cup of uncooked rice. You can use any type of rice for this. Wash the rice in flowing water to remove any impurities it might have. Then keep this washed rice in a big bowl and add two to three cups of clean water to the bowl. Cover the bowl and let it sit for 15 to 20 minutes. Knead the rice after the time; the water will become cloudy. This is a sign that the minerals and vitamins in the rice have seeped into the water. Take another bowl and pour the water into it, straining out the rice.
Making rice water for hair by boiling
Take a bowl of rice for this in a utensil, and add the amount of water the rice will require for it to cook. Then add a cup or more extra water to this. After the rice is cooked, strain out any excess water into a separate bowl.
Making rice water for hair by fermentation
Take the rice as you would as mentioned in the soaking method. Once you have strained out the rice, store the water that remains in a closed glass jar in the open. Once there is a sour smell coming from the bottle, transfer this to the refrigerator. This is very potent rice water.
Tip: Don’t use fermented rice water directly. Dilute it to be usable for hair and skin.
How to Use Rice Water for Hair Care
RICE WATER FOR HAIR: HOW TO USE
By using either the soaked, boiled or fermented rice water for hair, you can repair and strengthen damaged hair shaft while providing shine, elasticity and smoothness to the hair. There are a couple of ways to use rice water for hair as a rinse. Here are some of the different ways.
As a last rinse After you shampoo and condition your hair, use the rice water for hair as the last rinse. Take one cup of fermented rice water, one cup of regular water and add five drops of lavender or rosemary oil to this. Pour it over your hair and massage it into the scalp and each strand of hair till the tips. Keep on for five minutes before rinsing it off.
Use Rice Water for Hair as the Last Rinse
As a pre-conditioner
After shampooing the hair, use the rice water for hair. Pour it over your hair and massage it into your scalp and hair. You can use fermented rice water with a few drops of essential oil that have beneficial properties for hair. Keep this in your hair for five to seven minutes before you wash off, and then follow it up with a deep conditioner. You could also apply the conditioner before rinsing the rice water for hair off.
As a hair mask
There are two ways you can use rice water for hair mask. One is using plain rice water; another is by making a paste to apply as a hair mask. The first way is where you need to first cleanse your hair with a mild shampoo. Then, apply the rice water all over your hair and scalp, and massage it in thoroughly. Cover your hair with a shower cap and keep it on for 15 minutes. Then wash it off using plain water.
In the second method, you need to use fermented rice water and add mustard powder to make a paste. Add some olive oil to the paste and mix well. Apply this paste to your scalp. Keep it for 15 to 20 minutes before washing it off.