It is often the little things that you tend to overlook when it is related to beauty. We are drawn to glitz, glam, and clever marketing materials. But do you know there is an amazing beauty product lying in the cupboard right now?
Using fermented rice water to beautify and strengthen hair is not new. It dates back to the ancient period when court ladies were known to possess long, beautiful hair that draped to the floor. Their secret is rice water.
Fascinated by this wonderful hair treatment, beauty lovers and scientists have tried to find if rice water could actually beautify and strengthen the hair. Studies have revealed that inositol, an ingredient in fermented rice water, can penetrate the damaged hair and repair it from inside. It even protects the hair from further damage.
One of the best things about the beauty product is it is easy to make. All you need is water and rice. The difficult part of this beauty product is remembering to take rice water into your shower, and applying it to your hair. But do not worry, I found a great method which you can try.
How to use fermented rice water on the hair
What you need:
- 1 cup water
- 1 cup rice
How to prepare it:
- Rinse and strain the rice to remove dirt or impurities that you do not want to apply to the hair.
- Mix strained rice in a small-sized bowl with water. You need to mix until water becomes pretty cloudy.
- Now, strain the rice by reserving the water. Store the rice, or cook it up.
- Then put the rice water in plastic container and cover it properly. Let the rice water stay at room temperature for about 12 to 24 hours. This allows it to ferment completely and all of the vitamins and minerals to come out. Do not let it sit for more than 24 hours. Let the first batch of rice water stay for two days, and it went bad.
- Refrigerate rice water until it is ready to use it.
- Fill a small container, like travel-sized shampoo bottle or a jar, with rice water for use. Keep the rest in the fridge.
It is not easy to dump rice water out of a container and onto the hair. Don’t forget to take the container out of the shower and back to the same fridge when you are done!
The rice water should be kept in the fridge for about a week, so you have lot of time to get the awesome hair benefits.
How to use it:
You will not need to change the washing schedule around the rice water rinse —use this after conditioning and shampooing, whether that is once a day or a week.
While applying the rice water, try to focus on the scalp and work your way. Let it sit for two-five minutes, and then rinse. You will notice immediately how thick and strong your hair feels
Fermented vs. plain rice water
Few rice water supporters claim that fermented rice water is having some more benefits than the plain rice water.
According to a study, fermented substances have high amount of antioxidants. The antioxidants might combat hair and the skin cell damage, this is why they are typical ingredients in many beauty products.
To ferment the rice water, follow steps 1 to 4 of the soaking method. Before you strain the rice water at room temperature for 2 days, allow it to ferment. Then pour the rice water in a clean bowl before use.
Also Read: Here Is Why Rice Is Good For Your Health
Benefits of rice water
Fermentation reduces pH level of rice water to pH level of the hair and nourishes it due to the effective penetration of vitamin in the scalp and hair structure. You could use diluted rice water as conditioner. Apply it to the wet clean hair, then massage the scalp and rinse after about 5-10 minutes. For additional nourishment, you could add a few drops of essential oils, such as lavender, rosemary, or geranium.
To make shampoo, mix the rice water and then flour together and let it brew for about 5-10 minutes. Use it as stand-alone product or in a 1 to 1 ratio with the regular shampoo.
Also Read: Rice Will Not Make You Fat If Cook it in This Way!
Curly hair is generally dry and brittle. The protein containing in the rice water penetrates deeply and also improves the condition of hair, making it bouncy. There is no need to use the rice water, 15-30 minutes would be enough for the useful elements to soak in the hair and remain it even after washing it off.
Rinsing hair in the rice water is a beauty treatment used in many regions in Asia. Having gained attention, this alternative beauty remedy is very popular in the world.
Some people find the rice water to be beneficial for hair treatment. Historical examples suggest that rice water might improve the texture, strength, and growth of hair.
Most scientific study about the treatment is non-conclusive, so more research is required to prove the benefits.
While the benefits for the hair remain unchecked, use of rice water is very safe to use at home and might be used on skin. It has been found to benefit the skin and hair health.
