Who doesn’t love a good hair care DIY routine? Even Cardi B loves it. If you follow her on Instagram and other social media platforms, you will notice she started using the hottest trend and beauty remedy for hair growth. That is homemade rice water. This home hair care treatment is so amazing, that women from around the world have embraced it. How to make rice water for black hair?
How does rice water help your hair? Well, let’s find out.
What Is Rice Water?
It turns out, that Japanese court ladies were the first to use rice water on their manes. According to some stories and legends, they rinsed their hair with water made from washing rice. This might have contributed to their stunning length.
So, if you want to grow your hair, washing it in homemade rice water is a good option. This remedy is a hair strengthener. The main benefits of using rice water for hair are that it promotes hair growth, improves hair elasticity, increases shine, and strengthens your hair. Simply put, way too many ways to improve hair health to ignore this hair treatment.
Who should use it? Any woman who has dry and dull hair. Rice water works for any hair type. And you can use this DIY treatment once per week.
Avoid using this treatment with another protein treatment. Rice water contains proteins already. So, avoid other protein treatments to not overdo it.
The Unique History of Rice Water for Hair Growth
We said Japanese court ladies were among the first to use it. But the history goes even further. One legend is about a town in China called Huangluo Yao Village. There, the Red Yao tribe currently lives.
But the village is commonly known as the Land of Rapunzel. Why? Because many of the Yao women who live there have beautiful long hair.
They have even been referenced in the Guinness Book of World Records. What is their secret? You guessed it! Rice water.
The tradition of washing hair with rice water has been passed on to different generations. Even as technology has advanced, people have continued using it. And thanks to technology, people from all over the world have found out about this amazing rice water hair treatment.
And it is quite simple. After cooking rice, the leftover water can be used for bathing or washing out. This is probably how the amazing benefits of rice water were discovered.
The documentation about it dates back to Japan, during the Heian Period, or 8 to 12 century AD. Back then, women in Japan called hair treated with rice water Suberakashi. There is even surviving artwork of women with thick and floor-length hair.
This is why women in Asia continue to use it to this day.
Benefits of Using Rice Water
Why should you try this DIY hair treatment? Just look at the benefits.
- Makes hair stronger because of the protein in it, an essential part of maintaining and keeping your hair healthy
- Increases the shine of your hair
- Can help hair growth, one of the main reasons women to this day use this starchy solution. Rice water promotes hair growth because it contains amino acids and vitamins C, B, and E
- Helps detangle hair, as it softens strands, making them easier to detangle
- Reverses hygral fatigue. We know our hair needs moisture, but excess moisture can do more harm than good. This protein treatment will help with that
How To Make Rice Water For Hair Growth?
Now let’s talk about how to make rice water for black hair. Or any hair type and hair color for that matter. Rice water requires only two ingredients, rice, and water. You can use it in different ways. Some women use it as a rice water shampoo, others as a rice water rinse. It comes down to what you need.
Here is a full list of ingredients for one treatment: ½ cup of rice, 2 cups of water, 2 bowls, 1 container with a lid, a spray bottle, and a stainer.
Now, there are a couple of ways to make rice water, and a couple of methods to use it. To make rice water, all you need to do is extract rice starches from the rice grains.
Or simply put, if you eat rice regularly, just use the water from rinsing and cooking the rice. The three ways of using it are the soaking method, the boiling method, and the fermentation method.
Soaking Method
For this method, you need to put uncooked rice in a bowl and then add four times the amount of warm water. As we said before, ½ cup of rice and 2 cups of water. Let it sit for 30 minutes. You will notice the soaked rice water becomes cloudy and opaque.
At this point, strain the contents of the bowl through a sieve and capture the water in another container. Add to a spray bottle, and your rice water is ready to use with your hair care routine. You do not need to dilute the soaked rice water anymore with the soaking method.
Boiling Method
Many women prefer the boiling method. Why? Because heat aids in starch extraction. The risk here is that your boiled rice water may come out grainier.
Same as before, add half a cup of uncooked rice and two cups of water to a pot. Bring it to boil over medium-high heat.
Once it starts boiling, reduce the heat but allow the rice to boil for another 15 minutes. Keep an eye on it. Do not let the water evaporate too quickly. Turn down the heat if needed.
Strain the rice and reserve the boiled rice water.
Fermentation Method
Celebrities swear by this rice water treatment. Why? Because this method lowers the pH level of the water, which helps the absorption of vitamins and minerals. And it is less irritating on your skin.
For this method, you need to put half a cup of rice and soak it in two cups of water for 20 minutes. Stir rice every five minutes.
Strain the fermented rice water through a sieve, and then let the water sit in a glass bottle overnight. You can leave it for a couple of days if you want. The water will be ready when it is murky but also has a sour smell.
Once you get that sour smell, you can transfer the fermented rice water to the fridge. It is now ready for usage.
How To Use It For Hair Growth?
The main reason many women want to learn how to make rice water for black hair is to promote hair growth. Here is how to use it!
- Make your own rice water shampoo or conditioner with one of the methods we explained before (soaking, boiling, or fermentation)
- Use rice water as a hair and scalp spray treatment after shampooing your hair. Spray the water onto your hair and scalp generously. Then, massage it in for extra absorption. Cover your head with a shower cap to prevent drying and leave it for 20 to 30 minutes. Then, rinse thoroughly
- You can also use it as a rice water rinse in the shower. Shampoo your hair regularly and rinse it with rice water. This hair rinse method works best for oily hair or if you wash your hair almost every day
Are There Any Side Effects?
There is no scientific research on side effects. Yet, experience has shown a few challenges and downsides. For starters, women have experienced dryness. But this is more likely if you already have dry hair or scalp. In addition, some women have reported side effects like flaking.
When Will You See The Results?
Now that we talked about how to make rice water for black hair, your next question might be when will you see results.
Now, if you use plain rice water for hair growth, most women report hair growth results quickly. Now, remember, our rate of hair growth is an inch per month on average.
By treating your hair with rice water, you can increase that rate to 1.5 inches or 2 inches per month. Remember, even marginal improvements are significant.
How Often Should You Use It?
This question is challenging and tricky to answer. Why? Because it varies from one person to another. Experiment with different methods to find out what works for you.
Yet, generally speaking, two times per week is enough for most hair types. Now, if you have dry hair or curly hair, we recommend starting once per week. See what effects it has on your hair. On the flip side, if your hair is oily, you can use this treatment three times per week to see results.
Always use the DIY hair care rice water treatment on clean hair when your hair follicles are opened and clean. That means, do not use it more frequently than you wash your hair.
