Rice Water
- Wandeth Van Grover, MPH
- Mar 1, 2022
- 2 min read
Does rice water have any scientifically proven beauty benefits?
Rice water is the starchy water left over after rice is cooked or left to soak. It is thought to make the hair smooth and shiny, as well as help it grow faster.
Rice water may increase the shine of hair, make it stronger, and detangle it. Rice grains contain 75–80 percent starch. Rice water is the starchy water that remains after soaking or cooking rice.
Rice water is thought to contain many of the vitamins and minerals contained in rice. These include:
Amino Acids
B Vitamins
Vitamin E
Minerals
Antioxidants
Women in the Heian period (794 to 1185 CE) in Japan had floor-length hair they kept healthy by bathing it in rice water. Women in China, Japan, and Southeast Asia have used rice water as a hair treatment for centuries. A modern-day equivalent of this story can be found in China. The Yao women, who live in a village called Huangluo in China, are famed for having hair that averages 6 feet long.
In addition to its incredible length, the Yao women’s hair is said to keep its color for longer, as they do not begin to get gray hair until they reach their 80s. The Yao women credit the length and color of their hair to the fact they bathe it in rice water. In recent years, beauty advice websites and product developers have caught on to this tradition. Now, the rice water trend is spreading.
Benefits of Rice Water:
- Detangles the hair
- Makes hair smoother
- Increases shine
- Makes hair stronger
- Helps hair grow long
Soaking is the quickest way to make rice water.
So take ½ cup of uncooked rice and rinse thoroughly in a pot or bowl with 2–3 cups of water. Then leave the rice to soak for 30 minutes. Afterwards, strain the rice water into a clean bowl.
In addition to its potential beauty benefits for the hair, rice water may also benefit the skin.
Many people find rice water to be a beneficial hair treatment. Historical examples and anecdotal evidence suggest rice water may improve the strength, texture, and growth of hair.
Most scientific evidence about the treatment is inconclusive, so more research is needed to prove the benefits of using rice water.
While its benefits for hair remain unproven, using a rice water hair rinse is safe to try at home and may also be used on the skin. It has been found to promote skin health in people with dermatitis.
Resources:
Comentarios