How often should use rice water on my hair?

What is rice water?

Rice water refers to the starchy water that results from rinsing or boiling rice. It contains vitamins, minerals, and amino acids that can provide benefits for hair. Some of the components in rice water that are beneficial for hair include:

  • Inositol – This carbohydrate helps strengthen hair and reduce breakage.
  • Amino acids – Rice water contains amino acids like cysteine and methionine which help build up protein in hair.
  • Vitamins – Rice water is a good source of B vitamins like niacin which stimulate blood flow to the scalp and encourage hair growth.
  • Minerals – Minerals like magnesium, potassium, and phosphorus found in rice water improve hair elasticity and shine.

The starch in rice water also acts as a binding agent to smooth down flyaways and frizz for sleek, strong hair. Using rice water on hair can help restore moisture, enhance growth, add shine, and improve manageability.

How often should you use rice water on hair?

How often you should use rice water on your hair depends on your hair type and concerns. Here are some general recommendations:

  • Dry or damaged hair – 2-3 times per week
  • Oily hair – 1-2 times per week
  • Normal hair – 1-2 times per week
  • Dandruff – 2-3 times per week
  • Hair loss – 3-4 times per week

For very dry and damaged hair, using rice water 2-3 times per week can help strengthen strands and restore moisture. Those with oily hair or normal hair can use rice water once or twice a week to balance hair and enhance shine.

If you have dandruff or hair loss concerns, using rice water more frequently -about 2-3 times for dandruff and 3-4 times for hair loss- can help soothe the scalp, reduce flakes, and improve growth.

However, it’s best not to overdo it with rice water treatments. Using rice water every day may lead to protein overload and cause brittleness or breakage in some hair types. Stick to the recommended frequency based on your hair goals and adjust as needed.

How to use rice water on hair

Here is a simple process for using rice water on your hair:

  1. Rinse uncooked rice thoroughly until the water runs clear.
  2. Boil rice in 2-3 cups of water until cooked. Allow to cool.
  3. Strain the rice water into a container or bowl. You can store in the fridge for up to 5 days.
  4. Wash and dampen your hair as normal. Pour or spray the rice water onto your hair from roots to ends.
  5. Massage it into your scalp and smooth through the lengths of your hair.
  6. Allow it to sit for 10-15 minutes. For an intensive treatment, cover your hair with a shower cap.
  7. Rinse out the rice water thoroughly with cool water.
  8. Shampoo and condition as normal.

Make sure to rinse the rice water thoroughly to prevent any grainy texture or residue on your hair. You can follow up with a hydrating hair mask or oil to boost the effects. Store any leftover rice water in the refrigerator and use within 5 days.

Fermented vs fresh rice water

You can use rice water in its freshly strained form or allow it to ferment for added benefits. Here’s how the two types compare:

Fresh rice water

  • Prepared by boiling rice and straining out the water
  • Used immediately or within a few days of storing in the fridge
  • Contains nutrients like vitamins, minerals, amino acids
  • Provides a quick strengthening and volumizing effect

Fermented rice water

  • Rice water left at room temperature for 12-24 hours to ferment
  • Fermentation produces acids, enzymes, and yeast benefits
  • Thicker texture and sour, yogurt-like smell
  • Enhances growth factors for hair regrowth

Fermented rice water undergoes increased microbial production. This creates lactic and amino acids, vitamins, and enzymes that may boost hair growth and volume even more. However, some find the sour odor off-putting. Test out fresh vs fermented rice water to see which your hair responds to best.

Benefits of rice water for hair

Here are some of the top ways that rice water may benefit your hair:

1. Smoothes and detangles

The carbohydrates in rice water contain strong binding properties that help smoothen the cuticle scales down. This helps detangle knots and makes hair more manageable. The inositol in rice water also helps repair damaged cuticles.

2. Adds volume and shine

Rice water is able to swell each strand with moisture and nutrients. This helps add body and bounce while making hair look shiny and healthy. The amino acids also help restore luster and sheen.

3. Stimulates growth

Rice water contains growth promoting nutrients like niacin, biotin, and trace minerals. It is able to improve blood circulation in the scalp and stimulate hair follicles for new growth. This makes it helpful for managing conditions like alopecia.

4. Reduces hair loss

The protein content in rice water strengthens hair roots and strands to reduce hair loss. Amino acids like cysteine and methionine help reduce hair breakage as well. Rice water may help restore thinning areas when used consistently.

5. Soothes scalp irritation

Rice water has anti-inflammatory effects that can help soothe dryness, itchiness, dandruff, and other scalp problems. The starch forms a protective coating on the scalp to retain moisture and hydrate hair follicles.

How to prepare rice water for stronger and shinier hair

Here is some tips to prepare rice water for maximum hair benefits:

1. Use organic rice

Organic rice is grown without synthetic pesticides or chemicals. Choosing organic ensures your rice water is as clean and nutrient-rich as possible for your hair. Brown rice works great as it is very nutritious.

2. Clean the rice thoroughly

Make sure to rinse rice multiple times before boiling or soaking. This removes any dirt, debris, and arsenic residues from the rice. Clean rice leads to clean rice water.

3. Adjust the rice to water ratio

The more rice you use, the thicker and more concentrated the rice water. Increase the amount of rice relative to water for a potent treatment. Reduce rice for a lighter application.

4. Allow it to ferment

Letting the rice water sit out for 12-24 hours causes fermentation that increases nutrients. Just store at room temperature in a covered container. The sour smell means it’s ready.

5. Use the water from multiple washes

Save and combine the water from rinsing, soaking, and boiling rice to get the most out of the nutrients. You want to extract as much starch and vitamins as possible.

6. Refrigerate leftover rice water

Store any extra rice water in a covered container in the fridge for up to a week. The cold helps preserve the ingredients. Shake before using mixtures stored for a few days.

Should you rinse out rice water after?

It’s recommended to rinse your hair thoroughly with cool water after applying rice water. This helps remove any leftover grain particles or residue from your hair. Rinsing ensures rice water doesn’t leave hair looking dusty or feeling crunchy or sticky.

Use lukewarm to cool water to rinse, as hot water can cause the proteins in rice water to harden on the hair and make build-up worse. Rinse until the water runs completely clear.

You can follow up the rice water rinse with regular shampoo and conditioning to help restore moisture and manageability. Make sure hair is squeaky clean before styling as usual.

Leaving rice water in without rinsing may lead to starchy product build-up on the scalp and hair over time. This can cause limp, greasy locks. So rinse thoroughly after the suggested 10-15 minute rice water treatment time.

Is it bad to leave rice water in hair overnight?

It’s generally not recommended to leave rice water in your hair overnight. While rice water offers many benefits in a 10-15 minute treatment, leaving it in too long can have some disadvantages:

  • May cause excessive protein build-up on hair leading to brittleness
  • Can make hair crunchy and straw-like if the starch dries
  • May irritate sensitive scalps with prolonged contact
  • Increased risk of microbial growth with fermented rice water left in overnight

The nutrients and minerals in rice water are able to penetrate the hair cuticle and provide benefits within 15 minutes. Leaving it on overnight doesn’t improve efficacy and may deposit too much protein leading to a hard, rough texture.

It’s best to rinse out rice water thoroughly after 10-15 minutes before shampooing and conditioning as normal. You can still repeat treatments 2-3 times a week to boost hair. But don’t overdo the single application times.

However, if you have very damaged, porous hair you want to treat intensively, you can try leaving rice water in overnight with a shower cap. Rinse extremely well in the morning and use a moisturizing conditioner or mask afterwards to avoid brittle hair.

Does rice water lighten hair?

Rice water does not significantly lighten or bleach hair. However, using rice water may lighten hair subtly and gradually over time in some cases. Here’s why:

  • Rice water is alkaline with a pH of about 7-8. This can very lightly lift cuticles.
  • Amino acids like cysteine in rice water remove build-up and clarify lightly.
  • Arsenic previously found in rice could theoretically impact melanin.

However, rice water does not contain bleaching agents like hydrogen peroxide. Any lightening would occur very slowly over many consistent applications. Keep in mind boiled rice contains very little arsenic nowadays.

For noticeable hair lightening, chemical processes like bleach are required. So rice water on its own will not dramatically strip color or lighten very dark hair. But you may notice very subtle brightening overtime.

Can you use rice water everyday?

Using rice water every day is generally not recommended for most hair types. Here’s why overdoing rice water could be problematic:

  • May lead to protein overload, causing brittle, straw-like hair
  • Daily use could cause mineral and starch buildup on scalp
  • Hair may become too dependent on rice water for moisture
  • Some report looser curls or straighter hair with overuse of rice water

Rice water is rich in amino acids, vitamins, and minerals that strengthen and improve hair. But an excess of protein or nutrients can have detrimental effects leading to a coarse, crunchy texture.

It’s best to limit rice water treatments to 2-3 times per week max. Adjust frequency based on your hair needs. Those with very damaged hair can use more frequently than those with normal locks.

Make sure to use traditional shampoo and conditioner washes in between rice water treatments. This ensures hair gets balanced cleansing and moisture.

Conclusion

Rice water is an ancient hair remedy that contains many beneficial components like proteins, vitamins, minerals, and starch. Using rice water 2-3 times per week can help boost shine, growth, strength, and manageability for healthier hair.

While rice water has many upsides, be careful not to overdo the treatments. Leaving rice water in too long or using excessively can cause an overload and imbalance leading to brittle, dry hair. Follow the recommended treatment times and frequencies to maximize rice water’s benefits safely.

Rice water is one of the gentler, more nourishing natural ingredients to try for reviving hair. Adjust how often you use it based on your hair goals and be diligent about rinsing after treatments. With a thoughtful rice water regimen, stronger, shinier strands could be on their way.

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