Rice water has been used in China and Japan for hundreds of years and is one of the reasons these women claim to have the longest hair in the world. Now it has become really popular in the natural hair community, so we did a little research.

Why rice water works:

The reason rice water works so well is because it contains a ton of nutrients: amino acids, folic acid, Inositol, Magnesium (to name a few). It restores the pH balance of your hair, creating the optimal environment for hair growth when applied at the root. It ALSO is documented to smooth cuticles and lesson the friction between strands of hair (the ultimate struggle for women with kinky hair).

 

How to make rice water:

 

Soaking (Unfermented) 

  1. rinse 1/2 cup of uncooked rice
  2. put in a bowl with 2-3 cups of water 
  3. Let it soak from 30 minutes to overnight 
  4. Strain out the water from the rice

 

Fermenting

  1. Follow steps 1-2 above.
  2. Leave the rice water to sit at room temperature for up to 2 days
  3. Strain out the water from the rice 

 

How it's used: 

Generally rice water is used as a rinse, or incorporated into a leave in (diluted), and can be fermented or unfermented. Fermented rice water is known to have a very strong, and "musty" scent (though advocates claim that it has more benefits than soaking), so it is better served as a rinse that sits on the hair for about 20 minutes. 

Check out this video from 4c Youtuber Craving Curly Kinks for a super helpful tutorial video on how to use rice water in your regimen:

Have you tried rice water? Let us know in the comments below your results. 


(Source: Medical News Today) .

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