Rice water for hair growth.

 Washing hair with rice water, can it protect hair? 

According to the researchers rice contains 75-80% starch. Rice water is the starchy water left over after soaking or cooking rice and has the function of lubricating the hair.

Rice is thought to contain a lot of the vitamins and minerals found in rice. These include: amino acids, vitamins B, vitamin E, minerals, antioxidants. According to researchers, women during the Heian period (794-1185 AD) in Japan kept their long hair healthy by bathing in rice water.

The Hongyao women in the Hongyao village in Yaozhai, northern Guangxi, China, all have long hair, which is usually more than one meter. Their hair-care secret is said to be a thousand-year-old recipe: homemade rice water. Can the water we usually wash rice also protect our hair? How to use it? 

According to research, every time Hongyao girl washes rice, she keeps the first thick rice wash water, pours it into a crock pot, and bakes it slowly in the stove. After a few months of baking, the rice-washing water thickens and gives off a sour smell, ready to be used for shampooing. As for whether the water we usually wash with rice has a similar hair care effect. Using rice washing water for shampooing can indeed make hair softer and stronger.

Rice washing water also has the effect of removing oil, so it is more suitable for people with oily hair. If used by people with dry hair, it may cause drier hair.

For those who want to try to wash their hair with rice-washing water,  not to use the "fresh" rice-washing water of the day. The pH value of the freshly poured rice water is high, which may lead to hair loss, so it needs to be left for three to five days before use.

when washing your hair, first wash your hair with shampoo, then pour rice water on your hair, wait for about five minutes, and then rinse it off.

How to Make Rice Water

There are a few different ways to make rice, and soaking is the fastest way to make rice water. First take half a cup of uncooked rice, rinse thoroughly, put the rice in a bowl with 2-3 cups of water, leave to soak for 30 minutes, put the rice soup into a clean bowl.

Some claim that fermented rice water has more benefits than regular rice water. According to study, fermented substances contain higher amounts of antioxidants. Antioxidants may fight the keratinization of hair and skin, which is why they are typical ingredients in beauty products. To ferment rice soup, follow the steps for the soaking method. Then let the rice soup stand for 2 days at room temperature to allow it to ferment. Place rice soup in a clean bowl before using.