Accelerated Hair Growth Hack With Rice Water

 Contents:

• The YouTube Buzz
• The Yao Women’s Rice Water Tradition
• Benefits of Rice Water
• Research Revelation
• Rice Water Preparhttps://blackhairinformation.com/growth/hair-growth/accelerated-hair…-hack-rice-water/ation Methods
• Final Considerations
• Video Testimonials

Are you on the rice water wagon yet? It’s a new year but the quest for thriving healthy hair continues. Needless to say, there is another challenge and this time it’s the rice water challenge.

Many YouTubers and hair related groups all over the different social media platforms have been touting the benefits of using rice water for hair care. Believe me, it’s a thing. So much so that in the many haircare forums I’m a part of, the new year’s resolution is to finally try the rice water treatment.

The YouTube Buzz

I always figured there is only one way to use it, but YouTuber Lana Summer shared that it can be used as a pre-poo a deep treatment or a post-wash rinse. Another youtuber recently also did a video outlining what we should know about using rice water. In a nutshell:

• You don’t want to use this consistently if you have protein sensitivity.
• It is not a moisturizer even though it makes hair feel soft, so don’t skip your regular moisturizer.
• It’s not for everyday use as overuse can form a film that coats the hair and makes it brittle.
• Consistency is key when working with rice water.

Of course, you can also find both videos at the end of this article.

In case you haven’t heard, rice water is a potential hair care treatment which boasts anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. It has been used by Asian women, particularly the Yao women for ages to not only help grow their hair to phenomenal lengths, but for health benefits as well.

The Yao Women’s Rice Water Tradition

The Yao women of Huangluo in Guangxi China, have a tradition of using fermented rice water to wash their hair in a natural stream; no shampoos or store-bought concoctions just the rice water that they cook rice in. They are convinced that the rice water is the main reason that their hair gets up to a length of 1.4 meters. Their elders have raven black hair even in their 90s, another feat that is attributed to the use of rice water.

They do not have intricate styles that require lots of manipulation. In fact, they usually have one jumbo braid or wrap their loose hair in a pattern and secure it with their wooden combs atop their heads. They do not use appliances such as curling wands*, flat irons* or instylers. Their only tools are a wooden comb and a scarf of some kind.

Their hair is usually wrapped in a turban around their heads, which serves two purposes: to keep the ends from being damaged and for cultural beliefs. They believe a woman’s beauty, which is her hair, should only be reserved for her husband so no other person should see their hair down. That custom has been slightly relaxed since 1987 to allow for the women to play their roles in contributing to the economic benefits to their region in the form of tourists. Tourists visit the region to see the modern-day Rapunzels. This is why in recent times we have been able to find videos of their remarkable manes which have earned their place in the Guinness World Book of Records.

 Contents:

• The YouTube Buzz
• The Yao Women’s Rice Water Tradition
• Benefits of Rice Water
• Research Revelation
• Rice Water Preparation Methods
• Final Considerations
• Video Testimonials

Benefits of Rice Water

Though rice water has been around for generations in the Asian culture, the western world is just now playing catch-up to try and capitalize on this well-kept hair secret. More companies are trying to make shampoos and other cosmetics with rice water as the base ingredient because they are becoming more aware of its benefits for hair care. These benefits include:

• Anti-inflammatory properties which fight bacteria and scalp conditions such as eczema of the scalp.
• Antioxidant properties which limit the effects of free radicals that contribute to aging cells.
• Bond repairing capabilities which are made possible by the presence of protein and other minerals in rice. This aids in strengthening of the strands which lead to length retention.
• Elasticity enhancing capabilities.
• pH balancing that matches our bodies
• Instant relief from dandruff

Wow! All that from little old rice water?

Research Revelation

Even though old cultures like the Yao have been knowledgeable about rice water as a hair care product, there are not many scholarly papers on it. In fact, we found evidence of just one: “ The Effect of Rinse Water Obtained from Washing of Rice (Yu-su-ru) as a hair treatment.” The study is published in the International Journal of Cosmetic Science.

Basically, research confirms that rice water contains a carbohydrate called inositol, also called the anti-alopecia factor, which seems to promote cell regeneration and makes rice water potent as a restorative treatment for hair. Inositol acts like a vitamin and is found in many plants and animals but as with many things, it can be replicated in the lab. It has been found to help mitigate against the effects of PCOS and anyone who has PCOS knows it has a huge impact on hair growth, so inositol looks great in that regard.

Using infrared synchrotron radiation absorption spectroscopy, researchers were able to create a visual of what happens when the hair is treated with rice water. The fluorescence imaging technology was used to track the movement of inositol in the hair as it worked its magic there. It revealed that inositol continues to work in the hair even after the rice water is rinsed off.

What is still unknown is the quantification of the effects of inositol on the hair. In essence, they can’t tell the exact measurement of inositol that must be present for the rice water treatment to be potent or the time-frame in which the product will work. Even so, this is groundbreaking for all of us who have a vested interest in hair care studies.

The study credits rice water as having B vitamins*, vitamin E*, and traces of piteria which is a substance that results from fermentation. Piteria is said to have anti-aging and regeneration properties. Researchers theorize that washing with fermented rice water may be more beneficial than rinsing with plain unfermented rice water since the process of fermentation lowers the pH to one that better suits our bodies and promotes follicle health.

Though any rice can be used, organic rice is considered the best. It has also been found that the protein levels in rice differ, which is significant since the protein is of great benefit to hair. White rice reportedly has 3.5 – 4.6 grams of protein in comparison to wild rice which has a staggering 25 grams of protein and brown rice has just 3.6 grams. While not a fact proven by scientific studies, it is speculated that though rice water will work regardless of the rice used, the difference in protein levels will have some effect on the potency of the rice water used to treat the hair.

 Contents:

• The YouTube Buzz
• The Yao Women’s Rice Water Tradition
• Benefits of Rice Water
• Research Revelation
• Rice Water Preparation Methods
• Final Considerations
• Video Testimonials

Rice Water Preparation Methods

Since last year YouTubers have been sharing how they prepare rice water.  So far four methods have been circulated.

1. Plain Rice Water

½ cup uncooked rice
2-3 cups water

1. The rice is rinsed off to get rid of any impurities or chemicals which may have been used in its cultivation.
2. Fresh water is poured over the rice and swirled around until the water gets cloudy. This is strained off and used.

2. Rinse and Fermented Rice Water

½ cup uncooked rice
2-3 cups water

1. The rice is rinsed off to get rid of any impurities or chemicals which may have been used in its cultivation.
2. Fresh water is poured over the rice and it is covered in an airtight container and left for 30 minutes to 48 hrs in a warm dark place for fermentation to take place.
3. It will have a sour almost sulphuric smell when it is fermented.
4. It is believed that the fermentation process can be stopped by putting it in the refrigerator or boiling.
5. It is then poured off and used.

3. Boiled Rice Water

½ cup uncooked rice
2-6 cups water

1. As with the previous cases, rice is rinsed off to get rid of any impurities or chemicals which may have been used in its cultivation.
2. Fresh water is poured over the rice and it is then added to a saucepan, covered and boiled just until the bubbles begin to form.
3. It is then set aside to cool and locked away for fermentation up to 48 hrs. It can be used thereafter.

4. Cooked rice

½ cup uncooked rice
2-3 cups water

1. Rinse off rice to rid it of any impurities or chemicals which may have been used in the growing process.
2. Pour fresh water over the rice in a saucepan.
3. Cover it with a secure lid and cook rice until it is soft.
4. Strain the liquid off the cooked rice and put it to ferment for up to 48 hrs in a tight lid container.

Alternatively, instead of straining the contents of the saucepan can be pureed in a food processor*/blender* to form a thick mixture and set aside for 24- 48hrs to ferment.

In variations of these preparations, essential oils* and even aloe vera gel* are added to boost benefits and cut down on the smell that occurs with fermentation.

The boiling method is unpopular with some persons who say that heat from the process will only kill the nutrients in the rice, which of course, makes sense since a microbial activity is stopped with high heat and the microbes may actually have something to do with the efficacy of the treatment. That might be the case but one must also remember that it is at a certain temperature that nutrients die so that theory may be relative. What is sure is that those who have been using the boiling method have been reporting successful results with the treatment nonetheless.

So far, it is unclear whether the Yao women use plain rice water or fermented rice water that has been boiled. What is sure is that whichever type they use, they are consistent with their method of preparation and their regimen.

Final Considerations

The disciples of this rice water method for hair care are growing. We constantly seek the next big thing in hair care, that thing that is going to catapult our efforts to the next level so we can have the long healthy tresses we desire. It’s great to have something else that seemingly works for all hair types.

It just so happens that right now, rice water has the spotlight, and why wouldn’t it with all the reviews we see on YouTube along with the science behind it? The thing is that no matter what you put on your hair there are some things that you can’t lose sight of.

Just look at the Yao women. Their region is practically untouched so they don’t have the overrun of pollutants and toxins you would find in modernized cities. Their springs flow pristine from their mountains complete with minerals and vitamins* that can only be had in a natural environment such as they have maintained. This coupled with the fact that their food and medicines are primarily organic, no doubt has a strong bearing on the hair they sprout.

Do you know what all this means?

1. Make sure your products are as close to their natural state as possible.
2. Simplicity is a treasure. It is best not to have a complex regimen.
3. You must design your diet to reflect the healthy hair you want because with a healthy lifestyle you reap optimal results.
4. Consistency breeds favorable results.

Now that you know all you need to know about rice water, are you more likely to include it in your regimen? Share your views after watching the videos on the next page.

Contents:

• The YouTube Buzz
• The Yao Women’s Rice Water Tradition
• Benefits of Rice Water
• Research Revelation
• Rice Water Preparation Methods
• Final Considerations
• Video Testimonials

Video Testimonials

As promised here is Lana Summer and Discovering Natural with their thoughts on rice water. PS. By the way there are some Japanese and Korean rice water shampoos and conditioners available to buy but that’s a whole other post.