Rice water has amazing hair and skin benefits. Recent research has shown that rice water exhibits hair care effects. For instance, it decreases surface friction and improves hair elasticity. Rice water has inositol, a carbohydrate, that repairs damaged hair, as well as protects it from damage. A Specialized imaging technique shows that inositol stays inside the hair even after rinsing, offering continuing hair protection and beautifying effects.
Also, the amino acids in the rice water strengthen the hair roots, add volume and sheen and make hair silky smooth. These awesome benefits explain the 6 feet, healthy, long, and beautiful hair of the Yao women
In addition to the hair benefits, rice water has many skin benefits. For instance, due to its cooling and soothing effects on the skin, rice water is often prescribed by ayurvedic practitioners as an effective ointment to cool off inflamed skin.
Rice water also has moisturizing, antioxidant, and healing properties that help to improve circulation, prevent or fade age-related spots, and ease inflammation to give you healthy, better moisturized, and clear skin. As long as it’s left on the skin, rice water is even believed to offer mild protection from the sun.
How To Use Rice Water For Hair and Skin
Use every day as part of your cleansing and toning skincare routine, morning or evening. You use it once or twice a week either as a hair wash or last rinse.
- Use rice water as part of your face and body cleanser. (e.g rice water, lemon juice, and lavender essential oil mixed together to make a face or body wash.
- It is a great substitute for your regular toner and helps in reducing the size of the pores on your skin.
- Rinsing your hair with rice water brings shine to your hair and helps to keep it strong and healthy.
- You can also use it as a part of moisturising face mask.
- Make a rice bath soak along with your favorite herb and treat your skin to a fabulous DIY spa.
- For smooth and baby soft skin, grind the left over rice and use as body scrub.
Rice Water for a Hair Rinse
Rice water – plain or fermented – is an excellent conditioner. It repairs and strengthens damaged hair shafts while providing elasticity and smoothness.
For extra nourishment, add a few drops of essential oils such as rosemary, lavender, or chamomile.
After shampooing, pour the rice water on your hair. Gently massage your scalp and hair and leave it on for 4 to 5 minutes. Then rinse your hair thoroughly with plain water. Use it once or twice a week as the last rinse.
Rice water shampoo: Rice water contains natural saponins, so it can also be used as a mild cleanser. For better cleansing add some shikakai powder or orange peel powder to this water.
Update: Rice water may build up on hair over time, especially if you have hard water. So, consider using a natural chelating agent, such as orange peel powder, amla powder, shikakai powder, lemon juice* or apple juice, with the rice water. It will help remove any build-up and make your hair soft and shiny. Add about 1/2 tsp in one cup of rice water and use as suggested.
*Use lemon/lime juice sparsely.
Rice Water as a Facial Cleanser or toner
This is one of the cheapest ways to pamper your skin.
Using rice water to cleanse your face is as simple as dabbing a bit onto your face and gently massaging it into your skin for a couple of minutes. With regular use, you will notice your skin feeling soft, tight, and radiant.
You can also use rice water as a toner. Use like any other toner – apply to face after cleansing to minimize the appearance of pores and tighten skin.
Fresh Rice Bath Soak
Treat your skin to a fabulous DIY spa with a rice bath and lavender soak. Take a small muslin bag and fill the bag with 1/2 cup rice and 2 tsp lavender flowers. Place the muslin bag into the water. Soak in the tub and relax fully.
Also, instead of lavender flowers try other skin beautifying ingredients such as orange peel, lemon peel, green tea, tulsi leaves (holy basil), neem leaves, and calendula petals.
DIY Ground Rice Body scrub
Do not throw away the leftover rice, simply grind it to make a nourishing body scrub. You can also add other ingredients to this scrub based on your skin’s needs. Example: for soft, smooth, and blemish-free skin add a couple of teaspoons of olive or coconut oil, 2 teaspoons of lemon juice, and/or a few drops of essential oils (lavender, sweet orange) to the ground rice and combine thoroughly. Use this once a week or once every 15 days.
Which Rice To Use: Every type of rice has its own benefits to your hair and skin. Plus, the way rice water is obtained – rinsing, boiling, fermenting – will also change the nutrient content and pH of this water. So experiment freely and see what works best for your hair and skin
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