The next time you boil the rice, think twice before pouring out the water. The rice water is rich in minerals and vitamins that make it great for the skin and hair. Asian women have used rice water for centuries to beautify their hair, face, and skin. Read on to find out how to make rice water and how to use it for beauty.
What is rice water?
Rice water, in its simplest form, is the water that is left over after washing rice during preparation for eating. It can be concentrated or diluted and is even fermented to bring out most of its benefits.
It contains nutrients that can fortify hair and renew skin when used as a hair wash or facial rinse, and unlike many skin or hair care products on the commercial market, it serves as an easy and natural way to skin and hair care.
In a research proposal detailing a project aimed at creating more effective hair care products at the SPring-8 facility in Japan, a specific substance found in rice water, called inositol, proved highly useful in improving hair elasticity and reducing friction, leading to remarkable improvements in overall hair health.
Rice water is Asia's best-kept beauty secret
The water from this grain has been used since ancient times in oriental medicine in many parts of the Asian continent to keep skin supple and youthful-looking and to grow strong and shiny hair. You won't find any type of sulfate or silicate in a bowl of rice water, and the best part is that you can make it quick and easy to use from the comfort of your own home and for a price that can't be beat.
Traditionally, women who grow rice in Japan used to bathe and wash in the water used to clean white rice.
According to an article in the China Daily, the secret to keeping hair dark and clean is to wash it with rice water. It is a natural shampoo and a good hair conditioner.
Rice water is prescribed by Ayurvedic physicians as an effective ointment for cooling inflamed skin surfaces.
3 methods to prepare rice water for skin and hair
If you want to test whether using rice water on your own hair and skincare routine can be beneficial for you, here are some quick and easy recipes to make a batch of rice water:
What rice to use:
Brown, long-grained and white, short-grained white, jasmine, or whatever you have.
Method 1: Boiled Rice Water
To make a rice water concentrate to use all week in its diluted form as a facial wash or hair rinse, prepare the rice as you normally would, but use two to three times the amount of water that you would normally use.
After the rice has cooked, you can strain it. The leftover water will be a bright white color, and will contain a high concentration of nutrients. However, don't use it at full strength. Instead, dilute a few tablespoons of this concentrated rice water in a cup of clean water, making the mixture look almost milky.
Use this diluted solution to wash your face or to treat your hair, and store any leftover concentrate in the refrigerator in a covered container for up to a week.
Method 2: Quick method without boiling
If you want to extract water from rice quickly and don't want to go through the hassle of diluting and storing, just take two cups of water and add half a cup of rice for 15 minutes. Strain the rice and use this rice water to wash your face, hair, or both.
Method 3: Fermented Rice Water
Fermented rice water is thought to be especially good for hair due to the pH change that occurs in the water during the fermentation process (the process brings the pH of the rice water more in line with the natural pH of the hair, and causes the release of a chemical called pitera that can promote cell regeneration). Accomplishing this method calls for some additional measures, but the results are totally worth it.
To make rice fermented water, prepare rice water according to the quick no-boil method listed above and let it sit in a jar at room temperature for a day or two (in warmer climates, the fermentation process will take less time) . When a slightly acidic smell arises in the rice water, boil the water and then cool it in order to stop the fermentation process. When cool, use this rice water for skin toning or as a hair rinse.
This fermented rice water is very potent, so it is best to dilute it with 1-2 cups of warm water before using it.
Wash your face with rice water every day, before bed, and use it on your hair as a final rinse no more than once or twice a week, think of it as a deep conditioner, where only a little can do a big difference.
The benefits remain even after it has been rinsed, so you can wash and rinse as you normally would without any fear of unsightly build-up that may occur.
How to use rice water for skin and hair?
You can use rice water every day as part of your cleansing and skincare routine, in the morning or at night. For hair, it is recommended to use once or twice a week, either to wash the hair or as a rinse.
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