If, like us, you spend a lot of time on social media keeping up with hair trends, you’ve probably heard about rice water.

Before we dive in, a little background! The rice water trend comes straight from the Yao, a Chinese ethnic group known for cutting their hair only once in their lives: when they come of age. To care for their beautiful long hair, these women wash their hair with the water left over from cooking rice.

In the lines below, we’ll explain what rice water is, what its derivatives are, and also what this trend promises for your hair. Of course, you’ll also find several reviews and testimonials about our own experience with rice water and rice cream, after adding them to our hair routine for 3 weeks!

Rice water: what is it?

The rice water trend actually covers several derivatives that promise different results. For example, there’s rice cooking water, fermented rice water, and even rice cream!

Rice cooking water is the technique used by Yao women. As its name suggests, rice cooking water is simply the water in which you’ve cooked your rice. All you have to do is apply the rice water to your hair after washing it. Rice water is used as a rinse water, and it acts like a conditioner. You can leave it in your hair or rinse it out, whichever you prefer.

As for fermented rice water, this technique releases more of the rice starch present in the water. To make fermented rice water, ideally combine ¾ tablespoons of rice with ⅘ volumes of water, then let your rice water sit for two days at room temperature. You can keep it for a week in the refrigerator.

Finally, to avoid a smell that can be unpleasant, feel free to add a few mint leaves. Strain your rice water before using it, then use it as a rinse water.

Several studies highlight the benefits of fermented rice water. Indeed, fermented substances contain a higher amount of antioxidants, which helps better fight damage to the hair and scalp.

Finally, rice cream is mostly used as a conditioning mask for the hair. To make your rice cream, 2 tablespoons of rice are enough to get a nice thick cream. Boil your rice well for 20 to 25 minutes, then blend the mixture until you get a substance similar to rice semolina. Once your preparation is ready, simply apply your rice cream to your hair like a mask. Let it sit for 1 hour, then rinse with clean, cool water.

Which rice water derivative(s) for my hair?

After trying out the different rice water-based treatments, we recommend using rice water, fermented or not, for hair that tends to be oily, while we recommend using rice cream for dry or curly hair.

Rice water won’t change the nature of your hair, meaning your hair won’t become less oily or less dry. However, you can count on rice water to give you shinier hair that’s also better conditioned!

The benefits of rice water and its derivatives

To get reliable information, we investigated why there was so much excitement around rice water, and above all whether the claims were scientifically proven!

First, several scientific authors have noted that rice water can, on the one hand, reduce friction between hairs and, on the other hand, increase hair elasticity and make hair smoother. Studies have also shown that rice water contains inositol, an ingredient able to penetrate the hair to protect it. Some researchers have demonstrated the effectiveness of inositol, as it would keep working even after the rice water has been rinsed out. A research center in Japan even developed an imaging technique that shows the strengthening effect of inositol on hair. However, these results should be taken with a grain of salt, as there may be a commercial interest behind this study, which was carried out for a brand.

Second, rice water is said to have properties that strengthen and protect hair by giving it volume, radiance and shine, notably thanks to the vitamins and minerals found in rice, such as amino acids, B vitamins, vitamin E and antioxidants.

Finally, there is no scientific evidence that rice water boosts hair growth. What is certain, however, is that healthy hair grows faster than unhealthy hair, and as you’ve guessed… rice water promises to take care of your hair to keep it as healthy as possible.

At LAO we’re used to talking to you about hair, but we have to admit that rice water also has very interesting properties for the skin! Rice water brings radiance and softness to your skin while keeping it hydrated.

The effects of rice water: myth or reality?

We’ve now been testing rice water for 3 weeks, and we have to admit that if we haven’t stopped the test sooner, it’s because rice water has truly won us over! It’s above all the softness it gave our hair that sold us! That said, within 3 weeks we can’t claim that our hair grew faster than usual or that there’s any miracle effect.

Personally, we preferred rice cream to rice water, but it depends on what each of us is looking for.

Our little tip: add a few drops of the oil of your choice to your rice cream for even more shine in your hair!

To give you more answers about how well rice water and its derivatives work, we collected lots of reviews (thank you!) and testimonials about this trend. Feel free to share your own testimonial in the comments here!

After reading all your reviews and testimonials, we’d say this trend is one to follow and try! Many of you told us about the positive effects of rice water on your hair. We haven’t received any negative feedback about this trend. And what convinces us even more is that all hair types get something out of it!

Here are a few reviews about rice water:

Léna. L: “Rice cream is just amazing! My hair was very dry and after 2 or 3 treatments it was repaired and, above all, very soft!”

Lisa. C: “I rarely use rice water (simply because I rarely have any), but when I do I love it!”

Edith. D: “I started the rice water treatment 3 weeks ago. I also mix it with castor oil and a little cornstarch. And as a result, I’ve noticed a shine in my hair”.

Julie. V: “I got to try rice water and I loved it! The next day my hair was as soft as if I’d used a conditioner or a mask!”

Cloé. N: “I do it often! My hair looks incredible afterwards, I love it!”

Kahyna. K: “I added rice water to the hair cream I make. My hair loves it.”

Béa. J: “I’ve already used rice cream in my protein mask and I’m delighted with it.”

Sources:

- Medical News Today: "Rice water for hair Benefits and how to use it". November 2018. Available online: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/321353#how-to-make

- Healthline: "Can Rice Water Make Your Hair Stronger and Shinier?". September 2017. Available online: https://www.healthline.com/health/rice-water#Final-thoughts

- Development of hair-care products from rice water. (n.d.). Available online: : spring8.or.jp/pdf/en/indu_appli/p10-11.pd : note: this study may have been published for commercial purposes.