Pampering your hair doesn’t have to be expensive. Learn how to make rice water to strengthen your hair and make it grow faster. Plus, it’s natural, which makes it an excellent eco-friendly way to take care of your hair.

Hello my beautiful friends!
Today we’re making my favorite at-home DIY hair growth treatment, which is perfect for Summer weather: rice water.
As more and more crazy and sometimes dangerous beauty DIYs are appearing all over the internet, I’d rather stick to something that I know to be safe and effective, like this rice water which can be used on your hair, your face and your body with excellent results.

♡ Benefits of rice water for hair

Rice water contains lots of amino acids and Vitamins B, C, and D that help regenerate hair and stimulate growth.

And lo and behold: it also contains protein! Yup, this is the perfect, gentle, protein treatment for your hair.
All of these elements strengthen and repair your damaged hair. Which means that your hair is going to be able to grow long and strong.

Furthermore, the phenolic and flavonoid compounds in rice water improve your hair’s texture and volume. While the carbohydrate called inositol can improve your hair’s elasticity and reduce surface friction. Which can help prevent damage and breakage.

Rice water also imparts shine to your mane. And at the same time it’s really easy to make!

♡ Yu-Su-Ru (rinse water obtained from the washing of rice)

Rice water is not, as someone might think, a TikTok invention. Nope. Yu-Su-Ru has been around since the Heian Period (794 to 1185).

(…) the court ladies of the Heian Period, whose beautiful long hair, called suberakashi, reached to the floor, were said to have combed their hair each day using Yu-Su-Ru (rinse water obtained from the washing of rice). source

I don’t know about you, but I always think it’s fascinating to bring into our mundane daily lives ancient traditions and beauty rituals which have stood the test of time.

Read also: DIY Glycerin hair spray with Aloe Vera and Rose Water for curly and wavy hair

♡ How to make rice water rinse

So there are 2 ways to make rice water: plain or fermented rice water, and they both start off the same way.

You will need brown or white rice, organic is even better (please make sure to cook it afterwards and eat it. I’ve read of some people that just throw it away afterwards and the waste makes me cringe).

❥ First, wash the rice, either rinsing it in cold water in a colander or swishing it around in a bowl – to remove dust, dirt and impurities.

❥ Once you washed it, put the rice into a bowl or a big mason jar. I use 4 tbsp or rice and 4 cups of cold water (or roughly 1 tbsp of rice x 1 cup of water).
You might need to use filtered water, depending on where you live or your preferences.

❥ When you have your rice and the water in your mason jar (or bowl) stir it with a wooden spoon until the water becomes cloudy so that even more nutrients get out of the rice and into the water.

❥ Leave the rice in the water at least for 30 minutes. This amount of time is already enough to allow the vitamins and minerals come out and obtain a good DIY rice water hair growth treatment.
You’ll see that the water by now is not transparent anymore but it has a milky color.

❥ At this point strain the rice into a big bowl and set the rice aside to use in a yummy risotto.

♡ How to make fermented rice water rinse

But what I like to do if I have the time, is to make fermented rice water.
The ph of fermented rice water is actually much closer to our hair’s ph level. This means that it can help smooth the hair cuticles and make them look smoother, it improves the elasticity and strength which results in hair being able to grow longer, past the usual “breaking point” (we all have one, at a different length. Mine is towards the middle of my back, what about you? Let  me know in the comments down below).

❥ For this, after straining the rice, you’ll need to leave the water in an airtight container for much longer, usually 24 hours.
I prepare it one day for the next and leave it in the fridge overnight. Like this, you get an ultra strong hair treatment and the amino acids, vitamins and proteins found in rice can really improve even more your hair’s health.

♡ How to use rice water

After your usual shampoo or your co-wash, apply the (fermented) rice water rinse as you would apply a conditioner, but making sure to massage it gently all over your scalp.

If you’re standing up in the shower, pour the water all over your head. If you’re bending over in your bathtub or sink instead, plunge your head in the bowl of rice water making sure your scalp gets to it, too.

Leave it on at least 5 minutes – or up to 30 minutes for best results.

Rinse your hair thoroughly one last time with clean water afterwards.

Before applying it, you can also add a couple of drops of an essential oil: lavender or peppermint are perfect to stimulate hair growth.

And there you have it, my favorite DIY hair treatment for maximum growth. I hope you will give this DIY a try.

Do you have any other favorite hair DIYs? Don’t hesitate to let me know in the comments below, it can help someone out!
And don’t forget to pin this post to share the love ♥

I wish you a love-filled day, stay safe xoxo