By Rice water has been centuries old beauty secret. Women in East Asia, particularly from Japan, China, and Southeast Asia, proudly claimed for its use in maintaining youthful, glowing skin and long, strong hair.
Through this blog let’s learn the basics of rice water, how it can be prepared at home, it’s benefits and how it can be used for your skin and hair.
What is Rice Water?
That cloudy and starchy liquid that gets after soaking or cooking rice in water is exactly what rice water is. The water is brimmed with the goodness of essential vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and antioxidants that excellently nourish your hair and skin. One of the key components that does this wonder is inositol; it’s a carbohydrate that can strengthen hair and repair hair bonds.
Why Rice Water Is Considered Beneficial ?
Rice Water is loaded with a number of benefits as it is rich in the following :
- B vitamins (B1, B2,B3 and B6) : These vitamin maintain the healthiness of the skin and hair.
- Vitamin E : A powerful antioxidant which fabulously helps reduce any signs of aging.
- Magnesium and Zinc: Magnesium and zinc are responsible for maintaining and improving the texture of the skin and hair.
- Ferulic Acid: Another efficient antioxidant present in rice water is ferulic acid. It basically acts as a shield and protects your hair and face from damage against sun.
- Amino Acids: Responsible for promoting collagen production, amino acid is abundantly present in rice water and helps strengthen the hair strands effectively.
How To Make Rice Water ?
Keeping in mind some of rice water’s unique benefits, let’s discuss how we can prepare this water at home. Further are the primary and easy methods to prepare rice water:
Soak Method
The quickest way to prepare rice water at home is the soaking method. It requires minimal effort and also is the easiest method.
Steps to do:
- Take half a cup of uncooked rice. It can be any rice brown, basmati, or jasmine.
- Rinse the rice thoroughly to remove any dirt, starch or impurities from the rice.
- Add double or triple the amount of water to one cup of rice and let it soak for a minimum of 30 minutes and your rice water is ready to use.
Boiling method
A more concentrated and potent form of water is obtained by boiling rice in water. It is a stronger rice water solution that can be diluted before if you want.
Steps to do:
- Boil half a cup of rice in 2-3 cups of water as you normally do.
- Once the rice is boiled and cooked, you can strain away the excess water and store it in a separate container.
- Allow this hot water to cool down, and then use it for tropical treatment.
Fermented Rice water
If you are looking for the most powerful method that is high in antioxidant level, then this fermented rice water is the best option. It has been famed by the Yao women of China for their long and shiny hair.
Steps :
- Prepare rice water by simply soaking it in water.
- Now, instead of using it on the sport, you can keep it fermented for 24 to 48 hours.
- Now you must wait for a slight sour smell and store it immediately in a refrigerator.
- Before using, dilute it in a 1:1 ratio to reduce its strength.
Benefits Of Rice Water For Skin
Improve Skin Tone
Rich water is enriched with essential antioxidants, minerals, and vitamins; hence, incorporating it into your daily beauty routines will definitely help you improve your skin tone while also reducing the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, and brown.
Controls Oil and Acne
Rice is an excellent balancer of sebum production; indulging it in your skincare regime can reduce the production of excess oil and prevent any kind of breakout on the skin.
Brightens Your Skin
A fantastic skin-brightening agent, rice water directly affects the enzymatic pathways that are involved in pigment production. Therefore, it helps reduce blemishes and gives you a more brightened and glowing skin.
Prevents Inflammation
If you face any dry patches or conditions like eczema, rice water might be your savior. It can soothe your itchiness and alleviate any type of skin inflammation. Use it one or twice a week to reduce inflammation efficiently.
Soothes Sunburned Skin
Rice water is even famous for its cooling and anti-inflammatory properties. Through these properties, you can reduce redness and sunburn on your skin. Applying it to your sunburned area regularly can treat it effectively.
Hydrates the Skin
The abundance of nutrients present in rice water can help retain moisture in the skin. Using it regularly can make your skin soft, supple, and well hydrated.
Reduces Pore Size
Using rice water as a toner also helps tighten the pores. This tightening of pores makes your skin smoother while also providing you with a more refined texture.
Methods To Use Rice Water For Face
- Use it as a skin toner :Sweep your face with a rice water toner twice a day as you do with a regular toner. It will keep you keep hydrated and moisturized while also even out your skin tone.
- Use it as a face scrub : Rice water is an excellent exfoliator. Therefore to buff away that dead skin and add glow to your face, use rice water mixed in rice flour as a scrub.
- Use it as a face mask: To get that glow instantly, use rice water as a face mask mixed with gram flour or honey.
- Use it in lightening lip scrub: Mix rice water with sugar and gently rub it on your lips to remove dead skin and get smoother, brighter lips.
- Use it as an Acne spot treatment : Rice water can excellently treat dark spots and hyperpigmentation. So use it to remove the those dark acne spots from the skin. Dip a cotton swab into rice water and apply directly to the blemishes on your skin regularly, and they will fade over a period of time.
- Use it as a face mist: Pour some rice water into a spray bottle and use it as a refreshing face mist to maintain the hydration of your skin.
Benefits Of Using Rice Water For Hair
Accelerated Growth of Hair
Rice water is extremely rich in amino acids, vitamins, and minerals, which will nourish your scalp and encourage hair growth.
Gives you a Smooth and Shiny Texture
Yes, you heard that right ! Rice water is a blessing for those struggling with dull and lifeless hair. It shows results even within one application as your hair become shiny, soft and silky.
Effectively Controls Dandruff
With its antifungal and anti-inflammatory properties, rice water help combat the problem of dandruff, dryness and irritation. Applying rice water balances the scalp’s pH level, creating a healthy environment for hair growth.
Gives you Frizz Free Hair
The starch in rice water coats each strand of your hair, making it smoother and shinier. Your hair becomes more manageable while reducing the frizz in your hair, too.
Rice Water as a Natural Conditioner
Market brought conditioners are loaded with chemicals and hence be harmful in long term. Hence, if you are looking for a natural, lightweight conditioner, rice water may be the best option. It detangles and softens your hair instantly, making it healthier if used regularly.
Strengthens Hair and Prevents Breakage
The inositol present in rice water penetrates deep into the hair shaft, leading to stronger and shiny hair. With regular use you can get damage free hair with minimized split ends.
Methods To Use Rice Water For Hair
- Strengthening spray
You can use rice water as a strengthening spray and protect your hair from becoming brittle. It will strengthen the roots of your hair and give you stronger strands.
- Use it as a hair mask
You can mix rice water with aloe vera or honey and apply it on your hair for 20 to 30 minutes to get smooth, shiny and frizz free hair.
- Use it for rinsing
You can use rice water for rinsing after shampooing your hair. Just by pouring rice water over your hair will bring much needed change in your hair by making soft and smooth.
Ready to Try Rice Water ?
Rice water can be termed as the most simple yet effective natural treatment for your hair and skin. If you add this to your skin and hair, it would no doubt keep your hair and skin soft, smooth and more bright. It is as effective as the market brought products but with no harmful chemicals used.
