Could Rice Water Help Your Hair Grow?
Rens D/Unsplash
The Trend: Rinsing your hair in rice water is a practice that dates back thousands of years, but it’s recently experienced a resurgence on social media. Fans of the technique claim it’s an inexpensive, all-natural DIY treatment to promote hair growth and make tresses stronger and shinier. It sounds great, but does it actually work?
What People Are Saying: Making rice water is straightforward: Soak a cup of rice in water for about two hours, and then strain and save the leftover liquid to use as a rinse after washing. Rice contains B vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and phenols — all good for the hair. The starch in rice water can also coat and smooth the hair cuticle and reflect light to make it look glossier. Some dermatologists caution that starch can also draw moisture from the hair, leaving it brittle and prone to breakage — especially if people do rice-water rinses too often.
What to Know: Any benefits are likely superficial, as there’s no scientific evidence validating that rice water can make hair grow. Eating nutrient-rich foods and seeing a dermatologist to address any hair issues are more surefire ways to get healthy locks.
