If you watch TikTok, you might have seen the latest hair growth trend. Rice water is supposedly a miracle hair growth treatment. But is there any truth to it?
We’re not totally convinced by this trend, so we’re taking a deep dive into what this trend is all about!
Contents
- What Are The Claims?
- Where Did This Trend Come From?
- Does Rice Water Actually Make Hair Grow Faster?
- Risks of Using Rice Water
- What Can You Use Instead Of Rice Water?
- How to Make Your Own Rice Hair Mask
- How To Use This Hair Mask
- Will This Hair Mask Make My Hair Grow Faster?
- Can I Just Dilute Hydrolysed Rice Protein in Water?
- Conclusion
What Are The Claims?
The claims are that spraying rice water over your hair will make it grow faster. It is being promoted as a simpler way to grow hair as you don’t need to apply it to damp hair, you don’t need to wash it out and it won’t make your hair greasy.
This isn’t the first hair growth trend and it won’t be the last! But this trend, like most others, isn't backed by proof.
There is no scientific evidence that rice water makes your hair grow faster. None! And yet, people are so comfortable claiming that it does.
Where Did This Trend Come From?
Like most trends, rice water has been used in traditional beauty treatments for centuries and it is now coming back into the spotlight.
It has a long history in several Asian cultures, like China and Japan, where it was used to help grow and strengthen hair.
Does Rice Water Actually Make Hair Grow Faster?
Rice water for hair has been around for centuries, so there must be something to it. Here’s what we know…
Rice water is essentially just starch water. Rice contains around 80% starch, so when you cook rice, all of those starches are leftover in the water. The starch itself can be good for hair, but the thing that is actually benefiting your hair the most, is the proteins!
The proteins in rice are what strengthens and thickens the hair. However, when using rice water, these proteins are only going to reach the surface of the hair, providing temporary results.
There is also no scientific proof that these proteins or rice water can make your hair grow faster.
In a nutshell, there is no evidence to support the claim that rice water has hair growth properties and it’s really the proteins that will give you healthier hair.
So you can spray rice water over your hair if you want, but it isn’t growing your hair.
Risks of Using Rice Water
A lot of people are claiming to use rice water on your hair everyday to make it grow. However, rice water can be very drying and make your hair worse, especially for those with low porosity hair!
Not only that, but due to the high protein content, it can cause protein overload. This is when the hair has too much protein and too little moisture, causing the hair to feel dry, brittle and prone to breakage.
What Can You Use Instead Of Rice Water?
Did you know you can just buy rice proteins? That's right, you don’t have to boil rice to get these natural proteins.
If you use these concentrated ingredients in a hair treatment, you will get all of the natural benefits from the rice plant and more!
Hydrolysed rice protein
Hydrolysed rice protein is the protein from rice bran that has been modified to be soluble in water. This is the best ingredient to use in haircare to enjoy all the benefits of rice proteins.
Rice starch powder
This is the starch from rice in a powder form. It is full of natural rice proteins and it can be used to reduce excess oils on the scalp and thicken hair.
Rice bran oil
Rice bran oil is extracted from the bran of the rice kernel. It is an amazing source of tocopherols, vitamin E and ferulic acid.
How to Make Your Own Rice Protein Hair Mask
The best way to get all of the nourishment from these ingredients into your hair and scalp, is by making a deeply nourishing and moisturising hair mask.
Unlike rice water that can be drying, this hair mask contains moisturising ingredients that will keep your hair feeling soft and hydrated.
Water phase Oil phase Cool down phase
Ingredients:
Method:
1. Heated water phase
- Measure the water, panthenol, geogard ultra and glycerin in a heatproof beaker.
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Place the beaker into a double boiler or a pan with heated water.
2. Heated oil phase
- Measure the BTMS 50, castor oil, jojoba oil and rice bran oil into a separate beaker.
- Place the beaker next to the other beaker in a pan with heated water.
3. Cool down water phase
- Remove the water solution from the heat and set it aside to cool.
- Weigh out the rice starch powder in a separate bowl.
- Measure the temperature of the water solution to check it is below 40°C.
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Once the mixture has reached temperature, mix in the rice starch powder.
4. Combine the mixtures
- Leave the mixtures to cool slightly.
- Pour the water mixture into the oil mixture.
- Using a stick blender, mix the ingredients together until fully combined.
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Once mixed, it should create a creamy consistency.
5. Cool down phase
- Mix the PQ7, hydrolyzed rice protein and vitamin E oil together.
- Add this to the main mixture and mix well.
- Once blended, leave the mixture to cool to around 25°C and stir occasionally.
6. Test the pH of the mixture
- Take 2g of the mixture and mix it in 18g of water until dissolved.
- Using a digital pH meter, test a small sample of the mixture.
- The pH of the conditioner should be in the range 4.5 - 5.5
7. If necessary, adjust the pH
- If the pH of your hair mask is too high, make a citric acid solution.
- Weigh 10g of citric and 90g of water.
- Add the citric acid to the water and stir until dissolved.
- Add 0.5g of the solution into the diluted sample that you used for pH testing.
- Test the pH again, if the pH is still under 4.5, repeat the last steps until the pH is 4.5 - 5.5.
- Once the correct pH has been reached, record the amount of citric acid solution needed and add this to the remaining hair mask.
- If the pH of the hair mask was under 4.5, you can follow this process but use 10g sodium hydroxide diluted in 90g water.
8. Pour into containers
- Leave the mixture to cool and pour into a container of your choice.
- Now your diy hair mask is ready to use!
How To Use This Hair Mask
Apply a small amount of the hair mask to damp hair, making sure to work it into every section of hair. Leave it to sit for 15 to 30 minutes and then rinse it thoroughly out of the hair.
We do recommend testing the hair mask on a small amount of hair first to be sure you like it and you have no issues with the ingredients.
This treatment only needs to be used every 3 to 4 weeks. Using it too often could cause protein overload. If you notice your hair is getting drier or more brittle, stop using the hair mask to allow the hair to readjust its protein levels.
Will This Hair Mask Make My Hair Grow Faster?
While we don’t like to claim that anything can truly make your hair grow without evidence, it is pretty well known that to grow your hair, you need to keep it healthy.
This hair mask will hydrate and nourish your hair and scalp, leaving you with stronger and thicker hair. It is great for all hair types, including dry hair and damaged hair.
Can I Just Dilute Hydrolysed Rice Protein in Water?
This is another quick way to protein overload and dehydrated hair! While hydrolysed rice protein does have incredible benefits for hair, it is best used within a hair treatment to add moisturising properties too.
Conclusion
Rice does contain proteins that help strengthen, nourish and thicken hair. However, there is no evidence to support the claim that rice water can promote hair growth.
While rice water has been used for centuries, using concentrated rice proteins, natural oils and rice starch is much more effective!
Using rice water too much can actually cause more damage and dry out hair due to protein overload and a lack of hydration. If you really want your hair to grow healthy, thick and strong, then you need to use effective ingredients in a deeply moisturising hair mask.
Continue Reading
Now you know the truth about rice water for hair, why not read more?
- Learn about whether essential oils can be used for cleaning with this in depth blog!
- Have you heard the claims that castor oil should not be stored in plastic? This isn’t the whole truth! Read this blog for more!
- Learn more about how hydrolysed proteins work and how to use them with this blog!
Let us know your thoughts on rice water for hair! Tag us on Instagram or Facebook or use our hashtag #thesoaperyuk
