pacific spirit

Rice Water Benefits for Hair

Rice Shampoo Bar Benefits

Rice water hair treatments have been used for centuries in China and Japan, where women have long, healthy, and shinier and stronger hair. Claims that rice water can promote hair growth and improve overall hair health are widespread, though scientific evidence on its effectiveness remains limited.

However, the high concentration of vitamins, amino acids, and antioxidants in rice water may help strengthen strands and reduce thinning hair over time.

The Benefits of Rice Water for Hair: How to Use It for Healthier Strands
If you’re looking for a natural hair treatment to promote hair growth and strengthen your strands, you may want to use rice water for hair care. This anecdotal remedy, popularized by TikTok and ancient beauty traditions, is packed with antioxidants, amino acids, and vitamins and minerals that can protect hair from damage and reduce hair breakage. But does it really work? Let’s dive into the benefits of rice water and how to use rice water effectively.

What Is Rice Water and Why Is It Good for Your Hair?
Rice water is the starchy water left over after soaking or cooking rice. It contains nutrients like inositol, a carbohydrate that can help repair hair breakage and protect against damage. Many people claim that rice water may improve hair health by making hair stronger, smoother, and shinier.

In particular, fermented rice water is believed to enhance these effects due to its increased antioxidant activity. This process boosts nutrient absorption, making it a powerful hair treatment.

How to Make Rice Water for Hair: Simple Rice

To make rice water, follow these steps:

Measure a cup of uncooked rice (any variety works, but brown rice and rice with rice bran contain more nutrients).
Rinse the rice thoroughly to remove impurities.
Add two to three cups of water and let it sit for 30 minutes.
Strain the starchy water into a spray bottle or container for easy application.
For fermented rice water, follow the same steps but let it sit at room temperature for 24-48 hours before straining.

How to Use Rice Water on Hair
Now that you’ve prepared your starchy hair treatment, here’s how to apply it for best results:

Wash your hair with a gentle shampoo.
Pour the rice water on your hair, making sure to saturate your scalp and strands.
Let it sit for 10-20 minutes to allow the nutrients to absorb.
Rinse thoroughly with lukewarm water.
Follow up with your regular hair products or a hair mask if needed.
For frizz-prone hair, you can also use a spray bottle to lightly mist rice water on hair before styling.

The Benefits of Using Rice Water for Hair

1. Strengthens Hair and Reduces Breakage
Rice water may help make hair stronger by reinforcing the hair shaft. The inositol in rice water penetrates the hair cuticle, improving hair health and reducing breakage over time.

2. Supports Hair Growth
Many people claim that rice water help stimulate hair grow by nourishing the hair and scalp. While research is limited, the amino acids and vitamins in rice water provide essential nutrients that promote stronger, longer hair.

3. Improves Scalp Health
A healthy scalp is key to healthy hair growth. Fermented rice water has mild antibacterial properties, which may help balance the scalp and reduce irritation.

4. Makes Hair Shinier and Smoother
One of the most noticeable benefits of using rice water is its ability to make your hair appear shinier and more manageable. The starch in rice water coats the hair, reducing frizz and enhancing smoothness.

5. Works for Different Hair Types
Whether you have natural hair, fine strands, or thick locks, rice water can be customized to suit your hair type. It’s especially beneficial for those experiencing hair loss or thinning.

Does Science Support the Use of Rice Water for Hair?

While most evidence is anecdotal, some experts, including MD dermatologists, acknowledge the potential hair care benefits of rice water. Dermatologist recommendations often highlight rice water’s antioxidant content and ability to strengthen hair.

Both rice water and peptides have shown potential for hair growth in scientific studies.

Rice water contains amino acids, vitamins B, C, and E, and inositol, which may promote hair regeneration and strengthen hair strands (Hubbard, 2021). Rice bran oil has also demonstrated hair revitalization effects by inhibiting steroid 5α-reductase, which is linked to hair loss (Ruksiriwanich et al., 2023).
Peptides, especially keratin and collagen peptides, have been found to strengthen hair, reduce breakage, and enhance regrowth. Fish-derived collagen peptides increased hair follicle proliferation and stimulated growth pathways (Hwang et al., 2022). Hydrolyzed keratin peptides also improved hair mechanical properties (Malinauskyte et al., 2021).

How Often Should You Use Rice Water?

For most hair types, applying rice water 1-2 times per day is ideal. Those with dry or protein-sensitive hair should use it less frequently to avoid potential stiffness.

Applying the Rice Water & Hair Care Tips

To use a rice shampoo bar, wet your hair and lather the bar onto your scalp, letting the rice nutrients absorb. You can also perform a rice water rinse after washing. If you prefer a DIY method, simply strain out the rice after soaking and apply the liquid directly to your scalp. However, rice water isn’t ideal for everyone, so do a patch test before using this ingredient to ensure your hair and scalp benefit from rice water.

Benefits and How to Use Rice Shampoo Bars

The growth phase of hair is influenced by nutrients, and rice water can help by strengthening strands, making damaged hair more resilient, and improving hydration in dry hair. A hair rinse with rice water can coat the strands, making hair smooth and shiny. It works well on several different types of hair, from curly to straight. However, side effects of rice water can include protein overload, leading to brittleness, so don’t use it excessively.

Rice Bars are environmentally friendly

This is by far the number one benefit that people have in mind when they make the switch to bar shampoos and conditioners. Because they do not require plastic packaging, they are much better for the environment than their liquid shampoo counterparts. It is estimated that 299 million Americans use shampoo. Arguably, most of these people are using some form of bottled product.

This equates to about 1 billion shampoo bottles a year, which is approximately 115,000 plastic bottles being bought every hour. Fewer than half of the bottles bought (data from 2016) were collected for recycling, and That means the majority of plastic water bottles sold in America ended up in landfills or in the ocean.

A single plastic bottle can take 450+ years to decompose, and shampoo bars drastically reduce this plastic bottle waste. Shampoo Bars are eco-friendly and can be a great way to reduce the carbon footprint while improving hair health and hygiene.

They are gentle

Shampoo bars do not contain harsh surfactants like sulfates (SLS) and chemicals like parabens. Harsh chemicals can damage the hair and strip away naturally moisturizing essential oils. It can be challenging to make and sustain a switch to a more sustainable choice if you feel you are leaving that choice for something less effective.

They look better in the bathroom

Try to look in a good interior design magazine, do you see any plastic bottles anywhere? Absolutely not, you will never see one, as most designers and architects find them quite cheap and ugly. Shampoo bars help create a minimalist aesthetic in your shower/bathroom by reducing the cluttered look of bottles and their unattractive design. A shampoo bar in a beautiful wooden soap bar dish will make your bathroom look elegant and modern.

Shampoo Bars are Long Lasting

One shampoo bar can last approximately 80 to 90 washes, equivalent to 2 to 3 bottles of liquid shampoo! No more need to shop that frequently. Because shampoo bars are more concentrated than traditional shampoos and conditioners, you can use less per application and last longer. Look at a bottle of shampoo or conditioner in your shower, and the first ingredient you will see is water. This explains why you typically need a healthy dollop of product to get the performance you want. Shampoo bars are like bottled ones, but with fewer preservatives as the water comes directly from your shower.

They are much more natural

Many traditional bottle shampoos are filled with preservatives and chemicals that strip hair of its natural oils and leave the scalp dry. Shampoo bars contain many more natural ingredients that are good for hair, such as natural oils, vitamins, and minerals. That is why on their packaging, you will see sustainable ingredients like sunflower oil, lavender oil, olive oil, argan oil, or coconut oil, which give your hair vitality and moisture. Just make the test! Pick up any traditional shampoo and insert the long list of ingredients into the Environmental Working Group database.

Then make the comparison with a bar! www.ewg.org/skindeep/

They are Lighter

Because they are a dry version of liquid shampoos, they contain all the necessary ingredients to wash properly, but without the water. This translates into less c02 emissions linked to transportation. And who complains about a lighter shopping bag?

They smell great

Thanks to natural essential oils, your hair will never smell better once they meet a shampoo bar. Instead of using a synthetic fragrance, shampoo bars use natural essential oils that are good for hair and scalp and give your hair a wonderful and refreshing scent.

Sampoo Bars save space

Shampoo bars are great for saving space. Being much smaller and more lightweight than their bottled counterparts relative to the number of washings you can get from the same amount of product, shampoo bars will save space. This comes in handy in various situations, from keeping your bathroom cabinets decluttered to packing for an upcoming camping trip.

They do a lot of good to hair

Shampoo bars are packed with essential oils and other fresh/natural ingredients. In addition to relieving a dry and itchy scalp, these natural ingredients promote hair growth, create volume, increase blood circulation, and promote hair follicles’ health. Great shampoo bars leave hair feeling lightweight, clean, and full of volume. Thanks to their gentle touch the scalp feels refreshed too.

They are better for traveling

Say goodbye to clutter, plastic, travel bottles when vacationing, camping, or going to the gym – just toss your shampoo in your bag and you are ready to go.

They are multi-purpose

Shampoo bars can also be used for other purposes like washing your body, your pets or your clothes while or camping or travelling.

They are cool

Solid shampoos are the newest hair care trend that hooked many Americans from the first try. You will be looking so cool using it but do not brag to your friends…. even if you will feel a great sense of pride knowing that you are a trendsetter!

They are economical

One bar costing only slightly more than the average drug store bottle brand, this can save you big. One 3.5 OZ bar usually lasts for 2 to 3 month’s .

They are easy to use

Just lather the bar in your hands for 15 seconds, massage well the lather into your roots, rinse your hair and you are ready to go!

If you want to learn how to use a shampoo bar, check our guide here

And last: you can use them conditioner free

Since many shampoo bars contain nourishing oils like Argan Oil, Coconut Oil, Jojoba Oil, Avocado Oil and Almond Oil you can skip the conditioner to save even more money.

How great is that?

Sale!

$9.99

A nourishing green shampoo bar for thin hair, infused with key ingredients like fermented rice water, caffeine, and vitamin B5. This creamy bar gently strengthens delicate strands, helping to reduce hair loss and promote growth. Sulfate-free and gentle on the scalp, it’s perfect for everyday use without stripping natural oils. Eco-friendly and long-lasting, it's designed to minimize waste while revitalizing your hair.

Checkout on Amazon