Some of the best beauty tips are the ones that have been passed down for generations, like K-beauty’s ginseng, an anti-aging ingredient that’s been applied to the skin for hundreds of years. The same could (maybe) be said of rice water. In Asia, the cloudy, starchy water created when you boil or soak rice is used in all kinds of beauty treatments, including tonics meant to boost hair growth. But is rice water really good for your tresses, or are its benefits nothing more than a folk tale?
Rice water: long hair, long history
Rice water is simple to produce, requiring nothing more than some rice and water, which might explain why it’s been around for so long. “Liji,” a Chinese text thought to date back to around 500 B.C., noted the use of rice water for cleansing the body. Years later during the Tang dynasty, rice water was thought to have a beautifying effect. But it would be the Yao women who would help popularize rice water as a hair growth elixir.
As a 2022 study explains, the Yao women of Huangluo, China, are known to have strong, black hair measuring a whopping six feet in length — often longer than the women themselves. They claim that rice water applied to the hair is the reason for their long, dark locks. You can still find women with Rapunzel hair in Huangluo today, though such commitment to long hair might not be as practical in most other cultures. Noblewomen during the Heian period in Japan, too, had long hair, thanks to rice water treatments. Their hair was said to reach the floor, a sight you’d rarely find in Japan today.
Even if most of us are no longer hoping for six-foot-long locks, rice water has been trending on social media in recent years. Search “rice water for hair” on TikTok and you’ll find countless videos, like one with over 600,000 “likes” by creator @katyaniomi demonstrating a rice water recipe for hair growth.
So, does rice water actually promote hair growth?
Looking at women in China and Japan, and the Yao women in particular, it would seem that rice water can make hair stronger and longer. Unfortunately, there’s little science to support (or deny) the Asian beauty hack. That said, there are a few things that experts know to be true of rice water. First, water used for soaking or cooking rice contains nutrients from the grain, including an antioxidant called inositol — which has been associated with hair growth.1 Additionally, as dermatologist Stacy Chimento explained to Byrdie, “Rice water may promote hair growth because it contains amino acids that support hair regeneration.” Add in the vitamins naturally found in the mixture, including vitamins C, B, and E, and it makes sense that rice water would be linked to stronger hair, Chimento said. According to a 2022 article published in the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, the phenols found in rice water are also thought to treat hair loss.
Before you start dousing your hair with the cloudy concoction, know that there are some potential limitations. First, the same 2022 article noted that starch from rice can be damaging — which you don’t want if you’re trying to grow long tresses. Additionally, a 2022 research review found that rice bran extracts may promote hair growth, yet white rice sold in stores doesn’t contain bran.
One more thing to note: Rice water may not benefit everyone equally. “If you have low-porosity hair, then rice water will create protein buildup. Be very careful of rice water; know your hair type,” trichologist Bridgette Hill shared with Vogue.
How to use rice water on your hair
There isn’t only one way to create rice water for hair. Generally, however, you’ll follow these basic steps:
- Grab about 1 cup of rice — any rice is okay, as long as it isn’t the instant type, but brown rice may offer more benefits than white rice since it still contains the bran.
- Rinse and strain your rice.
- Transfer the rice to a bowl and add 2-4 cups of water (depending on the length of your hair). Mix until the water is translucent.
- If you’re in a hurry, boil the rice water until it’s opaque. If you have more time, leave the rice in the room-temperature water for 24 hours.
- Strain the rice (and put aside for cooking later), saving the water.
- Store the water in the refrigerator until ready to use.
Then, simply head to the shower, wash and condition as you usually do, and pour the water over your locks. Gently tie your hair up or cover with a shower cap and let sit for 10 to 20 minutes. Finally, rinse and carry on with your regular hair care routine.
Never apply rice water to dry hair, as it could cause dryness and damage. When starting out, use the treatment only once a week and adjust as needed, depending on your hair type and condition.