Why's everyone so excited about rice water?

 

Because it's great stuff!!!

I began using rice water about a year and a half ago, after researching its numerous benefits. As my hair is fine, I was keen to find something to give it more body. I can honestly say it's been a game-changer. It was as if my hair had forgotten that it was supposed to actually grow, and rice water reminded it.

There are several methods and recipes, but here's how I initially used it:

Way 1

Ingredients

1 cup of white rice

600 mls water

Method

Wash the rice then pour the water onto it and leave for 24 hours. Make sure it's in an air-tight container.

To Use

- Strain off the rice and transfer to a spray bottle.

- After you have washed your hair, spray the rice water onto you scalp, ensuring       the whole scalp is covered.

- Work it in with your fingers. This also gives your scalp a good massage, encouraging blood circulation and stimulating growth. (I would recommend exploiting any opportunity to massage your scalp). 

- Drench all of your strands, roots to ends with the rice water and leave for around 30 minutes. Work it into your hair strands, being careful not to rub harshly.

- I usually cover with a plastic cap.

- Rinse out and follow up with your conditioner.

- Continue with your usual routine.

Way 2 - Even faster!

The next time you're having rice for dinner, after the final wash, pour more water onto the rice, rub the rice  grains for a few minutes to release its nutrients,  then pour this water into your spray bottle and voila!

Use as above.

Way 3 - Yao Women

Ingredients;

1 cup of rice

600 mls of water

Grapefruit peel of one grapefruit, cut into pieces.

Method

- Rinse rice a couple of times.

- Cover the rice with the water and give it a good rub. This will help to release  beneficial nutrients into the water.

- Strain off the rice, and pour the remaining water into a pot, with the grapefruit peel and bring to the boil.

- Allow to simmer for a few minutes and turn off.

- When it's cool, cover with an airtight container and leave in a dark cupboard to ferment for 1 week or more.

- Use as in `Way 1' above. 

What I Found...

There are numerous other methods and ingredients, but remember, FMK only uses ingredients 'From My Kitchen', which I have found to be gentle and problem-free, hence the use of grapefruit peel for a beautiful, citrussy scent, rather than essential oils, which I am unable to use (see my July blog, `debunking'). However, if you know your own hair and are happy to try other combinations - feel free!

Way 2 is great for when you need the rice water in a hurry - I used this method for almost a year and I still achieved great results - much faster hair growth, and with more body.  However, I would definitely recommend Way 3 if you have the time. I love it because of its authentic feel, as it's close to what the originators - the Yao Women of China - use, and they're renown for they're amazingly long, healthy hair. Also, it's fun! (I guess I just love making and trying my own products!)

I also must mention that it's great at stemming hair shedding if you have a problem in this area. The more hair retention you have, the more hair you'll have.  

Yao Women

Here's a link I found hugely beneficial whilst investigating rice water: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K9Ie7aeyYqg

I also follow Curly Hair Proverbz, as she's one of the few vloggers who are all about hair DIY, like me. Unfortunately, she's completely oversubscribed, so I wasn't able to add her to my reading list. Here's a link: 

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL_TDcGl2fgDT4N1lMis4_FtMuUy9Gw1a5

A Word of Caution

I used rice water for over a year, weekly and my hair was very happy with it.  However, my hair was recovering from lots of trauma, and I found once it had stabilised and was happily growing, it no longer required such a heavy infusion of protein.  It eventually began to look a little dull, and now that I better understand the way my hair communicates its health (or lack of it), I recognised  there was a need to change to something more moisturising.  More about that in future posts...

Also, It's important to follow up with a good conditioner, as it can be a little drying.  However,  I would highly recommend using any of the rice water methods above, as they seem to be gentle options for encouraging rapid and healthy growth.  I'll just stress again - pay close attention to the appearance and feel of your hair, as what works  for you now may not work a year or two down the line! Factors such as hormones, age (aging up or down!) as well as your diet and environment, all play a role in the health of your hair. 

So go ahead, enjoy your hair unapologetically and I'll see you again with my next post!