Are you struggling with hair growth and dull hair? A rice water rinse for curly hair could be the protein boost your hair needs.
Here’s the recipe and the 411 on what you should know about this homemade beauty product.
The key to helping curly hair flourish is using natural products and treatments that will improve your hair elasticity and the overall condition of your hair.
Two main hair goals for many Curlies like me, are:
- maintaining healthy hair
- and stimulating hair growth.
Despite the common misconception that natural hair doesn’t grow past a certain length, curly hair will grow when it’s cared for properly.
This post may contain affiliate links, which means I’ll receive a commission if you purchase through my links, at no extra cost to you. Please read full disclosure for more information.
Table of Contents
Why do you need a Rice Water Rinse for Curly Hair?
More recently, the rice water treatment has become a popular method within the curly hair community for achieving beautiful hair and growth of hair.
Rice contains many beneficial properties which makes it a great supplement to your hair care regimen. It has been used as a beauty recipe for hundreds of years with some incredible results.
So when my hair became dull after having experienced too much sun and salty sea water in Turks and Caicos, I wondered if a rice water rinse for curly hair could be the change my hair needed.
After doing some research I ended up using this rice water rinse recipe. The result: my curls came back from the dead.
How to make a rice water hair treatment
Making a rice water rinse for curly hair is very easy and the great thing about it is you should have everything you need in your cupboards at home.
The idea behind the recipe is to let the rice ferment for a period of time so the water becomes infused with much protein and other beneficial properties that your curls will love.
Easy recipe for a rice water treatment (fermented rice water so no boiling):
Step 1
Take half a cup of rice and rinse it through until the water runs clear.
Step 2
Add 2 to 3 cups of water to the rice and place in a tightly sealed jar.
Step 3
Let the rice ferment for anywhere between 12 to 24 hours at room temperature.
Some users believe that the longer the rice is soaked the more beneficial the rinse will be, because of a longer fermentation process. Yet, you have to be careful of attracting bacteria.
Step 4
Strain the rice water into a clean container or a spray bottle for easy application. Use the rinse straight away or place it in the refrigerator until you are ready.
Step 5
If you feel like it you can add a few drops of castor, jojoba or coconut oil to your liking. Some even mix it with essential oils.
My favourite is Monoi Oil because I love the seriously beautiful natural scent.
Whatever you choose, keep in mind rice water treatments can be refrigerated for up to a week. This leaves plenty of time for your curls to reap the benefits.
What type of rice do you need to use?
It doesn’t matter if you use brown or white rice. Basically, you can use any type of rice but it goes without saying that organic rice is the better option, since it didn’t come in contact with any pesticides.
I use parboiled rice because I have this at home. It’s what I eat regularly but it’s also known for its fiber and protein packed characteristics. Still, if you use plain white rice it shouldn’t be a problem.
How do you use a curly hair rice water rinse?
Once you’ve allowed the rice water to ferment it’s ready to use! Since the main use of the rice water method is to help with hair growth, it should be applied to your scalp.
- Wash hair with shampoo to remove oil, debris and product build up
- Rinse your hair thoroughly with water.
- Use a spray bottle to apply the rice water rinse to your scalp and ends.
- Let the rinse sit for no longer than 20 minutes (you can use a shower cap)
- Rinse your hair and style as normal
For the best results, the rice water rinse should be used whenever you wash your curls. Yet, avoid using it for long periods of time as that’s when you may experience dryness or flaking.
If you have low porosity hair only apply the treatment 1 or 2 times a month. So no daily use.
Additionally, applying rice water on dry hair is not recommended. Instead, always apply it to wet hair so it can be rinsed out easily.
Can you leave rice water on hair overnight?
Rice water is a highly concentrated rinse. This means it doesn’t require a long application time in order to see results.
It’s not necessary or recommended to apply rice water as an overnight treatment as it can contribute to hair breakage and the growth of yeast and bacteria.
What type of hair can you use it on?
The rice water method can be used on all natural hair types including tight coils and loose ringlets.
However, because of the protein levels in rice water, those who have protein-sensitive hair or low porosity hair should be mindful as you’ll want to avoid protein overload.
Having said that, as long as the rinse is used in moderation it can still improve the condition and growth rate of your curly hair.
Can rice water make your hair worse?
A rice water rinse is a treatment and this means it doesn’t need to be used as often as a hair mask or regular styling products.
Everyone’s hair is different so the results will vary, but if you use the rice water method properly and take note of how your hair responds, the rinse should work with your hair and not against it.
Your hair may feel a little dry after application. To avoid this, make sure to rinse the rice water out thoroughly and avoid using the rinse too often to prevent ‘protein overload’.
There are so many incredible benefits of using the rice water method that will almost certainly outweigh any side effects such as dryness.
To boil or not to boil?
There are different ways to create this rice water rinse for curly hair. You can either:
- create a rice water ferment like I did,
- just soak the rice for 30 minutes (this is the easiest method)
- or boil the rice like you would do when cooking rice (a.k.a. the boiling method).
So which method is the best? Probably the 30 minute soak because this is the easiest.
If you choose the boiling method you should be mindful to over boiling and diminishing the nutrients and thus benefits.
If you’re wondering if it’s better to boil the rice before using it as a rinse, you might find this interesting to read:
“We researched the histories of the hairstyles and hair care practices of Japanese women, and found a very close relationship between the two.
For example, the court ladies of the Heian Period, whose beautiful long hair, called suberakashi, reached to the floor, were said to have combed their hair each day using Yu-Su-Ru (rinse water obtained from the washing of rice).”
S. Inamasu,R. Ikuyama,Y. Fujisaki,K.-I. Sugimoto, page 29, abstract of a paper published in the International Journal of Cosmetic Chemists (SCCJ), Volume 44, No. 1, 2010.
This historical example could mean you don’t need to boil the rice to increase hair health or even boost hair growth. However, I would advise you to make a choice based on your own preference.
What are the benefits of using rice water rinse for curly hair?
As mentioned, there are a long list of benefits of using the rice water method on curly hair.
Although the main hook is that rice water promotes amazing hair growth, its properties can improve the condition of your curls in many other ways.
Rice water is for example rich in:
- Vitamin B
- Vitamin E
- Zinc
- Proteins
- Amino acids
- Magnesium
- Fibers
These vitamins and minerals can work wonders for natural hair. Just look at the Japanese court ladies who used rice water to grow floor-length hair.
Even today it’s been said Yao women use it to grow their hair 6 feet long on average!
The top benefits of rice water include:
- Less frizz: Flyaway hair and frizziness can be a real problem for those with curly hair but rice water can improve elasticity and smooth hair strands for a reduction in frizz.
- Added shine: The incredible blend of vitamins within rice water helps to add a beautiful shine to your hair so your curls appear bouncy and silky.
- Improved curl definition while maintaining length: if your hair is frizzy the rice water can help improve your curl definition without creating a lot of shrinkage.
- Hair growth: The amino acids and blends of other important vitamins contribute to hair regeneration and provide a thickening effect on the hair shaft.
If you want to improve your curl pattern and the condition of your hair, then natural treatments are always a great idea and they’re packed full of incredible properties.
For increased hair growth and healthier hair, try your own rice water rinse today and you could see amazing results for your curls, coils and kinks!
Sources: Wiley Online Library | Healthline | Cleveland Clinic
About the author
Angela is a curly girl and has been a beauty blogger since 2012. Because of her passion for beauty and hair, she has been a certified makeup artist since 2016 and has done multiple hair styling trainings. As a cosmetics lover, she writes reviews on cosmetics and provides different solutions that facilitate your daily beauty and curls routine.