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What is Rice Water?

Source shutterstock.com l Rice Water

Individuals around the world are tempted to spend on luxe skin and haircare products that comes in exquisite packaging, and with most intoxicating fragrance. However, did you know that the humble Rice Water is literally all you need for your lustrous tresses and radiant skin? Rice water is one of the Asia’s best kept secrets that has a galore of benefits. Moreover, it is chemical-free and this natural ingredient has been used by women from past several centuries to treat as a skin and hair treatment.

The components found in rice water makes it one of the potent ingredients for hair and skin. About 10% of the composition is lipids and triglycerides and 16% of it is protein, which is the most crucial for cell heath. Starch makes about 9% of the solution. Besides these the other components in the Rice Water include phytic acid, inositol, carbs and inorganic substances. These are the elements released when you boil a handful of rice in 2 cups of water.

To make this liquid more potent, the rice water is fermented, which has added benefits. In fact, fermented rice water is considered as the elixir of youth. A natural by-product known as Pitera is released during fermentation process, which boosts cells regeneration. Besides this, it is also rich in amino acids, vitamins and minerals, which are all essential anti-ageing components.

Many celebrities from Aishwarya Rai Bachchan to Freida Pinto, Anne Hathaway and Juliette Binoche swear by rice water. So, next time when you prepare rice, save the excess water to include in your beauty treatment. Your skin and hair will love it!

Rice Water Benefits and Uses: Learn how to Use an Age Old Ingredient

Rice Water for Hair

Source shutterstock.com l Shining hair

Rice water is an effective home remedy and is being used since centuries. Women in Japan, China and Southeast Asia have been using this remedy for centuries to obtain lustrous hair. Rice Water is a starchy water, which is obtained by either soaking the rice or boiling it for a while and filtering the mixture. It might seem like a simple solution filled with starch, but it is composed of many essential compounds, minerals, vitamin E and B, amino acids and antioxidants. Here are the various benefits of rice water:

Benefits:

  • Rice water is rich in nutrients so it adds shine and volume to the hair and also makes it frizz-free.
  • It boosts hair growth and keeps the hair healthy.
  • Regular use of rice water makes the strands of the hair strong and seals split ends.
  • Rice water also help in detangling the hair and make it look smoother and fuller.
  • The compound inositol present in rice water helps greatly to repair damaged and bleached hair.
  • The essential carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals present in rice water makes the scalp follicles healthy. It also moisturizes the scalp.
  • When fermented rice water is used on hair, it helps get rid of dandruff and flaky scalp as the compounds inhibit the growth of dandruff causing fungi.

How to Use Rice Water for Hair

Source shutterstock.com l Rice water for hair

Rice water on hair may be used in three different ways as per user preference and results expected from the remedy. Rice water is used as a conditioner, a shampoo and a hair mask.

    As a Conditioner

    Time to say goodbye to the cosmetic conditioner and replace it with all natural, homemade rice water. Here’s how to use rice water as a conditioner:

  • After washing the hair with mild shampoo, rinse thoroughly to wash off any leftover shampoo.
  • Then apply rice water to hair and scalp and massage it gently.
  • Leave it on for about 20 minutes and then rinse with warm water.

  • As a Shampoo

    Making rice water shampoo is very simple and requires only a few ingredients that are easily available. Follow these steps to make this nutrient rich rice water DIY shampoo at home:

  • Take a cup of rice water in a mixing bowl, add one tablespoon of shikakai powder and quarter cup of aloe vera extract.
  • Mix the contents thoroughly.
  • Then add 2 tablespoons of Castile or baby shampoo and mix it well to form a solution.
  • Transfer this solution into a shampoo bottle and store it in the refrigerator. Use it as a regular shampoo when required.

  • As a Hair Mask

  • Rice water is a very effective hair mask, which is applied in two ways. One where it is directly applied to the hair as a mask without adding any other ingredient. Here, wash hair with shampoo and then using rice water massage the scalp gently for 5minutes. Let it remain on the hair and scalp for about 15-20 minutes. Wash it with warm water.
  • In the second method, a paste is made. Take fermented rice water in a cup and add olive oil and mustard powder to it. Mix them well to form a paste, later apply this mask onto the hair and let it remain for about 20 minutes. Rinse it off with warm water.

Rice Water for Skin

Source shutterstock.com l Glowing skin

Rice water is one of the best home remedies for maintaining a healthy, and glowing skin. Here are some of the benefits of rice water on skin, though there are claims of its benefits, but some of these have not been scientifically proven yet.

Benefits:

  • Regular use of rice water is known to reduce dark patches and lighten the skin tone eventually. It is actually found in many cosmetic products like creams, soaps and toners, etc.
  • Fermented rice water has many benefits on the skin. It is a natural sunscreen. It helps repair skin from sun damage and the collagen content present in the fermented rice water helps to delays wrinkles and keeps the skin soft.
  • Rice water is a great remedy for dry skin as it prevents irritation and dryness of skin.
  • It soothes the skin and removes any blemishes that are a result of other skin conditions like acne, eczema, inflammation and rashes.
  • Rice water makes the best sunscreen when mixed with plant extracts to protect skin from sun damage.

How to Use Rice Water for Skin

Source shutterstock.com l Rice water face pack

Rice water on skin is usable either directly or by adding another ingredient or a natural fragrance to it. Always remember to dilute the rice water while using fermented rice water or boiled rice water. Here are different ways to use rice water on the skin:

    Cleanser and Toner
  • Rice water is the all-natural cleanser and toner. Dip a cotton ball into the rice water and gently smooth onto the face and neck area as a toner. Massage it on the face for 5 minutes to use it as cleanser and rinse it off with warm water and pat dry.

  • Body Scrub
  • A natural exfoliating agent is easy to prepare with rice water by just adding sea salt, citrus and essential oil to it. Mix it well to form a paste and rub onto the skin and rinse. It helps to remove impurities and prep the skin for the next step in the skin care routine.

  • Bath Soak
  • Rice water is a soothing ingredient that is added to form a DIY bath soak. Take rice water, grated natural bar soap and vitamin E. Combine these well to obtain a bath soak.

  • Mask
  • Make a rice water face mask with a sheet of tissue paper and apply it on the face. Use this at least twice a week for visible results.

  • Sunscreen
  • Although it is one of the best natural sunscreens when combined with the plant extracts, it is quite a task to do at home. This is because all the ingredients required for this is not available in our everyday kitchen. So, the best and easy way to benefit is to buy a sunscreen that contains rice water extracts in it. It provides improved protection from UVA and UVB.

How to Make Rice Water at Home – A Simple Guide

Source shutterstock.com l Make Rice Water at Home

By now, we know the benefits of rice water and how it helps us to maintain better hair and skin. Making rice water is simple and is easily doable at home. Rice water is prepared in 2 different ways and all of them require basic ingredients, everything that’s found in the kitchen. Here are different ways to make rice water at home:

1. Cold Brewing Rice Water

Source bing.com l Cold Brewing Rice Water
    This is suggested for tropical climate and involves only four simple steps.

    Rinse.
  • The first step is to rinse the rice thoroughly using a strainer, ensure that the holes are small enough to prevent the rice grains from escaping. Add half a cup of rice onto the strainer and rinse it to clean the rice.

  • Soak.
  • The next step is to soak the rice. Transfer the content from the strainer to a bowl. Add about three times water to a measure of rice and soak the mixture for about 30-40 minutes.

  • Stir.
  • After soaking the rice for 30 minutes and above, the water is soaked into the rice. Stir the mixture well and press the rice gently with a spoon or fingers. This will release the vitamins and minerals in the rice into the water.

  • Strain.
  • Then strain the water into the container by using a fine sieve. The rice water done with this procedure stays upto a week when refrigerated. For immediate use, strain the rice water into a bowl.

2. Fermenting Cold Brew

Source greatist.com l Fermenting rice water
    Fermenting cold brew for potency involves the following steps:

    Cold brew.
  • If the cold brew is already prepared in the same procedure mentioned above and refrigerated, then simply remove it from the fridge and allow it to come to room temperature. If not, start a fresh batch by taking half a cup of rice in a large bowl and soak it in three times water as compared to the quantity of the rice taken. Then cover the bowl with a lid and let it sit.

  • Ferment.
  • Allow the mixture to ferment for anywhere between 18 to 48 hours. Remove the lid and smell the mixture time to time, when it starts to smell sour that means it is ready. The time frame to get to this stage varies based on whether cold brew is being used or a fresh batch along with rice is kept for fermenting. Mixture that has not been strained takes about 12-24hours to ferment and strained liquid takes about 20-48hours to ferment. Along with this, temperature also plays an important role in the time required for fermentation.

  • Boil.
  • For cold brew, the rice water is boiled in a sauce pan on medium heat. In case, of fresh batch which contains the rice, strain the mixture and then boil the rice water. Boiling prevents further fermentation however it is not a mandatory procedure.

  • Storage.
  • For immediate use, let the rice water cool down to avoid scalding. For later use, transfer the rice water to a container with lid and refrigerate it. Add some water before using to dilute it when necessary.

Skin Care Products with Rice Water

The Rice Water Hydrating Elixir

Source desertcart.in l The Rice Water Hydrating Elixir

The Rice Water Hydrating Elixir is a premium leave-in spray that is crafted to hydrate and moisturize your tresses. The oil-free, fragrant, probiotic-rich and protein-free leave-in conditioner helps stimulate hair growth and cleanses your hair without stripping away natural oils. The anti-fungal and anti-bacterial properties help to get rid of itchy and flaky scalp and give a perfect shine.

The nutrient’s in this fermented rice water balance the pH level of the hair and nourishes the hair follicles thereby improving the overall condition of the scalp and hair. The leave-in conditioner is also enriched with Aloe Vera. The proteolytic enzymes in aloe vera is a great conditioner that gives a smooth and shiny appearance to hair. It also prevents itching, promotes hair growth, conditions hair and reduces dandruff. The serum is available on Desert Cart for Rs. 8,309.

The Face Shop Rice & Ceramide Moisturizing Toner

Source nykaa.com l The Face Shop Rice & Ceramide Moisturizing Toner

The Facial Toner is enriched with ingredients such as rice extracts, ceramide, rice bran oil, which gives a rich texture and makes your skin smooth and soft. The rice extract also has other benefits like moisturizing skin, exfoliating dead cells and whitening effect. It also reduces freckles, dark spots and even skin tone. The ceramide prevents moisture loss. The fine particles of ceramide are easily absorbed by the skin acting as a shield. The toner is ideal for normal and sensitive skin. The product is available on Nykaa for Rs. 820.

Rice Water Bright Mild Micellar Cleansing Water

Source thefaceshop.in l Rice Water Bright Mild Micellar Cleansing Water

The Rice Water Bright Mild Cleansing Water from the brand Face Shop is an ultra-moisturizing formula that gives a velvety-soft and supple skin. Crafted with moringa oil, soapwort and rice water, the cleansing oil dissolves impurities like dirt and sweat and nourishes dry skin. The other ingredients in the products are Vitamins A, B, E, ceramide and minerals. The cleansing water is gentle on the skin and do not strip the natural moisture of the skin. The product is available on The Face Shop for Rs. 1,013.

Writer
Malathi
Malathi is a freelance content writer offering blogging, ghost-writing, and copywriting services. In addition to developing digital marketing content, she maintains niche websites related to kids, parenting, and pregnancy. Malathi's works have been featured on several prominent blogs and websites. When she is not writing, you will find her exploring exotic locales on our beautiful planet.

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From our editorial team

Enrich the Hair and Skin Using Rice Water.

Rice has many beneficial properties for the hair and skin. Rice water equally has more benefits, some of which include being an anti-fungal and anti-bacterial commodity. Rice water is a product that can be easily made at home, and in the long run, give stunning hair and skin. While there are many different ways of preparing the rice water, it is recommended to carefully follow the method of choice for maximum results.