Many of us are desperate for ways to grow our hair longer faster.
It can be so frustrating that your hair hits a certain length and then nothing. It’s like a never ending bad hair day.
Leaving some to wonder why they can’t get the long hair so many seem to get so easily.
Which may be why we flock to videos promoting the hair growing abilities of rice water.
But is the buzz real or just another dumb myth? Like the myths that claim split ends can be repaired or dry shampoo is as good a regular shampoo?
Maybe it’s time to set the record straight.
So if you’re wondering things like how long does it take for rice water to grow your hair here’s a quick take in two words. It won’t.
Sorry to be a buzz kill. I know that is not what you want to hear.
But this rinse isn’t something that’s going to affect the natural hair growth cycle the least little bit.
Sorry, it’s just not.
Now I can see why you’d think it would. Some are making outright crazy claims about the power of rice water rinse for hair growth. We’ll look at a few when we explore:
Quick Section Navigation
- Crazy Claims Of How Rice Water Helps In Hair Growth
- Annoying Rice Water Hair Growth Challenges
- How Much Can Hair Grow In A Month
- Hair Growth Cycle Chart
We’ll also look into the why behind the fact it’s of no help as well.
First there’s the
Crazy Claims Of How Rice Water Helps In Hair Growth
Go ahead. Try to confirm the benefits of rice water for hair growth on YouTube.
You’ll be bombarded with bombarded with videos showing smiling users who are stretching their hair to show how long it is. Claiming it was rice water that helped them achieve fast, extreme hair growth.
Got a few problems with that.
First NONE of this has been tested scientifically.
One of the commonly quoted experts in hair growth field, Dr. Zeichner told the PowWow website this. “Despite its popularity, there is no real data showing that it (that would be rice water) truly enhances hair growth.”
Hmmmm.
If that’s the case how did we even get here? Blame it on the Yao. Or at least those who have hijacked their story or taken it to incredible heights.
I’m not trying to be snarky. But some of the unfounded claims made by youtubers are beyond belief.
But because we want to believe there’s something that causes hair growth to explode too many fall for this.
Look at the claims being made.
One YouTuber claimed 3 inches of hair growth in one week. One week!
Another claimed amazing growth. Problem is she only offered an after shot without bothering with one from before.
That triggered a comment: “No before picture only an after shot while acting all shocked. Great theatrical performance. One I’m not buying.” Yet her video has over half a million views.
Another titled her video something to the effect of “Extreme Hair Growth From Rice Water”.
Only at the very end of the video did she point out…. “Did my hair grow longer? Honestly I can’t tell because I didn’t measure it beforehand. I can’t tell if it’s longer.”
Talk about dishonest.
Not feeling the extreme hair growth outta that confession.
One person commeting observed,“Yeah it’s all lies to get more views and subscribers.” Ouch!
And then there’s the
Annoying Rice Water Hair Growth Challenge
When you see anyone break out their stripped tops you can bet you’re watching a video showing the power of rice water for hair growth.
I’ve seen videos of some 5 to 7 day challenges where the rice water was sprayed on the shaft alone. Yet dramatic growth was claimed.
WE CALL BS: There is nothing you can spray on the hair shaft to make your hair grow. Because “the follicle is usually the focus for hair growth treatments.” This fact was pointed out by Dr. Unger, hair restoration expert in Seventeen magazine.
Sure what’s found in rice water can be helpful for strengthening the hair shaft.
And having stronger shafts usually means your hair has a chance to grow longer before breaking off.
But it won’t stimulate hair growth.
Knowing that some go to extremes to create “evidence” of success.
One youtuber clearly had added a clip in to her demonstration of 7 day growth. Really? That caused one person to comment that she hates clickbait.
But it also didn’t stop views. Over 2 million in a year.
Others do crazy things like apply a rice water rinse daily. The only thing that’s gonna do is cause your hair to overdose on protein. Then you go a whole ‘nother problem.
WE CALL BS: Using any protein treatment daily is totally cray cray and just asking for dry, frizzy hair.
Another person was shocked by the growth she experienced. Shocked I say. Just like the famous line uttered by Captain Renault in the movie Casa Blanca. And about as credible.
WE CALL BS: Where is the proof there is anything in rice water rinse that stimulates hair growth?
If anything it’s just the opposite. Dermatologist Dennis Gross said this on Refinery29.com. “There are no scientific studies or data to prove that rice water actually grows hair.”
You have to ask why do we so willingly fall for stuff like this?
Well first photos of Yao women are compelling. You can’t deny they do have long, thick hair.
But maybe those photos should come with a disclaimer like those on weight loss ads. “Results not typical.”
Plus hair science site Philip Kingsley made this interesting observation. “The anagen phase is generally longer in people of Asian descent, and can last as much as 7 years — meaning your hair may be able to grow up to 3 feet long!”
That may in part explain the forever hair you see Yao women showing off.
Second we fall for this rinse fix because we like things that are easy. And rice water is certainly easy as our look at the process of making and applying a DIY rice water rinse for hair shows.
Bottom line: Can you trust the examples of rice water hair growth results you see on youtube? I’d have to say no.
Here’s some scientific reasons why not.
How Much Can Hair Grow In A Month
Any Google searches on topics like “can you speed up the growth of hair” or “how to grow hair faster in a month” or “how can I speed up hair growth” invariably come back to the limits of hair biology.
While I can’t say how fast your hair grows the American Academy of Dermatology offers a rule of thumb. They state that on average “the hair on your head grows about 6 inches a year.”
Others experts agree stating hair generally grows at between a quarter to half an inch a month.
Period.
Full stop.
So while we all would love help getting our locks to grow longer, thicker and fuller fast or faster, ain’t a gonna happen. For sure not anywhere near overnight no matter what claims you see online.
I know, right?
Besides hair grows in a well understood cycle.
Hair Growth Cycle Chart
Understanding the hair growth cycle can also help you see why rice water might not make much difference.
Since we aren’t exploring hair growth per se I won’t dwell on that too much.
But this diagram shows the three phases of hair growth cycle to give you an idea of what goes on when hair grows.
You see, hair basically cycles through these different stages or phases:
- Anagen phase – active growth which can last from 2-7 years depending on your genes
- Catagen phase – transitional where growth stops – 2-3 weeks to transition
- Telogen phase – resting – a few months of resting
Then the process begins all over again as long as the follicle lives.
So for those wondering what is order of the three phases of the hair growth cycle, there you go.
But the big takeaway here is growth action takes place under the scalp. Putting something on the strands is NOT going to make that happen any faster.
So to wrap this up there’s no shortage of experts willing to go on the record confirming there are no studies to back up claims of any, much less phenomenal, hair growth due to using a rice water rinse.
Plus how fast you hair grows comes down to genetics and maybe age.
Plus maybe what you do to it that helps or hinders the health of your scalp.
Taken collectively they may help stimulate a little faster growth.
But it’s unlikely there is anything you can that can trigger uncontrollable hair growth.
Besides, if this really worked don’t you think everyone would be doing it?
Debunking myths. Not always popular. But if you want to turn heads please follow our Pinterst boards so you get ideas that actually work. Not those we wish did.
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