Sick of living with dry, dull hair?
Kinda embarrassing isn’t it? Especially when others seem to have a shimmering, glossy mane so easily.
What do they know that you don’t that lets them keep their hair in prime-shine condition?
Maybe they are treating their hair to a fermented rice water rinse?
For sure what some feel is a magical elixir seems to having a moment. As people are increasingly curious about using fermented rice water on their hair. Searches for “how to make fermented rice water for hair” in Google are up 147% in the past 12 months.
So it’s definitely a process that has us intrigued. But more than that some are trying it and never looking back. Is that you? Do you want it to be?
To help you get up to speed we did a little research and answered some common questions asked about using fermented rice water for hair.
So here’s some of the questions you’re about to get valuable answers to. Answers that can help you have stand out hair too.
Quick Section Navigation
- What Is Fermented Rice Water?
- How Long Should Rice Water Be Fermented For?
- How Long Does Fermented Rice Water Last?
- The Benefits of Fermented Rice Water Benefits For Hair
- Can You Use Rice Water On Low Porosity Hair?
- Do You Have To Dilute Fermented Rice Water?
- How Often Should You Use Fermented Rice Water?
Before you reach for that bag of Basmati rice you might also want to check out our take on DIY rice water for hair. We answered more questions and included some recipe ideas you may find handy. Just what you need if you’re at all serious about this about becoming a rice water enthusiast.
What Is Fermented Rice Water?
Fermented rice water is simply a cloudy, white rinse that is a result of the natural fermentation process of rice in water.
When poured over your hair it acts like a natural conditioner.
There are three ways to make a rice water rinse for your hair.
You can soak the rice
You can boil it.
Or the most potent option would be to ferment it, usually but not always after boiling.
Now to ferment it is easy. Simply add your rice and water in a jar. Let it sit in the dark at room temp for as long as a week to 10 days to let the natural fermentation process kick in. Warmer temps are better than colder.
This process causes the rice to release its hair friendly nutrients. That would be an array of vitamins, amino acids, anti-oxidants and minerals. Plus starches.
Then strain out the rice and store the liquid in an air tight container in the fridge.
This is then used as a post shampoo conditioner. Although some apply it as a pre shampoo treatment left to sit for like 15-30 minutes before washing.
Warning To Rules Followers: You’ll find there are few hard and fast rules in the world of fermented rice water rinses.
How Long Should Rice Water Be Fermented For?
When it comes to how long should you let rice water ferment the answer is all over the board.
Honestly the answer for how long to let it sit depends on who you ask.
Some say 12-24 hours. Others answer 48 hours. Some say a week or two.
Some leave it age on their counter top. Others stash it in their closet. Kitchen cabinets are used by some.
Oh and you should expect it to smell a little sour.
How Long Does Fermented Rice Water Last?
Yes fermented rice water can go bad.
But you can take steps to insure that happens later rather than sooner. Well a little later anyway.
Like keeping it refrigerated. That can give it a shelf life measured in weeks.
Using an airtight container is another smart move.
That said it might be smarter to control how much you make at a time. Or maybe enough for two to four applications. Then just make more. It’s not like it’s a demanding, time consuming event.
Getting back to it going bad here’s what to look for that tells you yours has reached its expiration date.
Smell bad.
Color change.
Signs of mold or such flourishing on the surface.
Any or all of that says time to pitch and make a fresh batch.
The Benefits of Fermented Rice Water Benefits For Hair
Okay so what does fermented rice water do for your hair? What makes it so special?
To answer that here’s some of the benefits in no particular order.
First it’s a great way to give your hair a shot of protein. So if you’ve done a protein hair strand test and your strands failed this might be your next move.
Then there’s the amino acids. These can help to strengthen your hair shafts. Stronger, more elastic, shafts let’s your hair grow longer before breaking off. It also tends to resist split ends better.
Oh and you won’t want to miss our straight talk about claims for growing hair with rice water. So if you’re looking for idea on how to use rice water for hair growth you’ll definitely want to see what we had to say about this. It might surprise you.
Then there’s the inositol. It’s a carbohydrate released by the rice into the water. It’s thought to have reparative properties. Which is welcome news to all who have over done it with coloring or heat styling.
It’s also thought to aid in strand strengthening. That can’t help but be good for your hair. It is also said to reduce friction leading to smoother strands, less breakage with fewer tangles.
Then given fermented rice water has an acidic pH it helps balance the pH of your scalp and add shine and silky smoothness.
That pH balancing may also be why some have reported it also helped with their dandruff situation.
Finally many who sing the praises of this rinse point to the starch component called inositol. That too adds some spine to otherwise limp strands. To strengthen and prevent breakage.
Of course the real benefit is super glossy, soft, healthy hair. You might think of this rinse as something like a healthy hair wake up.
Can You Use Rice Water On Low Porosity Hair?
Does your hair seem to stubbornly repel moisture?
Does it resist all moisturizing efforts? Almost like conditioners and such just sit on your hair with little to no penetration or hydrating affect.
Does it take forever to dry?
Those might be signs of low porosity hair. Ugh!
Typically the cuticles are tightly clamped shut which is a real pain alright. Which is why some ask “can you use rice water on low porosity hair”. Since there’s no sense in adding insult to injury.
You can. Just not too often.
Why?
Two words. Protein overdose.
Or the risk of it anyway.
It’s easy enough to do with low porosity hair as it is. And when you get down to it a rice water rinse is sorta kinda a protein rinse. Blame all those amino acids floating around in it, you know?
Which only increases the chances of protein overload.
So be careful It can sneak up on you before you know it. And who wants that?
Do You Have To Dilute Fermented Rice Water?
No. Not typically.
This rinse is concentrated and loaded with all sorts of good for your hair stuff. So why water it down?
I can think of only one reason to dilute it. That would be if you are worried about protein overload. Then adding more water would be the thing to do.
How Often Should You Use Fermented Rice Water?
The answer to that question really depends on your hair. So again there is no one size fits all response.
Some use it multiple times a week. Others find they only need to use it a couple times a month.
The thing to be careful of is since this is in essence a natural protein treatment you don’t want to overdo it. Otherwise you risk ending up with dried out strands.
So to find out what works best with your hair it might be best to start using it once a week. See how your hair reacts. And adjust from there.
Some also find this works best when followed by a deep conditioning treatment.
Yeah I know. Unfortunately as I warned earlier there’s a lot of trial and error involved.
Hopefully you now have more of an idea of what this can do for you. And better understand why it is going mainstream and taking the net by storm. With countless beauty bloggers obsessed with the high-shine swearing it is a must have for those looking to plump up and rev up the shine factor of their locks.
Embarrassed by your hair? It’s likely we have the fresh ideas you need for keeping your hair in prime shine condition. Whether it’s with a rice water rinse or some other hidden gem not easily found. Why not follow our Pinterest boards to keep up on the latest and greatest?
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