Seldom have you thought that the frothy, starch-filled water you throw away after rinsing and washing rice could serve as a magical remedy for your skin, hair, and health? This miraculous water has been used for ages because of its tremendous rice water benefits. It is one of the longest-known yet best-kept beauty secrets for flawless skin and healthy hair. Here is more to know about various rice water benefits and how to use it for skin, hair, and health.
What is Rice Water?
Rice is a nourishing grain that contains numerous nutrients. When you soak rice for a while and rinse it well, these nutrients are released into the cloudy-milky water, which you often throw away. Also, you get starch-filled water when you boil rice for some time. This water contains various essential minerals and vitamins such as Vitamin B6 and amino acids that can benefit your skin and hair.
Women have been applying this water to their skin and hair to increase luster and shine, enhance softness, and strengthen hair. Regular application of rice water protects against damaging effects on your skin, hair, and health.
Rice Water Benefits
Rice water is a prime ingredient of Korean cuisine. They use it for cooking various dishes like stews. Moreover, they use rice water to wash and braise fish as it instantly takes away all the stinky smell. Rather than throwing the water loaded with vitamins and minerals into the sink, the people in Korea use it to deodorize their plastic containers, cleanse their dishes, and fertilize their plants. Rice water is also the secret behind the unblemished beauty of Korean women.
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Rice water contains antioxidants, vitamins B6 and E, starch, carbohydrates, polysaccharides, amino acids, and organic acids. Further, fermented rice also contains a compound called inositol. It can fight free radicals and revive breakage and damage in hair. Another component in fermented rice called Pitera ensures cell renewal. Surprisingly, several studies suggest the beneficial effects of rice water for maintaining healthy hair and youthful skin.
Benefits of Rice Water for Skin
Rice water works as a magical potion to treat your skin issues and hair problems. Rice water has been used in Ancient India, Japan, and Korea as an effective Ayurvedic medicine. Using rice water regularly can moisturize your skin and reduce dryness. It reduces irritation in sensitive skin and decreases symptoms of dermatitis.
You can use rice water to cleanse and tone your skin. Regular use of rice water can reduce hyper-pigmentation, aging spots, and tanning. Further, it can help you get the much-desired glass skin with a porcelain finish. Rice water tightens and illuminates your skin, thereby providing a refreshing appearance. Regular use of rice water also increases blood circulation to your facial skin.
Furthermore, regular application of rice water on your skin reduces pore size leaving silky soft skin. Rice water works as a skin-lightening serum by reducing spots and pigmentation. This natural, zero-waste beauty serum works wonders for acne and skin blemishes. The starch in rice water soothes the inflammation of eczema.
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Benefits of Rice Water for Hair
Rice water works as a natural conditioner and softening agent for hair. Regular use of rice water can make your hair thick, fuller, and healthier. Women in the Chinese community swear by the miraculous benefits of fermented rice water. They use it regularly to keep their hair healthy, strong, shiny, and long.
Rice water also removes frizz and improves elasticity, making it easier to detangle the hair. Some proven benefits of rice water for hair include reducing hair thinning, softening and strengthening hair strands, reviving hair damage, and promoting hair growth.
How to Prepare Rice Water for Hair and Skin?
You can prepare a basic recipe for rice water by soaking one cup of rice in one cup of water. First, take the rice in a bowl and rinse them well with water. Then, add a cup of water to the rinsed rice and let it sit for some time. Strain and save the water for later use. Let the water sit at room temperature for 12-24 hours. During this time, the water will get fermented and beneficial microbes will develop.
You can store this fermented water in the refrigerator and use it for about a week. Apply it directly on your scalp, hair, and skin or mix it with grooming products like hair masks, shampoo, and skincare products. Moreover, leave rice water on your scalp for about 20-30 minutes before rinsing it off.
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How to Apply Rice Water to Skin?
Take some rice water in a bowl. Soak a cotton ball or corner of a washcloth in the rice water. Gently dab and apply all over your face. You can do this twice a day, once in the morning and once in the evening. Do not wipe your face. Let the rice water dry naturally on your skin.
For faster results, you can apply rice water before going to bed. In addition, you can add rice water to your face mask, scrub, foot soak, or into your bathtub while bathing. Also, add other ingredients like almond or coconut oil for better moisturization, lavender oil for soothing irritated skin, and aloe vera gel for better healing and reducing itchiness.
How to Apply Rice Water to Hair?
Applying rice water benefits to your hair is quite simple. Apart from fermented water, you can use freshly prepared rice water. First, boil some rice in water. Let the rice sit in water for a while, collect this water in a separate container, and let it cool down to room temperature. Rinse your hair thoroughly with this water after the usual shampooing and conditioning regimen.
Alternatively, you can fill rice water in a
Spray Bottle“>spray bottle and gently spray and massage it into your scalp. It will help your hair absorb the essential vitamins and nutrients from the rice water. Use rice water to rinse your hair twice a week for better results.
Rice water benefits are safe for your skin and hair. It is non-irritating, non-toxic, and suitable for all skin types. However, if you have sensitive skin or are allergic to rice, test it on a small patch of skin first and use it in a small amount. If you notice side effects, stop using it further. To conclude, there is no scientific evidence to prove the effectiveness of rice water on the skin and hair. However, Asian women have been using it for ages to soften their skin and strengthen their hair.
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