Rice is a staple food for many regions. Due to its easy availability in many countries like China and Japan, it has become part of the people’s diet as well as a beauty regimen.

Found in rice water are nutrients that play a key role in the health of the skin and hair. Rice has vitamins B, C, E, minerals and eight essential amino acids that promote overall health and beauty.

Rice water is the milky white solution you get after soaking or boiling rice. To bring out most of its benefits, it can be fermented, concentrated or diluted.

Two Ways To Make Rice Water – Boiling and Without Boiling

Rice water with boiling:

Wash 1 cup of organic rice with clean water. Cook the rice in an uncovered pan with 3 cups of water. After the rice is cooked, strain the water into a clean container.

After allowing the rice water to cool down, store it in an airtight container and place in the refrigerator for up to 1 week. You can dilute 1 to 2 tablespoon of this solution in 1 cup of water. Get a barely milky-looking mixture by stirring it. You can now use the mixture for your beauty regimen.

Rice water without boiling:

Rinse 1 cup of organic rice with water and add 2 cups of water to it. Allow it to sit for 15 to 30 minutes. Stir it and then drain the water into another bowl.

Use a clean container for storing the water and then, place it in the refrigerator for 3 to 4 days. Shake it well before using it.

If you want to allow fermentation before storing it in the refrigerator, you can keep the rice water at room temperature for 2 days. To use the fermented rice, you must dilute it with plain water in a ratio of 1:3. Once it is ready, you can now use it in your daily hair and skincare routine.

Here Are The Benefits Of Rice Water For Skin and Hair

Helps Improve Hair Health

Rice water can make your hair strong, soft, and healthy by strengthening the hair shaft and filling in the cracks. Protein in rice water is good for your hair as your hair is made up of protein. Additionally, inositol, which is a kind of carbohydrate found in rice water can prevent hair damage and keep it healthy and soft.

Pour rice water diluted with plain water on your hair after shampooing. Gently massage your scalp for 10 minutes and then, rinse it thoroughly with plain water. Follow this hair treatment 2 or 3 times a week.

You can add a few drops of essential oils to the rice water before using it for extra nourishment.

Helps Tame Frizzy Hair

Rice water is needed if you have frizzy and unmanageable hair. The good amount of protein present in rice water can deep condition your hair, as well as help,  detangle and improves its elasticity.

Shampoo your hair and use cool water to rinse it thoroughly. Mix 1 part fermented rice water and 3 parts of bath water so that it remains only slightly cloudy. Use this mixture as a final rinse. Repeat this treatment once or twice a week for best results.

Helps Soothe Irritated Skin

The starch in rice water can soothe inflammation and skin irritation and also an effective remedy in treating dry skin lesions of eczema.

For skin irritation or inflammation, just add a few cups of rice water to warm bathwater. Soak your body in this water for 15 to 20 minutes, twice daily.

Helps Improve Skin Complexion

Rice water helps remove toxins from the skin, reduces inflammation, and improves elasticity and skin complexion. Plus, it prevents aging spots and hyperpigmentation.

Soak a cotton pad in diluted rice water and apply it on your clean face like a toner. Allow it to sit for 5 to 10 minutes while massaging in circular motions for several times. Rinse it off with lukewarm water. Do this at least once daily.

Helps Make Skin Soft

Rice water keeps your skin soft and moisturized. The protein in it prevents water loss to moisturize the longer. Similarly, its antioxidants help in reducing free radical damages caused by sun exposure, environmental factors, and aging.

Dilute rice water with cool water in the ratio of 1:2. Soak a washcloth in this solution and place it on your clean face. Leave it for 15 minutes or more. Gently wash your face with the leftover rice water to get soft, smooth skin. Finally, rinse your face with plain water.

Helps Tighten Skin Pores

Contributing to different types of problems like acne and blackheads is the open or large pores on the skin. People with oily skin usually have open pores. Rice water is effective at fighting this irritating problem as it works as a natural astringent to tighten and tone your skin. It reduces large pores and restores the skin’s pH balance.

Dilute rice water with an equal amount of water and soak a cotton ball in it and apply it on your face. Let it sit for 15 to 20 minutes and rinse it off. Use this remedy every night after cleansing your face. For best results.