Fermented Rice Water Rinse for Hair Growth: 3-month Results

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This is the third month I have used fermented rice water rinses. It has really transformed my hair for the better … My hair has never felt smoother, shinier, or silkier! You can read my posts on my month #1 results and month #2 results for more detailed information on how fermented rice water rinses have improved the overall condition of my  temperamental, multi-textured, fragile hair.

I like to use organic brown rice, but you can use organic white rice (or any other rice you prefer).  I go into the nutrient break down between the two HERE. For the general recipe and instructions for how to make fermented rice water, read this post HERE on the subject.

After 12 weeks of using fermented rice water, am I still receiving positive results? Watch the video below to chart my experience with using fermented rice water over the last 3 months …

 

Fermented Rice Water Rinse for Hair Growth: 2-month Results

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Thank you for your support!

 

 

This is the second month I have been doing fermented rice water rinses and, so far, I love it! It has really helped to improve the condition of my hair, both in terms of how it looks and feels. This is no trivial accomplishment for this multi-textured head of fine, fragile hair.

I like to use organic brown rice, but you can use organic white rice (or any other rice you prefer).  Just keep in mind that all white rice begins its life as brown rice. However, white rice has been processed to remove it’s husk, bran, and germ. Although this increases its shelf life, it means that white rice has to be artificially fortified with nutrients. This is why I prefer to use organic brown rice. Here is a basic breakdown of some of the nutrients between the two from the U.S. Department of Agriculture National Nutrient Database (based on ½ cup of raw long-grain rice) …

Because  rice does contain protein, I like to clarify my hair once a month with bentonite clay to prevent any build up. My sister likes to add a little apple cider vinegar to her fermented rice water  rinse. For the general recipe and instructions for how to make fermented rice water, READ my first post HERE on the subject.

After 8 weeks of using fermented rice water, my hair feels significantly stronger and less fragile. I have also noticed that my strands seem to be much smoother and silkier! Rice water has been a complete game changer for me and is really helping me with length retention. Want more detailed information about my experience over the last two months? Watch the video below …

 

 

Fermented Rice Water Rinse: Can It Grow YOUR Hair?

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Historically, in China, Japan, and other southeast Asian countries, rice water has been used for skincare (e.g., to bathe in) as well as in various hair care routines (i.e., in lieu of shampoo). The Yao women of the Huangluo village in China are a testament to the wonders of this simple liquid. They have been entered into the Guinness Book of World Records as “the world’s longest hair village.” The average hair length of the women in this village spans 6 ft. long!  What do these women have in common? They all use fermented rice water to rinse their hair. According to them, this practice keeps their hair black, silky, shiny, and long. A study published in the Journal of Cosmetic Chemists found that the use of rice water as a hair care regimen aided in the reduction of surface friction on hair follicles and helped to improve the overall elasticity of hair. This means that those lengthy detangling sessions could be a thing of the past … Goodbye, breakage!

So, how do we obtain gorgeous locks from rice water? Rice contains inositol, a carbohydrate. Thanks to a specialized imaging technique, we know that inositol can help repair damaged hair.  This is because inositol not only remains on the exterior shaft of the hair but has the ability to gradually penetrate into each strand’s cortex (the middle), even after rinsing, offering continued hair protection. As a result, rinsing or washing your hair with rice water can improve manageability and, as a bonus, prevent any future damage. Besides, the amino acids, B vitamins, minerals, and vitamin E found in rice is thought to help strengthen the hair’s roots, add volume and lustre to the hair, and make hair silky smooth. With such amazing hair benefits as these, it’s no wonder the Yao women can obtain 6 feet of healthy, long, beautiful hair.

In addition, rice water is also believed to create flawless skin due to its cooling and soothing effect. Thanks to its moisturizing, antioxidant, and healing properties, it is also believed to improve overall circulation, prevent signs of aging (i.e., age spots and discoloration), soften and smooth skin, and ease inflammation. A study conducted at Vrije Universiteit Brussel in Belgium found that taking rice water bath  increased damaged skin’s ability to heal by as  much as 20%.

General Recipe

There are two ways to make rice water, with heat (via boiling water) or without heat (sans boiling). My sister likes to boil her rice  water, but I prefer the no-boil method (to keep as many of the rice’s nutrients in tact).

To make rice water, you will need:

• ½ cup uncooked rice (brown rice, white rice, basmati rice, long grain rice, short grain rice, jasmine rice, or whatever you have)
  • I used organic brown rice.
• 2 to 3 cups water
  • I used about 2 cups of water.

Instructions

1.    To make rice water, first rinse the rice with water (to remove any dirt or impurities).

2.    Place the rice in a container and cover with (distilled) water.  I used a glass bottle with a flip-top lid to create a vaccum seal  and to prevent contamination (i.e., from something inadvertently falling into the vessel). Let the rice soak for 1 to 2 days at room temperature.  (The warmer the room, the faster the fermentation process will be). Occasionally swirl the water around to help the vitamins and minerals seep into the water. Over time, the water should slowly become cloudy, creating a nourishing rinse for your hair and skin.

3.    Once 1 or 2 days have passed, strain the rice water out into a clean bowl and then transfer it into a spray bottle (for ease of use).  Your rice water is now ready to use. It will smell slightly sour  (i.e., reminiscent of yeast when making bread).

4 .  Store your rice water in the refrigerator to stop the fermentation process. THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT.

NOTE: You can always use unfermented rice water, however fermenting the rice water provides enhanced benefits. (i.e., traces of pitera, a substance produced during the fermentation process that is believed to promote cell regeneration and help skin stay young and beautiful). Also, keep in mind that fermented rice water is very potent. As a result, you may need to dilute it with a cup or two of  water prior to use.  I didn’t need to, but everyone’s hair is different. So, simply adjust the ratio according to your hair’s needs (e.g., dilute with more water if you find the rinse too drying for your hair).

How to Use Fermented Rice Water

After shampooing your mane, use a spray bottle to saturate your hair with rice water. Make sure your strands are coated from root to tip. Then, gently massage the rice water into your scalp, and cover your hair with a processing cap. Leave the rinse in for 20 to 30 minutes. Next, rinse your hair thoroughly with (distilled) water. Use this fermented rice treatment once a week as a final rinse. It should be the last step in your hair routine prior to moisturizing and styling your hair.

What I Noticed

Fermented rice water really helped to do the following:

• condition my hair
• soften my hair
• balance my scalp’s pH
• increase the shine of my hair
• strengthen my hair
• help my hair grow faster (and retain the length I grew)

After 4 weeks of using fermented rice water, my hair felt softer, stronger, and super silky. Also, I noticed that my strands seemed much smoother. Rice water really works! Want more detailed information about my experience? Watch the video below …

 

 

Read about my 2-month results HERE.

The HONEY BLOWOUT Honey Treatment on Natural Hair

I received The Honey Blowout Honey Treatment for free in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

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The Honey Blowout Honey Treatment was created by Philadelphia native, Carla Clarkson, (aka “The Hair Maven”).  Honey Blowout is a treatment for all hair types whether straight, wavy, curly, or chemically treated (e.g., permanent hair color, relaxers ,etc). It can be used as a (1) pre-shampoo, (2) co-wash, (3) conditioner, or (4) deep conditioner.

 

Ingredients: water, honey complex, aloe complex, ethal, pure honey, honey/miel, essential oils, vitamin e oil, mild fragrance, natural coloring

Directions: Shake well. Apply from ends up to root on wet hair. Comb through using a wide tooth comb. Apply sulfate-free hydrating shampoo* on top of treatment. Lather. Rinse. Repeat. Last, apply The Honey Blowout and comb through. Let sit for 3 minutes. Blow dry and style. 

*Honey Blowout will still work with a regular moisturizing shampoo.

 

 

If used as a deep conditioner, apply the Honey Blowout to wet hair, comb through, add a processing cap, and sit under a bonnet dryer for 20-30 minutes. If you do not have a bonnet dryer, use your body heat to allow the product to penetrate your strands and let the product sit on your hair for an hour. If used as a co-wash, apply to wet hair, massage scalp, and work though product with a wide-tooth comb (or smooth curls with fingertips). Rinse thoroughly with cool water. Repeat if additional cleansing is needed.

According to the company website, best results are achieved when the Honey Blowout Honey Treatment is layered underneath the KeraCare Sulfate-free Hydrating Shampoo. Clarkson recommends following up with the Matrix Sleek Look Smooth Conditioner, blow drying the hair, and then finishing with the H2Pro Professional Ceramic Flat Iron by flat ironing the hair via small sections.

In an effort to prevent premature damage to my fine, fragile hair, I haven’t flat-ironed my hair in 2 years! So, I opted to use the product as a pre-poo and final conditioning treatment prior to blow drying my hair. As a result, I saturated my hair with water with my Waterpik handheld shower head, applied the Honey Blowout from ends to roots, then I layered on my Pantene Moisture Boost Shampoo. I gently lathered both products, rinsed, and repeated the process. Next, I applied my Pantene Moisture Boost Conditioner. Finally, I applied the Honey Blowout one more time, let the product sit on my hair for 3 minutes as a light conditioning treatment, rinsed my hair thoroughly, and then blow dried my hair. if you’re blow dryer-challenged like I am, watch this tutorial. This is the blow drying method I now use, and it works extremely well, especially for fine or kinky hair.

My hair felt soft and silky after only one use. After the second repetition, my hair was 50% detangled. I also noticed that the product seemed to slightly elongate my curls, so I think this would work well even if I left my hair in its natural kinky, coily, curly state. However, the instructions are a little confusing and contradictory, depending on where you look. Even on the company website, the instructions vary. The following video (from the product’s creator) is probably the least confusing one that I found, explaining how to use the product.

Pros

• pH balanced
• Adds shine
• Moisturizes hair
• Strengthens and fortifies hair
• Has a built-in heat protectant
• Smooths hair and prevents frizz
• Contains no parabens or preservatives
• Can be used with color-treated hair
• Can be used with sulfate-free or SLS shampoo
• Great for ALL hair types (straight, wavy, or curly)
• Can be used to condition and revive extension hair
• Can be used for multiple purposes (e.g.,  (1) pre-shampoo, (2) co-wash, (3) conditioner, or (4) deep conditioner)

Cons

• Cost ($25 for a 12 oz bottle)
• Instructions are a little confusing
• Label isn’t water-repellent so it smears after being left in shower after only 1 use

Although this product is a little pricey, considering I only used about ½ an ounce of total product after two lathers and one final conditioning treatment, I think the  price offers great value. Even if you blow dry your hair weekly, one bottle should last you at least 3 months. Since I have fine hair, I will likely get about 6 months of use out of one 12 oz bottle (if used weekly). And, given, how great this product performed for a blow-out, I’m confident it would work wonders on flat ironed hair as well as on curly/coily hair textures as a deep conditioning treatment.

Want to see my entire process? Watch the video below …