Does Rice Water Grow Your Hair?

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Many people tout the benefits of using rice water rinses on their hair:  Longer hair, stronger hair, shinier hair.  Could something as simple and accessible as rice really be a game changer for your hair?  Lots of people claim the benefits of rice water for the hair, but is there really any science behind this?  Does rice water grow your hair?

 

Rice Water for Thicker Hair

The use of rice water to improve the health and beauty of hair goes back hundreds of years.  In fact, Japanese women from the Heian period were known for their exceptionally long and strong hair.  It’s said that these women combed their hair daily with a rice water mixture called Yu‐Su‐Ru.

 

How Does Rice Water Strengthen Your Hair?

Rice water contains a carbohydrate called inositol.  Inositol has been found in studies to not only strengthen the hair, but also to penetrate into the hair strand, making the hair stronger and less prone to damage, even after the rice water is rinsed off.  This may be how rice water rinses help strengthen your hair.

 

 

Rice Water and Hair Growth

Your hair grows during a phase called anagen.  People with longer anagen phases can grow longer hair, all other things being equal.  One study showed that a rice extract increased growth-related molecules in the hair follicle, and decreased inflammation in the follicle.  Decreasing inflammation can be key to improved hair growth.

 

Another study using a rice brand extract also found encouraging results pointing at the chance that rice water may help thicken hair.  In this study, rice extract was shown to promote anagen hair growth and promote hair growth, similar to minoxidil, a popular hair loss treatment.

 

Using Rice Water for Hair Growth

There seems to be some compelling (though preliminary) scientific evidence behind the claims that rice water may improve hair growth, strength and thickness.  Using rice water on your hair is certainly affordable and easy and could be worth giving a try!  Want to learn exactly how to use rice water for your hair?  Check out the video and recipe here.