'I use a kitchen staple to add shine to my hair every three weeks - it's given me extreme growth'
Some beauty enthusiasts have seen improvements in their hair after using rice water
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The practice of treating hair with rice water dates to the Heian period in China, and has since widely been challenged by scientists.
There is much anecdotal evidence, however, that the homemade remedy promotes both length and shine.
Thousands of videos posted online have described serious shine and silkiness after using the starchy water.
One such anecdote came from Brittany Ladlin, who described her experience with rice water.
Rinse out the product before stepping out of the shower
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She claimed to Healthline that a week of rice water treatment on her hair left it looking thicker, fuller and more manageable.
Content creator Audrey Victoria also described her positive experience on YouTube, where she claimed the solution gave her “extreme growth”.
She makes the remedy using half a cup to a cup of rice (any variety), rinsing the grains in water first.
Next, she places the rinsed rice grains in a sealed container and tops it up with water, three-quarters of the way up.
In the shower, Victoria lets the solution sit in her clean hair for at least 15 minutes (after conditioning) before rinsing it out, repeating the process every two to three weeks.
She said: “Rice water, especially fermented rice water is strong. Although everyone’s hair is different, generally you shouldn’t be using it every day.
“After trial and error, I realised that rinsing my hair with rice water for hair growth every two to three weeks works best for my hair.”
Nancy Emery, from Tap Warehouse, says the viral trend is popular for improving your hair’s elasticity and texture, as well as promoting hair growth.
“After boiling rice, simply let the remaining water ferment for 12-24 hours at room temperature before use," she suggests as an alternative preparation method.
The scientific basis of these claims has long been challenged, with experts at UNL Health Center confirming more research is needed before firm conclusions can be made.
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Fermented rice way may improve hair shine
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“The benefits of rice water remain unproven,” they note.
“More research is needed (beyond studies tried to commercial interests) to validate anecdotal evidence.”
Matthew Stephany, MD, Nebraska Medicine medical director of General Dermatology, added: “If using a product makes your skin, hair or nails feel better, that’s what matters as long as it’s not putting your health at risk.
“Remember that natural products can cause as much of a problem for your skin as synthetic products.”
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