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One of the latest beauty trends to flood our TikTok feeds (backed by Cardi B's approval, no less) is rice water as a DIY hair treatment. Just typing "rice water" into any social media search bar populates a slew of suggestions: rice water for hair growth, rice water recipe, rice water before and after, rice water tutorial — the list goes on.
The list of rice water's purported benefits for hair and scalp health is also a long one. From boosting growth and adding shine to strengthening, softening, and even detangling strands, it seems like there's nothing this ancient grain can't do. And despite its recent rise in popularity, rice water's usage on hair is ancient — such treatments have been found to trace back centuries.
According to a 2010 study published in the Journal of Cosmetic Chemists, "The court ladies of the Heian Period, whose beautiful long hair, called suberakashi, reached to the floor, were said to have combed their hair each day using Yu-Su-Ru (rinse water obtained from the washing of rice)."
Fast forward to today, and you'll also find rice-derived ingredients in a growing number of hair products. So, there's got to be some truth to this trend, right? Below, experts break down the beneficial components of rice water for hair and the scalp, and we share some of our favorite rice-water products to try out for yourself.
- Howard Sobel, M.D., a board-certified dermatologist and clinical attending cosmetic dermatologic surgeon at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City.
- Ginger King, a cosmetic chemist.
- Dhaval G. Bhanusali, M.D., a board-certified dermatologist based in New York City.
What exactly is rice water?
Simply put, rice water is pretty much what it sounds like: water that is leftover after cooking or soaking rice.
"Rice water is a starchy liquid that is packed with benefits that help to strengthen the hair," says Howard Sobel, M.D., a New York City-based board-certified dermatologist and clinical attending cosmetic dermatologic surgeon at Lenox Hill Hospital. "It contains antioxidants, amino acids, vitamins, and a substance called, inositol, which all contribute to making the hair shinier and stronger."
How does rice water benefit hair?
Since rice itself is full of nutrients, it does follow suit that rice water would contain some of the same vitamins and minerals, all of which are said to help nourish hair.
Topping the list are amino acids, says cosmetic chemist Ginger King. "Amino acids are the building blocks of protein," she says. "Rice contains a small amount of amino acids cysteine, which is a form of hair protein so it helps to replenish. This helps to nourish the hair and provide nutrients to the scalp."
Another beneficial component of rice water, inositol, is a vitamin-like substance often found on the ingredient lists of hair growth supplements. "Studies have shown that inositol can prevent hair damage and repair weak, breakage-prone hair," Dr. Sobel says.
Dr. Sobel describes rice water as "vitamin-rich," and containing vitamins B and E. "This means that rice water helps to add shine, soften, and smooth the hair without the use of chemicals or heavy products," he adds.
Lastly, there's the starch itself, which Dr. Sobel says naturally coats the outermost layer of hair. This not only helps boost volume and thickness, but also "creates a smoothing effect for frizzy hair types and split ends."
Does rice water benefit the scalp, too?
In short, yes — healthy hair grows from a healthy scalp, after all. "Rice water acts as a gentle cleanser and toner, so it can help remove traces of buildup or to refresh the scalp," explains King.
As far as hair growth, however, while you'll find plenty of anecdotal evidence out there, King says the actual research is still lacking. "Due to the content of the amino acids, it could also help to nourish the scalp, however, there is no scientific data to show that it has any benefits to promote hair growth," King explains.
Dhaval G. Bhanusali, M.D., a board-certified dermatologist based in New York, adds that, "While rice water has been popularized via TikTok as a means to help with hair growth, it's likely not what is exactly happening. By coating the hair strands, rice water may give the appearance of thicker, richer, and more shiny hair."
How to use rice water for hair
People on TikTok are DIY-ing at-home rice water treatments through two different techniques: either boiling or soaking. The first is pretty self-explanatory: in videos, you can see creators boil a cup of water, pour in rice, and let the mixture turn white and cloudy. Then the grains are strained, and the leftover water is what's used in hair. For the latter method, people pour uncooked rice into a bowl of water, let it soak for 24 hours, and then strain it.
No matter the method, there's one important step you can see in videos: creators dump their uncooked rice into a strainer and rinse it well under tap water. Rice water is then cooled down in the fridge for a while and applied after shampoo. Most people leave the water in their hair for 15 to 30 minutes before rinsing.
But Dr. Bhanusali warns of "overdoing" the treatment. "Once a week would be the max [amount of times] and be sure to wash it off after 15 minutes," he says. "If you leave it on too long, it can potentially dry your hair out and cause more harm than good. Avoid the treatment altogether if you have very fine or thin hair since rice water could weigh it down."
Overall, though, Dr. Bhanusali calls rice water "a low-risk way of trying to add more life to hair." The experts who spoke to Allure all agreed that it's probably worth a try, though. Rice water may be over-hyped on TikTok — after all, most trends on that app are — but there's a reason it's been used for generations.
"While I don't think patients should expect increased hair growth, there can be simple benefits with the overall appearance," Dr. Bhansuali says. "Think of the water as a hair coat that helps get a better shine and texture." Of course, if you don't want to go the DIY route, the below hair-care products are spiked with the ingredient to offer similar effects.
More of our favorite hair care products:
- The 13 Best Boar-Bristle Brushes, According to Hairstylists
- The 19 Best Hair Oils for Deep Hydration and Shine
- The 11 Best Aloe Hair Products for a Shinier and Healthier Bed of Hair
Done reading? Next, watch Simi's 6-step Wash Day Routine for Natural Hair:
