ANYONE who ever decided that cutting bangs out of stress was a good idea - this one’s for you.
The moment I looked at my reflection in the mirror, a huge wave of regret washed over me as I put down the scissors.
"What have I done? I don’t even like bangs or know how to cut hair," I thought to myself.
After a little freak-out, I pulled up a search engine and looked up natural and easy ways to grow back what I lost - the keyword being 'easy'.
Many of the natural remedies included ingredients that I didn’t have on hand except for one - rice water.
Rice was as common as it gets in terms of Asian household ingredients so it didn’t get easier than this.
Additionally, the process and application of rice water was seemingly straightforward enough.
Was this a clickbait scam or can rice soaked in water actually help your hair grow longer?
Verdict:
TRUE!
While the treatment has only recently caught attention online, rice water has been used by Southeast Asian women for centuries.
According to dermatologist Dr. Alok Vij at Cleveland Clinic, the starch in rice acts like a conditioner.
"It lays on the outer follicle of hair, what’s called the cuticle, and works to prevent the follicles from rubbing against each other and fraying or breaking."
Rice is also rich in inositol, an antioxidant that is often referred to as a "hair growth agent."
In addition to inositol, rice contains numerous amino acids, vitamins and minerals such as vitamin B, vitamin E, fiber, magnesium and zinc that shield hair from damage and harmful stressors, as stated by WebMD.
The process of making rice water at home is super simple.
Firstly, thoroughly rinse a cup of uncooked rice.
Add two to three cups of clean water and leave it to soak for 30 minutes.
Fermenting the rice in water will enhance the antioxidant levels of your rice water tonic.
Strain the mixture and there you go - your very own homemade hair rejuvenator.
Women in Thailand take it one step further by adding jasmine into the mixture, which is also known for its nourishing and strengthening properties.
Rice water is used as a final rinse tonic after shampooing and conditioning your hair.
After pouring a decent amount of rice water all over your hair, gently massage it into your scalp and leave it to dry as you normally would.
Some suggest rinsing the mixture out of your hair after 20 minutes, however, letting it soak and dry into your hair will allow it to absorb better and work its natural magic.
With all organic remedies, time is a key factor.
This treatment plan will not produce results overnight but you will definitely notice your hair feeling silkier and more voluminous as the nourishing properties of rice work to churn out healthier and stronger hair at a faster rate.
Ah, long hair - you will be mine again soon.
References:
1. https://health.
2. https://www.webmd.com/beauty/
3. https://health.unl.edu/rice-
4. https://edition.cnn.com/cnn-
