Who Has Gained Inches From Rice Water???

[cocosweet]

I started using rice water at the end of last November. I do notice a boost in growth when I use it. My usual .5” a month increases to 1-1.5” depending on how often I use it. I also experience decreased shedding and fewer tangles

I’m not protein sensitive, so I spray it in my hair 2-3x weekly when I’m on my regimen. I fell off last month and used it for the first time since early February today as my wash water.

Fun Fact you never wanted to know: Month old rice water smells like dookie.

I washed with it just to get back in the game and I’m curious to see if it is still effective. Once I use it up, I will have a fresh batch ready.

 

[Daina]

I started using rice water at the end of last November. I do notice a boost in growth when I use it. My usual .5” a month increases to 1-1.5” depending on how often I use it. I also experience decreased shedding and fewer tangles

I’m not protein sensitive, so I spray it in my hair 2-3x weekly when I’m on my regimen. I fell off last month and used it for the first time since early February today as my wash water.

Fun Fact you never wanted to know: Month old rice water smells like dookie.

I washed with it just to get back in the game and I’m curious to see if it is still effective. Once I use it up, I will have a fresh batch ready.

Doesn't take a month, over a week un-refrigerated will do it! I use it during the week at least once or twice and I now add 15 drops of peppermint oil to each batch. No smell issues!

 

[Daina]

I've been using rice water since the beginning of the year. I initially started using it as I thought I was experiencing thinning on right front side of my hair. I was also trying to reduce shedding. My hair is shinier, fuller and thicker. While I never really had detangling issues a little water or leave-in is typically all I need, rice water definitely makes the hair easier to detangle. Every week I use it, my shed hair has been less and less. It has also helped my winter itchy and dry scalp. I haven't really gauged its impact on length because I haven't straightened my hair yet this year. I will probably straighten in May and if I'm full HL, I would definitely say rice water helped.

 

[Muse]

I've been using rice water since the beginning of the year. I initially started using it as I thought I was experiencing thinning on right front side of my hair. I was also trying to reduce shedding. My hair is shinier, fuller and thicker. While I never really had detangling issues a little water or leave-in is typically all I need, rice water definitely makes the hair easier to detangle. Every week I use it, my shed hair has been less and less. It has also helped my winter itchy and dry scalp. I haven't really gauged its impact on length because I haven't straightened my hair yet this year. I will probably straighten in May and if I'm full HL, I would definitely say rice water helped.

How do you use the rice water? How long do you let it ferment?

 

[snoop]

My method: I took 1/4 cup brown rice and 2 cups of water and let it soak overnight (starting from Sunday evening), strained it and let it ferment for 12 until I was ready to wash my hair. So my total time of preparation of my rice water was 24 hrs (as former microbiology researcher, I'm not too interested in letting it ferment for much longer, but that's just my bias). Disclaimer: I added 24 drops of Rosemary essential oil and 6 drops Peppermint Essential Oil to my rice water. I let it sit on my hair for 15 minutes post-shampoo (very tingly but relaxing ), rinsed it out and then followed it with 15 minutes of a protein-free DC.

Wateronlyhairwashing on YouTube used to boil her rice water after it fermented to stop the fermenting process. Do you think that this would be helpful for stopping microbe growth?

 

[TamaraShaniece]

Wateronlyhairwashing on YouTube used to boil her rice water after it fermented to stop the fermenting process. Do you think that this would be helpful for stopping microbe growth?

It’s hard to answer this questions. The first wave of videos on fermenting rice water suggested NOT TO boil the rice prior to fermenting or using anti-bac/viral essentials oils as it counteracts the fermenting. I never experienced a skin condition due to using fermented rice water. I’ve even used 3 week old RW and didn’t experience a growing rash from anything that’s grows in RW. I don’t think the starch from rice is what the hair needs. If that was the case, no need to ferment the water in rice.

 

[Muse]

It’s hard to answer this questions. The first wave of videos on fermenting rice water suggested NOT TO boil the rice prior to fermenting or using anti-bac/viral essentials oils as it counteracts the fermenting. I never experienced a skin condition due to using fermented rice water. I’ve even used 3 week old RW and didn’t experience a growing rash from anything that’s grows in RW. I don’t think the starch from rice is what the hair needs. If that was the case, no need to ferment the water in rice.

I watched several videos explaining and showing the Yao women making and using the rice water but none of them stated exactly why they fermented it (unless I missed it). I really would like to know why they do it because we are doing it because they are doing it.

 

[NowIAmNappy]

Thanks for posting. I read your blog and noticed that you said it worked better for you as a pre poo. I am wondering if the problem some people are having is the build up of starch and not protein. Starch will make things stiff and hard. People used to starch their clothes to stiffen them preventing wrinkles. So maybe using it as a pre poo you are immediately washing out the starch thus avoiding the "protein overload" feeling.
I'm going to try it as a pre poo because I am one of those people that if I use it back to back weekly my hair starts to feel weird, stiff and dryer. I was doing the rinse after shampooing or after conditioning as a final rinse.

I agree that it is probably the starch that is causing the "protein overload" feeling. I know some people leave it in their hair for days or as a final rinse but for me that would probably cause issues, not to mention that its fermented and bacteria can grow. I felt that washing it out was the best way to still get the benefits without any detrimental effects. Also since the inositol stays in your hair well after rinsing, there's not need to leave it on for a long time.

What's your growth rate normally like? Are you going to continue using it indefinitely?

So I grow about 1/2 inch a month but usually in the winter time its much slower than that. I plan to use it monthly. Honestly, if I could find something to do with the rice after soaking it besides throwing it away, I wouldnt feel so bad. Im just not a big rice eater.

 

[Muse]

I agree that it is probably the starch that is causing the "protein overload" feeling. I know some people leave it in their hair for days or as a final rinse but for me that would probably cause issues, not to mention that its fermented and bacteria can grow. I felt that washing it out was the best way to still get the benefits without any detrimental effects. Also since the inositol stays in your hair well after rinsing, there's not need to leave it on for a long time.

I agree. I found another videos of a young Yao woman explaining the rice water and she said they only leave it on for 10-15 minutes then rinse. That's half the time that's stated in YouTube videos and blogs. Most state 30 minutes, which I will most likely continue to do but it's nice to know if I'm pressed for time and have to do a shorter soak it will still be effective.

 

[Neomorph]

Wateronlyhairwashing on YouTube used to boil her rice water after it fermented to stop the fermenting process. Do you think that this would be helpful for stopping microbe growth?

I think it would be a good step, but as @TamaraShaniece mentioned, this is a hard call as there are so many different methods being used (boiling/no boiling, essential oils/no essential oils, varying fermentation times). That and coupled with people having different reactions (some people being able to use 3 week old rice water just fine and others having issues after 48 hours) makes it something that ends up having to be on a case by case basis. I think the best option would be is to err on the side of caution and ferment for short times, and when in doubt it throw it out. I think I'm going to start boiling mines moving forward just to be safe.

---

Like I mentioned on the previous page, I wanted to update you guys on my second use of rice water.

Thoughts on my hair throughout the week: The moisture levels seemed to be the same with maybe just a very small increase overall. There was an increase in sheen. My scalp however did not flake up nearly as bad with my eczema as it can. The eczema patches along my edges and periphery were still fairly prominent, but the eczema patches everywhere else were virtually non-existent.

2nd Rice Water treatment: There was again a further decrease in shed hairs and breakage. Again not a huge decrease, but still noticeable. Detangling was once again very easy to do. My hair felt a little crunchier post rice water rinse, but soft once I did my DC. The peppermint oil I added to my rice water made my scalp feel nice and refreshed.

Overall impression: I think this is definitely a keeper in my regimen. For my next two rice water rinses, I will boil mine prior to using it.

 

[Daina]

How do you use the rice water? How long do you let it ferment?

@Muse, I typically let it ferment 48 hours. Since January, I use after I cleanse. I spray my scalp and edges and massage, then I soak the rest of my hair. I put on two plastic bags and let it sit for 30 minutes and rinse. I follow with a deep conditioner. I have also used it lightly as a spray during the week but found out the hard way you need to use essential oils if you don't discard after initial rinse! I bought a commercial spray with rice water and chebe to use during the week versus using the fermented one because the smell was terrible and didn't want to risk bacterial growth.

This week, just yesterday I switched things up and added the rice water as usual after cleansing but then put my DC directly on top. Wanted to see if I could save a step and not have to get in the shower 3x. My hair was super soft yet strengthened and detangling was a breeze. I am going to try using it this way for several weeks to see if this regimen change is a keeper. I spray with the rice water/chebe mix mid-week when I M&S again. Hope this helps!

 

[luckiestdestiny]

I started using rice water at the end of last November. I do notice a boost in growth when I use it. My usual .5” a month increases to 1-1.5” depending on how often I use it. I also experience decreased shedding and fewer tangles

I’m not protein sensitive, so I spray it in my hair 2-3x weekly when I’m on my regimen. I fell off last month and used it for the first time since early February today as my wash water.

Fun Fact you never wanted to know: Month old rice water smells like dookie.

I washed with it just to get back in the game and I’m curious to see if it is still effective. Once I use it up, I will have a fresh batch ready.

Why would you torture yourself like that? It doesn't seem worth it to "use it up".

I just started reading this thread with interest. Thanks for the info (sans the dookie part. I'll be on the look out for any change in smell because no Bueno. )

 

[cocosweet]

Why would you torture yourself like that? It doesn't seem worth it to "use it up".

I just started reading this thread with interest. Thanks for the info (sans the dookie part. I'll be on the look out for any change in smell because no Bueno. )

It’s almost gone though! Because of the stink factor, I just let it sit for 20 minutes, then rinse out. I refuse to move through the world smelling like doo doo head in the name of bangin’ hair.

I’ll go back to using it as a leave in with my fresh batch. From here on out, if I make too much to be used in 2 weeks, it’s outta here!

 

[Theresamonet]

So I ened up letting my rice “ferment” for 4 days. I had it in a kitchen cabinet, and each day I would check on it and close the cabinet door looking like this:

All of the activity happening in my mason jar was making me nervous.

On the fourth and final day, I took the jar out the cabinet and removed the lid. It fizzed as I removed it. I then took a whiff. No—actually, a whiff took me... I immediately walked over to the kitchen sink and poured alladat ish right down the drain. What was in that jar was foul, rotten, putrid. I would be physically incapable of pouring it over my head. How are y’all doing this?? I thought folks were exaggerating about the smell. I’m not bothered by a lot of the smells people don’t like in hair care (neem, wheat germ, wild growth oil, etc). But that was actual ass. It was ass in that jar. No shade to anyone, but putting dookie water on my scalp is not how I live. Lol.

I still want to try the rice water though. I think I’m going to do the boil-24 hour ferment-boil method.

 

[Daina]

So I ened up letting my rice “ferment” for 4 days. I had it in a kitchen cabinet, and each day I would check on it and close the cabinet door looking like this:

All of the activity happening in my mason jar was making me nervous.

On the fourth and final day, I took the jar out the cabinet and removed the lid. It fizzed as I removed it. I then took a whiff. No—actually, a whiff took me... I immediately walked over to the kitchen sink and poured alladat ish right down the drain. What was in that jar was foul, rotten, putrid. I would be physically incapable of pouring it over my head. How are y’all doing this?? I thought folks were exaggerating about the smell. I’m not bothered by a lot of the smells people don’t like in hair care (neem, wheat germ, wild growth oil, etc). But that was actual ass. It was ass in that jar. No shade to anyone, but putting dookie water on my scalp is not how I live. Lol.

I still want to try the rice water though. I think I’m going to do the boil-24 hour ferment-boil method.

I think the sweet spot is about 48 hours before the smell gets to that unbearable level. I only let mine ferment that long once and ended up putting it in a spray bottle to apply...because the thought of pouring it over my head and getting in my mouth had me gagging. Believe it or not once I rinsed the smell was gone with it. But once you smell it you will never forget it! Love the gif because that's exactly how I was

 

[Lita]

@Theresamonet I only let mine sit for 24hrs and no longer..I don’t have any issues with smell or any kind of bacteria growth.

Happy Hair Growing!

 

[Muse]

So I ened up letting my rice “ferment” for 4 days. I had it in a kitchen cabinet, and each day I would check on it and close the cabinet door looking like this:

All of the activity happening in my mason jar was making me nervous.

On the fourth and final day, I took the jar out the cabinet and removed the lid. It fizzed as I removed it. I then took a whiff. No—actually, a whiff took me... I immediately walked over to the kitchen sink and poured alladat ish right down the drain. What was in that jar was foul, rotten, putrid. I would be physically incapable of pouring it over my head. How are y’all doing this?? I thought folks were exaggerating about the smell. I’m not bothered by a lot of the smells people don’t like in hair care (neem, wheat germ, wild growth oil, etc). But that was actual ass. It was ass in that jar. No shade to anyone, but putting dookie water on my scalp is not how I live. Lol.

I still want to try the rice water though. I think I’m going to do the boil-24 hour ferment-boil method.

This post had me rollin!In one of the videos about the Yao women a reporter was there and they washed her hair in the rice water and she started laughing nervously and had a look on her face like it didn't smell too good. They said most visitors can't take the smell. I tried to find the video to link but I can't find it anymore. I'm just going to start linking videos about it that I think are interesting as soon as I find them. But yeah just stick with 24 hours, lol.

 

[kxlot79]

I started a fresh batch of rice water LI spray today and thought I’d share some thoughts on my prolonged use of it.
When I say my hair is WAY more manageable, a really clear illustration is: my roots typically tangle so badly that parting is a time consuming and frustrating affair so I mostly find myself unbothered with it. It is also typically very time consuming to style my hair in anything but buns, WnGs, or single twists (honestly braids of the same size take a lot longer because of more sections). Well, ever since rice water became a regular, I can flat twist my wet hair with ease. Dry hair too!
Some of you may be able to do that already. For me, it was a whole dang process. But no more!
I could also LITERALLY count the shed/broken hairs from today’s wash day— from washing to styling. And it wouldn’t have taken me but a minute to do so. Which is actually unheard of in my hair’s non-relaxed state.

Also, idk how people manage to use fermented rice water consistently without altering the smell. I add citrus essential oil to mine— just a little bit too. Some people have added citrus rinds. As far as I know, it doesn’t really matter when you add the fragrance but I add mine right before bottling.

 

[Muse]

Here's a video I just spotted today. Now she doesn't speak English in the video but she does respond to questions asked in English in the comment section and after reading all of those I got her rice water regimen.

She does the rice water rinse and lets that sit for an hour (2 hours max), rinse then shampoo and condition as usual. Ferment the rice water 24-48 hours maximum. Can be done 1-2 times per week. So she says her hair is naturally long (of course) but doing the rinses she has less breakage, shedding and hair in overall better condition. Pretty much all the stuff we've experienced here. At the time of the video she has been doing rinses for 2 years.

She basically uses it as a prepoo like I was planning to do. I'll be doing this on Friday. I would like to be able to do weekly rinses again and hopefully doing it this way will allow me to do so.

 

[cocosweet]

So I ened up letting my rice “ferment” for 4 days. I had it in a kitchen cabinet, and each day I would check on it and close the cabinet door looking like this:

All of the activity happening in my mason jar was making me nervous.

On the fourth and final day, I took the jar out the cabinet and removed the lid. It fizzed as I removed it. I then took a whiff. No—actually, a whiff took me... I immediately walked over to the kitchen sink and poured alladat ish right down the drain. What was in that jar was foul, rotten, putrid. I would be physically incapable of pouring it over my head. How are y’all doing this?? I thought folks were exaggerating about the smell. I’m not bothered by a lot of the smells people don’t like in hair care (neem, wheat germ, wild growth oil, etc). But that was actual ass. It was ass in that jar. No shade to anyone, but putting dookie water on my scalp is not how I live. Lol.

I still want to try the rice water though. I think I’m going to do the boil-24 hour ferment-boil method.

I’m sorry
That smell is no joke.

Don’t give up. Try the 24 hour ferment. You’ll should still see some benefit. I don’t know how I do it honestly. Ideally, I would make smaller batches more often like on Sundays and Thursdays for Monday and Friday treatments, but I’m not quite that disciplined so I accept Da Funk.

 

[Theresamonet]

 

[Theresamonet]

 

[NowIAmNappy]

So I ened up letting my rice “ferment” for 4 days. I had it in a kitchen cabinet, and each day I would check on it and close the cabinet door looking like this:

All of the activity happening in my mason jar was making me nervous.

On the fourth and final day, I took the jar out the cabinet and removed the lid. It fizzed as I removed it. I then took a whiff. No—actually, a whiff took me... I immediately walked over to the kitchen sink and poured alladat ish right down the drain. What was in that jar was foul, rotten, putrid. I would be physically incapable of pouring it over my head. How are y’all doing this?? I thought folks were exaggerating about the smell. I’m not bothered by a lot of the smells people don’t like in hair care (neem, wheat germ, wild growth oil, etc). But that was actual ass. It was ass in that jar. No shade to anyone, but putting dookie water on my scalp is not how I live. Lol.

I still want to try the rice water though. I think I’m going to do the boil-24 hour ferment-boil method.

Sis, you had me crying!!! I actually only ferment mine for 48hours thats it. At that point it still smells like rice water. I wouldnt go beyond that though LOL

 

[Muse]

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Thanks for posting this. I've seen this video before but missed some of the subtitles because they were too fast and grainy. I really would like to know the significance of the other ingredients. Like maybe it makes it work 10x better or perhaps it just helps the starch residue rinse away completely when they rinse the rice water out.

 

[Theresamonet]

Thanks for posting this. I've seen this video before but missed some of the subtitles because they were too fast and grainy. I really would like to know the significance of the other ingredients. Like maybe it makes it work 10x better or perhaps it just helps the starch residue rinse away completely when they rinse the rice water out.

I was going to add some commentary about those screenshots, but I got sleepy. lol

I've watched that video a couple times before as well, a few years back. I must not have been paying attention or have a bad memory, because I swear this is the first I recall hearing about them adding tea oil to the wash. An important ingredient as the video says.

I watched video to see if it says how exactly they prepared the water and how long they let it ferment. They state that they let it ferment for 7 days ( ), but the preparation is still unclear to me. It says they take the water left over from washing their rice and then "after being baked and fermented by the fire, the water is ready to be used". So... Does that mean they boil the rice and then ferment it next to a heat source for 7 days? How is the fire incorporated into the fermenting? Maybe its just a bad sentence, and it just means its baked (boiled) by the fire and then fermented... After that they add the pomelo peels and boil it together. And then before using it to wash, they add tea seed oil, which I think is Camellia oil.

 

[Muse]

I was going to add some commentary about those screenshots, but I got sleepy. lol

I've watched that video a couple times before as well, a few years back. I must not have been paying attention or have a bad memory, because I swear this is the first I recall hearing about them adding tea oil to the wash. An important ingredient as the video says.

I watched video to see if it says how exactly they prepared the water and how long they let it ferment. They state that they let it ferment for 7 days ( ), but the preparation is still unclear to me. It says they take the water left over from washing their rice and then "after being baked and fermented by the fire, the water is ready to be used". So... Does that mean they boil the rice and then ferment it next to a heat source for 7 days? How is the fire incorporated into the fermenting? Maybe its just a bad sentence, and it just means its backed by the fire and then fermented... After that they add the pomelo peels and boil it together. And then before using it to wash, they add tea seed oil, which I think is Camellia oil.

Ahh! I am going to look into Camellia oil and tea seed oil and see if it's the exact same. I'm guessing this is done for added conditioning. Also, I think some of the instructions get lost in translation. Like you, I was confused about the baked and boiled part. I'm definitely not fermenting for 7 days though. They can keep that part of the process.

 

[Muse]

@Theresamonet You are right about that Camellia oil.

https://www.mountainroseherbs.com/p...MItaml__2T4QIVXbXACh3XkgxxEAQYBiABEgJ89PD_BwE

https://hennasooq.com/organic-camellia-oil/

Yao use the raw form. Based on the description I'm pretty sure they're using it to make the rice water more moisturizing since they don't use conditioner.

 

[Artemis24]

So I ened up letting my rice “ferment” for 4 days. I had it in a kitchen cabinet, and each day I would check on it and close the cabinet door looking like this:

All of the activity happening in my mason jar was making me nervous.

On the fourth and final day, I took the jar out the cabinet and removed the lid. It fizzed as I removed it. I then took a whiff. No—actually, a whiff took me... I immediately walked over to the kitchen sink and poured alladat ish right down the drain. What was in that jar was foul, rotten, putrid. I would be physically incapable of pouring it over my head. How are y’all doing this?? I thought folks were exaggerating about the smell. I’m not bothered by a lot of the smells people don’t like in hair care (neem, wheat germ, wild growth oil, etc). But that was actual ass. It was ass in that jar. No shade to anyone, but putting dookie water on my scalp is not how I live. Lol.

I still want to try the rice water though. I think I’m going to do the boil-24 hour ferment-boil method.

I added fenugreek seeds to mine and had no issue with smell.

 

[Theresamonet]

I added fenugreek seeds to mine and had no issue with smell.

How long did you let it ferment?

 

[Artemis24]

How long did you let it ferment?

I think I did 48hrs. I also added a few other herbs but I didn't write it down and I can't remember what they were.