Does rice water help with hair growth? Dermatologists are following the social media trend

Fast facts

• On the site, individuals suggest that others rinse their hair with rice water to further promote hair health.
• Mineral concentrate from rice grains has proven a guarantee in promoting health and even hair development, but it is not the same as individuals making shady rice water at home.
• Rice water contains starch, which can dry out and damage some types of hair, especially curly hair.
• Rice water has become a popular method for furthering hair health, but despite its influence on the web, a simple hack for hair development may not be so supportive, specialists said.

To help with hair development and repair any damage, TikTokers rely on rinsing their hair in dull, shady water that runs out after splashing or cleaning rice.

What's more, the entire web is enthralled by the idea—records labeled "rice water" have amassed a whopping 986 million views on TikTok.

With so much interest in rice water for hair health, applications and techniques will generally vary from individual to individual. Once in a while, individuals let the water stand and mature, often with added citrus streaks to mask the aroma. Some apply the invention consistently, while others follow it month after month.

As a rule, individuals who promote a hair care strategy guarantee that it can transform hair into smooth, healthy locks. However, dermatologists aren't entirely sure.

Rice is full of supplements, said Deirdre Hooper, MD, a dermatologist at Audubon Dermatology. Regardless of the fact that it does not subsequently mean that it can work on individuals hair.

"The problem is that we're making that leap that something that's meant to be consumed can be applied to your hair — which is dead cells — and that it can introduce such a large amount of improvement," Wellbeing said.

That's exactly what experts needed to say about rice water and its effect on hair, in addition to alternative ways that individuals can keep their hair strong and strong.

Not enough research on rice water for hair

Absorbing rice water and using it as a hair treatment is nothing new.

Rice water has been used by individuals living in various Asian countries for millennia. Numerous web entertainment posts attribute this method to the Yao ladies of China, who use mature rice water on their unimaginably long hair. Additionally, it was attached to Japanese ladies around the year 1000 who combed their hair with Yu-Su-Ru, or washed rice water.

With its long history and fan base, there are many individuals who have anecdotal evidence that rice water has worked for their hair health.

Rice itself contains supplements such as magnesium, iron, foliar caustic, thiamin and niacin. What's more, rice water contains phenols that can help treat alopecia areata.

However, experts say there is not yet enough evidence to prove that rice water further promotes hair health. For some individuals, it might actually try to make the situation worse.

Rinsing your hair in rice water could damage it, especially in individuals with curly hair, which generally breaks more efficiently, said Rhonda Farah, MD, academic administrator of dermatology at the College of Minnesota Clinical School.

Rice water contains a ton of starch, which can strip moisture from your hair, making it brittle, Farah told Wellbeing.

"[Rice water] can be really harmful in light of the fact that it's not really planned for your scalp. You don't get a similar transfer to the hair follicle or the hair shaft," Farah understood.

The treatment "is something modest and generally safe, I just believe it's also probably a low increase," Hooper added. "There's no evidence it's going to do anything."

The benefits of rice water can be due to various elements

Rice water is most likely not going to be able to work on someone's hair, experts agreed. In truth, treatment may be inappropriately attributed to other lifestyle changes or things that can help hair.

Diet is one possible explanation.

Individuals who generally used rice water hair washes additionally sensibly eat better weight control plans that are low in food sources, such as those found in the blue zones, Hooper said. The straight hair seen on Yao or other ladies may come from their dietary patterns or some other part of their lifestyle, rather than from rinsing in old rice water.

Additionally, potential subjects confused rice water rinses with rice and wheat mineral concentrate. This fixation is found in specific hair care items and can help with the progressive development of hair.

The survey distributed in 2022 remembered 10 exams for the subject. The researchers reasoned that the mineral concentrate from rice and wheat could increase the amount of time a hair follicle is in the anagen phase, which is when follicle development occurs.

Be that as it may, the rice grain mineral concentrate remembered for hair products is not equivalent to home-made rice water, advised Farah. In fact, the rice wheat is removed in the processing system - when the rice reaches the supermarket, this part is removed.

So while mineral concentrate from rice grains looks encouraging for hair health, rice water made from manipulated rice has no tidal value in light of the logical evidence, Farah said.

Rely on the recommendations of hair care experts

Hooper and Farah agreed, like other well-being formulas and guidelines that have become popular on the web, individuals should tread carefully before jumping into the rice water pattern.

"Just because you value that individual's hair doesn't mean the strategy they're using is going to rip your hair off," Farah said. "Each hair type is so unique, it's really hard to apply one thing to everyone."

These kinds of normal items or home remedies don't necessarily work in every case, Hooper added, which can be discouraging, especially for individuals hoping to prevent or slow balding. Individuals may waste their lives on rice water remedies rather than pursue an answer from a medical professional, she said.

"Because hair, skin and nails are so accessible to every individual, I think some individuals don't remember that they are organs," Hooper said. "Even if you can control it, there is a justification for the logical proof, and there are many variables as to why an individual's hair behaves in a certain way."

When attempting to further develop their hair well being or elevate their hair development, certain lifestyle changes such as reducing pressure, treating dandruff and staying away from hair heating devices can help. Individuals can likewise reach for rice grain mineral concentrate items or comparable items if they plan to be fine for the hair, Farah added.

What's more, not all virtual entertainment advice is terrible, she said. Individuals can follow Endorsed Dermatologists or the American Dermatology Foundation on Instagram and TikTok to ensure they receive verified data from specialists.

Be that as it may, if someone is worried about the strength of their hair or is dealing with more serious issues like baldness, Farah prescribes seeing a dermatologist to get to the root of the issue and recommend treatment.

"There needs to be fair warning for what you see on the web and extrapolate as obvious," Hooper said. "It's somewhat of a shame to lead individuals to believe that if they simply go about their lives flawlessly, they won't have any problems."