Follow This Easy Rice Water Recipe for Hair Growth

Tools and materials: 

• Rice
• Distilled water
• Fresh rosemary sprigs (or dried rosemary)
• Grapefruit (Alternatives: orange, pomelo)
• Rosemary essential oil
• Tea tree oil
• Peppermint oil
• Airtight jar
• Spray bottle
• Strainer

1. Add half a cup of rice to a bowl

2. Add water to a bowl

It doesn’t matter how much water you add here. 

3. Wash your rice

Swirl it around in the water until it’s clean, then drain the water.

4. Pour the rice into a bowl

Pour the rice into a glass or metal bowl.

We’ll be using hot water, so don’t use plastic unless it’s the only thing you have.

5. Add hot, distilled water to the bowl

Add 3-4 cups of distilled water that was just boiled.

The water should be warm but cool enough that it doesn’t burn you. The hot water will soften the rice and allow you to get a lot of the nutrients out of the rice without boiling it.

Different types of nutrients can get denatured when boiled, so using hot water is the closest you can get.

7. Add rosemary sprigs to the rice water

Add seven fresh rosemary sprigs to the rice water. If you don’t have any, you can use 2-3 tablespoons of dry rosemary instead.

8. Peel a grapefruit

While your rice water sits, peel a grapefruit. The next best option is an orange. This helps with the terrible smell of rice water.

9. Jar the rosemary and rice water and top with the grapefruit

Pour the rosemary sprigs and rice water into a glass jar that can close completely airtight.

If your container isn’t airtight, your rice water will go bad.

Push all of the rosemary down so it doesn’t mold when exposed to the air, and cover any bits at the surface with the grapefruit peels.

10. Store

Store in the cupboard for 24 hours to ferment so the rice can expand and release all of its antioxidants. 

11. Knead the rice for 3-5 minutes

Remove the grapefruit peels and the rosemary sprigs and pour the rice water into a glass bowl.

Knead the rice, either in one hand or rub it between your palms, to cause friction between the rice and break the rice into smaller pieces.

This helps release all of the antioxidants and starches which is what makes it look white. Knead until the rice water is a milky consistency.

12. Pour the rice water into a jar

Mix up the rice to make sure the particles are evenly distributed before straining it into a clean jar. 

13. Add the rosemary and grapefruit peels back in

Put the rosemary and the grapefruit peels back into the rice water to continue fermenting and absorbing the smell and amazing benefits.

Let this ferment for a few days. I let mine ferment for five days.

14. Remove the rosemary and grapefruit and bottle

Remove the rosemary and grapefruit peels and pour the rice water into a spray bottle, straining out any leftover grains or springs.

I like to fill the bottle up ¾ full and use distilled water to fill it since the fermented rice water is extremely potent.

15. Add essential oils

Add 10-15 drops of tea tree oil, peppermint oil, and rosemary oil.

Shake and it’s ready to use. Put the remaining rice water in the fridge to stop the fermentation process.

To use: Spray the rice water on your scalp and roots. 

Work it in and then spray on the rest of your hair.

Benefits of this rice rinse for hair

This is a recipe to promote hair growth. Rice water contains amino acids that boost hair growth, strengthen hair, and increase shine.

It has vitamins and ingredients that support hair regeneration at the roots. It also has vitamins C, B, and E. Fermented rice water also increases the concentration of amino acids and makes it more potent.

Tea tree oil is antibacterial and antimicrobial, and amazing for stimulating hair growth. It can also help if you’re sensitive to fermented ingredients and are prone to dandruff. Peppermint oil is also amazing for stimulating hair growth.

Rosemary also boosts hair growth and has shown to be just as effective as 2% minoxidil, which is prescribed for hair growth.

Can I leave rice water in my hair overnight?

I do not recommend doing this. Leave it on for 20 minutes under heat with a plastic cap. Do not leave it on for over 30 minutes with heat, and 1 hour without heat.

Rice water for hair

That’s the finished rice water for hair recipe! Let me know what you think about this hair growth hack down below.

See you next time!