Yao Rice Water Recipe: Most Affordable Way to Get the Longest Hair

Yao Rice water recipe blew up on TikTok during the lockdown. Well, thanks to the creator who brought this amazing recipe to light. However, this is not something new to most Asian Countries. It dates long back to the Heian period, (794 to 1185 CE) in Japan, Women in the Japanese courthouses had floor-length hair. Since then, this recipe has traveled places and generations and today Huang Luo, a village in China, is famous for women with long, luscious pitch black hair. This Yao village in Longsheng, Guillen is recognized as the “world’s longest hair village” by the Guinness Book of record.

The Red Yao women can be called Living Rapunzels. For the Yao Women, long hair is the symbol of longevity and prosperity. In fact, they only cut their hair twice in their whole lifetime. Once at 100 days old and another chop at 18 years of age. After they get married and have babies, they put their hair in a bun, symbolizing a mother.

In this post, let me break down the Yao Hair Secret Recipe of the Red Yao Women. So, what is the Yao woman’s hair secret?? Apparently, Rice water is the secret to the longest Hair in the world, since time immemorial the Red Yao Tribe have used Rice water for their hair. Yes, you read that right?? in fact not only have they carried this tradition to this day but also shared the Yao tribe hair secret with the world. They do not use any other complicated treatments or products. Continue Reading and reap the benefits of this ancient beauty Ritual.

Yao Women Rice Water Recipe

The authentic Yao women Rice water Recipe uses White rice which is a staple in Asian countries. Who knew, that this pantry staple would be the most inexpensive and ancient beauty secret for long, black, silky hair? Rice Water is nothing but the milky, starchy liquid that is left after washing and straining the rice. It’s rich in Vitamins, minerals, amino acids, antioxidants, and a rich source of carbs, protein, and fat.

Rice presents a lot of benefits for hair such as;

• Regeneration of hair
• Reduces Surface tension and Hair elasticity
• Strengthens Hair
• Gives Lustre to Hair
• Fights Dandruff and Fungal Infections
• Products Hair from damage
• Balances and restores pH
• Conditions the Hair
• Gets rid of lice

to name a few, Find out how Rice water works on your hair HERE.

Yao Rice Water Ingredients

Yao Rice water recipe is a traditional treatment and the secret to the breathtaking long and thick hair of the Yao women. Although Rice is the star ingredient in this recipe, However it’s not the only one. Pomelo Peels, Ginger, Tea bran, and a special fleece flower root, native to china also hold their place in the ancient recipe.

• White rice
• Pomelo Peels
• Ginger Root Powder
• Tea Bran
• Fleece Flower Root

White Rice:

The Yao women's Hair secret is Rice. It keeps their hair strong, shiny, smooth, and black. Rice has a lot of vitamins, such as Vit. B, C, and D, it’s also rich in minerals, amino acids, and antioxidants which are extremely beneficial for hair. It is a rich source of carbs, has a moderate amount of protein and fat, a good source of Vitamin B complex- Thiamin/Riboflavin and Niacin. Vit B promotes the production of melanin which prevents the greying of hair.

What’s surprising is that even the 80-year-old woman has pitch-black Hair. No signs of greys at all. Starch in Rice water helps reduce surface tension, increases hair elasticity, and brings luster to hair. Protein in rice water helps with the strengthening and regeneration of hair.

Pomelo Peels:

Pomelo is a kind of citrus Fruit. We can use here any kind of citrus peels as citrus peels are the key component of VIT C, iron, zinc, Magnesium, and potassium. Citrus fruits are rich in SPERMIDINE, which is a hair growth promoter and you may call it an anti-hair loss agent.

Spermidine directly impacts on the growth, cycling, keratin expression, and epithelial progenitor functions of Human Hair Follicles. Due to its anagen-prolonging effects, spermidine deserves rigorous clinical testing as a candidate anti-hair loss agent. It could become an adjuvant therapy for hair loss disorders associated with premature catagen induction, leading to telogen effluvium, and/or reduced hair shaft production.

Moreover, the antibacterial properties of Citrus peel combat dandruff and promote a healthy scalp which is important for healthy hair. Read more about Citrus peel benefits for skin HERE.

Tea Bran:

Yao Women use tea bran in their Recipe. Therefore, they do not need any shampoo or soap to clean their hair further. The saponins in the tea provide soap-like properties to the Tea Bran. It is the by-product of the tea grown in the Longsheng region.

Tea bran hair washing powder. It is characterized by comprising tea bran powder, tea saponin, guar gum, sodium dodecyl sulfate, essence, and borneol. According to the weight ratio of each raw material, the above raw materials are put into a mixer for mixing and then packed into small bags. The invention has the following significant effect: the tea bran hair washing powder has the advantages of preventing and healing alopecia, removing scurf, sterilizing, relieving itching, and the like.

Tea is rich in Catechins, which help in reducing DHT (Dihydrotestosterone). DHT causes Hair loss. Tea Bran also acts as a humectant to help moisturize and condition the hair.

Ginger root/ Ginger:

Ginger is a scalp-stimulating ingredient packed with nutrients and antioxidants. It stimulates blood flow to the scalp, increasing blood circulation in the scalp. Hence, promoting hair growth.

Fleece Flower Root:

Fleece flower Root also known as He Shou Wu, is the most ancient and prominent herb in Chinese medicine. Best known for its anti-aging and rejuvenating properties. It promotes Hair Growth and widely used in various herbal products for promoting hair growth, since the Tang Dynasty (713 A.D.) in China.

Fresh River Water:

The idea is to use natural here, Fresh river water has all the minerals, such as ZINC, COPPER, IRON, AND CALCIUM. While iron and zinc bring shine and luster to hair. Calcium prevents hair loss and Copper promotes hair pigmentation.

How to make the Yao tribe Rice water

• Foremost, take 1 cup of rice and 2 cups of water. Move your hands through and get rid of the impurities by draining this water. Take 4 fresh Cups of water and rub the rice gently in your palm two to three times. You will notice a white milky liquid will appear. This is called Rice Water.
• Yao Women use a clean clay pot for this Recipe, add the rice and water into the pot. Heat on an open flame until the water boils. Start adding the rest of the ingredients that is Pomelo Peels, Tea Bran, Ginger, and fleece flower root into the rice mixture. Keep stirring and let it simmer for 10 minutes.
• Then strain out the water and let it cool down. Once it cools down, transfer it to an airtight jar/ bottle (preferably glass) for three to seven days. Leave it undisturbed in a cool and dark place for three days to begin the fermentation process.
• After three days, give it a stir and continue for 4 days more. This is where the real magic happens. The Yao women keep the rice water to ferment for seven days.
• Once the fermentation is done, you will find a glutinous rice water solution, the magic potion ready to be used as the most affordable hair treatment ever.

Application

• Deep Wide Bowl/ Bucket
• Stool
• Fresh River Water
• Wooden Comb
• Headwrap

Now that we have made the Yao Rice water recipe, let’s find out the real technique used by the Yao women for applying this magic potion.

First of all, you will need a deep and wide bowl or wide mouth bucket for this treatment. As the Yao women wash their heads upside down. Also, find a comfortable place to do this, as keeping your head down for long might get uncomfortable for some. I prefer it on the basin, Find your comfort zone, sit on a stool or stand by the basin like me.

So, now that you have a bowl, dunk all your hair in it and start pouring the rice water. Pour it slowly covering every inch of your scalp. Make sure the water runs into the bowl only, you don’t want to waste a single drop of this magical potion. Massage your scalp gently with the leftover gelatinous mixture. Collect the water from the bowl and repeat this rice water rinse for four to five times. Trust me!! the process is so relaxing and soothing. The citrus aroma of the orange peels is so refreshing.

Now, keep this mixture on for 20 minutes. Cover your hair with a head wrap or a Cotton T-shirt. One important thing to note here is that after the rice water rinse, the Yao Women clean this mixture off with fresh river water and let the hair air dry.

Furthermore, They comb their tresses with a Wooden comb again keeping their head upside down. This will increase blood circulation, which enhances the blood supply to the head, hence to the hair cortex and the cuticle. Moreover, they tie their hair in buns and motifs and cover it with a headscarf to protect it from harsh sun and wind.

Modified Rice Water Recipe; Your Women Rice Water Recipe

Don’t get confused with my weird sense of humor. By Your, I mean “Mine” here. So, I know most of us would not get all the ingredients available at our places. So, we simply skip certain things, eventually to keep them authentic. I made this recipe with the ingredients listed below, Skip the fleece flower root here. Although tea bran is available on Etsy and flower fleece root powder is available on Amazon, not in my place though. You can get these from etsy.

Ingredients :

• White Rice
• Citrus Peels( Orange/ lemon/ Grapefruit)
• Ginger
• Dried Tea Leaves/ Green tea or you can use Soap Nut Powder (Also known as Reetha)
• Distilled water/ Reverse Osmosis(RO) water

Application:

The application is the same, the only thing that will change here is water. You can use distilled, Ro, or any filtered water to rinse of the rice mixture. The idea is to prevent any chemicals from building on your scalp after the nutrient-dense head bath you just had.

Points to Note:

It’s better to use the Yao women’s rice water recipe on a clean scalp, as it allows better absorption in the hair. So you can clean with a gentle shampoo, use a scalp brush for increased blood circulation and remove any kind of build-up. Rinse with clean water. And then start the rice water rinse. Sometimes I do this ritual the following day I shampoo.

Only keep this on for 20 minutes, leaving it for more time period can cause dry and brittle hair

Always monitor the glass jar, as fermentation takes place in three days. However, it can be ready in one or two days depending on the temperature of your location. Never store the jar near high-humidity places, like in the kitchen or washrooms. High humidity and high temperature can lead to mild or spore formations in the Rice mixture. As a matter of fact, For such places, simply keep it on for three days maximum and keep it in the fridge to stop further fermentation.

You can use this mixture for a month when kept under refrigeration. Use and keep the leftover in the fridge.

The quantity of the rice will depend on how long, or short your hair is.

That is it, ladies!! I am sure it will intrigue you to try the Authentic Yao women's rice water recipe after this.

Do share your experience gals!! and for my gals who couldn’t collect all the ingredients, don’t get disheartened, use “YOUR” Women Rice water Recipe, I promise it works great too. Try to let me know. Till then, share, and save this post on Pinterest or simply spread the word. Because

Sharing is caring!!

XOXO