Rice water for 4c hair growth
If there is one thing that we can all agree on, then it’s that finding the perfect 4c hair care routine has a lot to do with trial and error.
That’s why here on 4chairstyles.com we always observe trends in the natural hair community from afar until they are proven to work. One of the trends that surfaced in the last few years has been the use of a rice water treatment for 4c hair growth.
While I am not too sure when the craze around the use of rice water started I know that multiple 4c hair YouTubers and bloggers have since jumped on the bandwagon and swear by its positive effects on natural hair.
Therefore, I decided to try out the rice water hair treatment for myself. After all, I don’t have much to lose but a little rice.
Is rice water good for 4c hair?
While there is no scientific evidence for the benefits of rice water on hair, there is anecdotal evidence that the grain does indeed promote healthy hair growth.
Rice has a rich amount of protein as well as vitamin c, and folic acid that leads to longer and stronger hair. In addition, the starchy water includes inositol, which is a carbohydrate that helps protect and repair hair, effectively reducing hair loss. By doing a rice water hair rinse you reduce friction between hair strands and increase hair elasticity while giving your hair shine and softness.
Is rice water good for low porosity hair?
But how about if you have low porosity hair? In contrast to high porosity hair, your hair does not easily absorb water, which means it is much more difficult for moisture to penetrate your hair. And while the effect of a rice water rinse can still differ from person to person, it generally causes more damage than good. If you have low porosity hair then the rice water can create a protein build-up on your hair that will cause dry hair.
How do you make rice water for 4c hair?
Making rice water for 4c hair growth is not as complicated as you might believe at first. It’s actually very simple and the steps below only take a few minutes. It is also a very affordable natural hair protein treatment, as you only require rice and something to cover up the smell. In my case I simply used oranges, but you can use different essential oils such as castor oil or even coconut oil as well.
What you need to make rice water:
- White rice
- Water
- 1 Orange
- Mason jar
- Hair spray bottle
The method we are using in this tutorial is the Yao Technique, as used by the Yao women of China. The Huangluo Yao Village is often referred to as the land of Rapunzels because many of the women who live there have beautiful long hair. And the secret behind it is that for centuries these Asian women have been using plain rice water rinses to grow healthier hair. Luckily, their hair hack can be replicated right at home.
- Insert 1/2 cup of uncooked white rice in a bowl
- Add 1/2 cup of water to it and rinse the rice properly
- Strain out the water
- Add 2/3 cups of water to it
- Peel one orange and add the peels of it to the bowl
- Let it all soak in a mason jar for at least 24 hours (the Yao women ferment their rice for up to 30 days)
- Strain out the rice and orange peels
- Pour the strained water into a spray bottle
Now the rice water is ready to be used on your 4c hair.
How to use rice water for natural hair
While the traditional Yao women use rice water as their shampoo, most 4c naturals use it as a deep conditioning treatment or a pre-poo treatment. This is because you can comfortably use rice water multiple times per month, while you want to avoid shampooing your hair more than twice a month. In order to achieve the best results, you want to use your rice water like this:
- Wash your hair with natural hair friendly shampoo
- Rinse out the shampoo
- Spray rice water onto your hair roots
- Massage the rice water into your hair and scalp
- Leave it on for up to 20 minutes
- Rinse your hair thoroughly with warm water
The one thing that is important for your hair health when using rice water for 4c hair growth is that you don’t leave it in. Make sure you rinse it out completely and add a moisturizer to your hair afterward. Note that too much rice water can have a drying effect on your hair and therefore women with a dry scalp should not overuse it in their hair treatment.
All in all, rice water is a great treatment for any hair type and there is no doubt that Vitamins, amino acids, and inositol lead to beautiful hair. However, just like with any other natural beauty product it depends on how your hair responds to it.