Is rice water a "miracle cure" for smooth hair as rumored?

“Rice water was described as a miracle drug when I was a young girl growing up in the Yangtze River Delta in Zhejiang, China. My grandmother used it to water plants and said it was also good for washing dishes, washing face and washing hair,” a Chinese woman told SCMP.

“Rice has always been an important part of my family’s daily meals, but I was skeptical about the benefits of the water left over after washing rice. This water is said to contain many nutrients, antioxidants and antiseptics,” she added.

"My childhood doubts resurfaced after seeing the hair care trend emerging on social media platforms like TikTok. Celebrities like Cardi B and Kim Kardashian have been praising the benefits of using rice water when washing their hair."

Washing hair with rice water or other grain water such as wheat and corn has long been a tradition in many Asian countries.

The Chinese Book of Rites, a collection of texts from the late Warring States period (475–221 BC) describing social and ceremonial forms, also mentions the use of grain waters.

Several villages in China have a tradition of using rice water to wash their hair, including Huangluo Yao Village in the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region in southwest China, which is known as the “world’s longest hair village.” There, more than 70 women have hair longer than 1 meter.

Instead of using shampoo and conditioner, they wash their hair with spring water and fermented rice water with yuzu peel, herbs and camellia oil and then boil it.

Court ladies in Japan during the Heian period (794-1185) were also said to have combed their hair every day with rice water.

So is rice water a good hair care method in today's era?

“A lot of the information about rice water treatments is anecdotal,” says Andrea Clark, a hair and scalp specialist based in Hong Kong and Melbourne, Australia. “There needs to be more scientific evidence behind these hair treatments. Health is the key to better hair.”

Rice water is said to contain essential vitamins, minerals and amino acids - the ingredients that make up strong, shiny hair. However, science has proven that these nutrients can be provided from the food we eat, which can nourish hair follicles from within.

If someone is experiencing hair loss or is trying to grow their hair, they should not expect to get their hair back by using rice water. Experts advise that the priority should be to find out why hair loss is occurring.

“If you're unwell, have dietary issues, or are stressed, these can all be underlying causes of hair loss,” says Clark.

There is no strong link between long hair and rice water. A report from China Central Television (CCTV) showed that women living in a village near Huangluo Yao Village, who also used rice water to wash their hair, did not have long, black hair.

CCTV quoted a professor as noting that the difference in hair characteristics between the two villages could be due to genetics.

Clark agrees that hair growth can be influenced by genetics as well as diet and health. She says getting good sleep, reducing stress and eating healthily are key to healthier hair growth.

Some popular Asian foods like seaweed, tofu, and beans are rich in protein and amino acids. Herbs like angelica, fo-ti, and schisandra can help with blood circulation and prevent hair loss.

“There is no one treatment that works for everyone,” adds Clark, who has been a hairstylist for more than 40 years. She is skeptical about the effectiveness of popular hair treatments on social media, including rice water.

She says if you really want to try this hair treatment for yourself, wash your hair first and don't leave the rice water on your hair for too long, leaving it on for a maximum of 20 minutes before rinsing it out.

People with skin conditions such as eczema should be extra cautious as sometimes even natural remedies can irritate the skin.