Looking for a guide to help you make fermented rice water at home? Let us help you out! The health benefits of fermented rice water are numerous. Fermented rice water is nothing but water that is used to soak rice.
This water will be rich in various vitamins, amino acids, and other minerals that can benefit your health in numerous ways. Experts have even attracted historical evidence of people using fermented rice water for hair care.
After knowing how the usage of rice water escalates one’s health in various ways, more people depend on this natural way of beauty enhancement rather than on artificial chemicals.
In this article, we will see how to make fermented rice water and also learn about its benefits.
About Fermented Rice Water
One of the most common cooking ingredients found in South Asian households is rice. The water used to soak the rice is considered one of the best natural beauty ingredients. For some people, depending on their geographical area, cold and dry air can adversely affect their skin texture.
It can also mess up your hair and its strength. Rather than going for costly and artificial beauty ingredients for your skin and hair care, we suggest you simply try fermented rice water. You heard it right! This easy-to-make fermented water can be of great help to your skin and hair.
People in India, China, Korea, Japan, etc., have been making use of the benefits of fermented rice water for a long time.
Being passed down through generations, somewhere along the way, the booming popularity of artificial beauty products made such natural sources of health nourishment fade out gradually.
Fortunately, the internet has been beaming again now that people are realizing all the benefits fermented rice water can offer for their health.
Benefits of Fermented Rice Water
Rice is considered a storehouse of various minerals and vitamins. This makes the water used to soak rice also rich in antioxidants, minerals, amino acids, and vitamins. Applying fermented rice water to your hair will close your cuticles, making them stronger.
The nutrients contained in fermented rice water make it an excellent natural hair conditioner. In no time, you can make your hair smooth and soft. Repeated usage of fermented rice water for hair care will result in longer and stronger hair.
The antioxidants present in the rice water also benefit your skin. The application of fermented rice water to your skin will smooth your skin’s texture and tighten the skin’s pores. You can use it as a very good natural skin care product to treat pimples, dull skin texture, and uneven skin tones.
If you feel that your skin is suffering from aging, you can try applying fermented rice water to it. Amino acids, minerals, and antioxidants can slowly stop the aging of the skin.
An enzyme called elastase is responsible for skin aging. Applying rice water will stop the work of this enzyme. Apart from these, you can make use of fermented rice water to avoid the oiliness of the skin and heal sunburns. The antioxidants and minerals present in rice water will boost collagen synthesis in the skin.
Fermented Rice Water vs. Normal Rice Water
While discussing the health benefits of fermented rice water, it is not uncommon for anyone to get confused between normal rice water and fermented rice water. Normal rice water obviously has health benefits; there is no doubt about that.
However, as per a study conducted by experts in 2012, it was proven that fermented rice water is best for skincare and haircare due to its high nutrient content compared to normal rice water. As per that study report, it was found that the fermented rice water was rich in antioxidants.
These antioxidants help a lot with healing and producing healthy hair as well as skin cells. This is the reason why fermented rice water is a common ingredient in almost all beauty and skincare products.
How Do You Make Fermented Rice Water?
Making fermented rice water is very easy. All you’ve got to do is get a cup of rice and some water.
Get 12 cups of rice and wash it well with water first. This will help remove all the impurities in the rice. Once you are convinced that the rice is well-washed and looks clean, soak it in 2 cups of water for 2-2.5 hours. This can be done by transferring the rice to a different, bigger cup. After soaking, you can store the water in an airtight container.
Keep it in a cool place overnight till the next day. Let the water ferment well. After a day or two, you can stir the water and separate the liquid. Store the liquid in a tight container, and your fermented rice water is ready to use!
Usage of Fermented Rice Water for Hair
Once the fermented rice water is ready, you can transfer it into a small bottle used for storing oil or into a spray bottle at your convenience. You can also try adding a small amount of castor oil to this container. This mix can boost hair growth in an effective manner. Shake this mix well and apply it on your head well enough so that the water reaches your hair roots. Massage well and leave it for at least three hours. It is better if you massage your hair with rice water and let it stay in your hair overnight.
Usage of Fermented Rice Water for Face
One of the reasons for the sudden popularity of fermented rice water is that it can be a natural face beautifier. This 2022 study conducted by experts proved that the starch content in fermented rice water is best for treating damaged skin. Below are some ways of applying fermented rice water to your face for face care.
Using Fermented Rice Water as a Toner
- Store fermented rice water in a spray bottle and keep it in the fridge to cool.
- Whenever you require refreshment, you can spray this cool rice water on your face.
- During the summer, it is recommended to mix a tablespoon of lime juice and/or cucumber juice with this fermented rice water before applying it to your skin.
Fermented Rice Water Cubes
- You can store the fermented rice water in an ice cube tray.
- Whenever you feel irritation or itchiness on your face, you can rub these fermented rice water cubes on it.
- Rubbing Fermented Rice Water ice cubes can relax your pores and refresh your skin.
- If you get sunburned, applying and rubbing these cubes of rice water can be of great help.
Fermented Rice Water Pack
- Take two tablespoons of fermented rice water and mix it with two tablespoons of lime juice and one tablespoon of aloe vera gel.
- Mix this solution until it forms a thin paste.
- Apply this natural face pack to your face and rinse it off after 15 minutes for best results.
Final Word
If you are looking for natural haircare and skincare options, look into your household items before spending a significant amount on artificial beauty products. The benefits of fermented rice water have been proven even by historians.
They have found that women in the Heian period (794–1194 CE) had longer and healthier hair strands as they had a practice of bathing in fermented rice water.
The Yao women in China are a modern-day example of how using fermented rice water helps with hair nourishment, as they all have visibly long and healthy hair.
We hope this article helped you learn how to make fermented rice water and its benefits.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will Applying Fermented Rice Water Make the Skin Glow?
It is proven that applying fermented rice water to the face reduces hyperpigmentation and makes the skin look more bright and clean.
How Often Can I Use Fermented Rice Water for Skin and Hair Care?
As no chemicals are present in the fermented rice eater, you can use it daily to increase the health of your skin and hair. It is to be noted that you will see progress and visible results only with repeated usage of rice water for hair and skin care.
