Can rice water really stimulate hair growth?

Beauty influencers swear by this ancient Asian practice to boost hair, but does it work? Who doesn’t want to look like the magnificent Gemma Chan in the comedy movie ‘Crazy Rich Asians', all cheekbones and luscious locks? Can mere mortals like us ever really get hair that looks long and shiny? Well, some social media influencers would suggest that we can; by using rice water… 

Before you run to the shops for some Tilda rice – there is a caveat here. The scientists are still out on whether this really works, but there are plenty of real-life stories of it helping with hair growth. If you’re suffering severe hair loss, then see your GP, as there may be a health issue that needs to be investigated. But for those of you who fancy giving this a whirl, it’s easy enough to do at home. There are two main ways to make rice water:

1. Boil the rice

Cook rice as per the instructions, but add more water than usual: when the rice finishes cooking, strain it and save the rice water 

2. Soak the rice

Rinse a cup of rice and add 2-3 cups of water, then let it soak for at least 30 minutes 

Once the rice water is ready, shampoo, condition and rinse your hair as normal. Then pour the mixture over your hair. Leave it to soak in for 20 minutes, then rinse it off thoroughly with warm water. 

Why rice water?

Its advocates believe that rice water helps hair to grow. It does contain some key ingredients for healthy hair, including:

• magnesium: an essential mineral which is crucial for many of the body’s functions

• vitamin E: an important antioxidant which has been shown to help with hair growth in people who have alopecia

• vitamin B: key for hair growth

• zinc: essential for hair tissue repair and growth

What else can you do?

Some hair loss is normal, but if you think you are losing too much, then the other important things to remember are to eat a balanced diet and be gentle with your hair – give the heated tongs a rest for a week or so!

So why not try out the rice water trick today? There’s nothing to lose except some Basmati! Watch out, Gemma Chan, we’re coming for you!