How often should I use rice water?

How often should I use rice water on my face?

No validated daily or weekly schedule exists for homemade rice water as a facial rinse or toner. Rice water has a long history of use for washing the face, but a tradition is not an appointment calendar. That history alone is not a reason to use it every morning, every evening or several times a day.1

There is also no established facial contact time, layering order or timeline for visible results. A hair rinse method should not become a facial routine by default. Research on rice derived cosmetic ingredients includes extracted cellulose and hydrolyzed proteins, which are proteins broken into smaller pieces; those ingredients are not the same preparation as water from a bowl of soaked rice.13

How should I use rice water on my hair?

For hair, the practical guidance is clearer about how to apply rice water than how often to repeat it. If you want to try it, use it as a rinse after washing rather than assuming you need a daily treatment. No proven weekly frequency or benefit from more frequent application has been established.2

1. 1Rinse the rice, then soak it in water for 30 minutes to two hours.
2. 2Strain the rice out of the water.
3. 3Wash your hair, then apply the rice water to your hair.
4. 4Leave it on for about 20 minutes.
5. 5Rinse it thoroughly out of your hair and scalp.

Choose the short soak rather than leaving rice to ferment for a day or longer. A long soak can introduce bacteria, while boiling can diminish some nutrients. Fermentation is not a necessary step in this hair rinse method.2

What results should I expect?

The starch in rice water acts like a conditioner on the hair's outer surface, helping reduce friction between strands. Hair growth claims remain unproven, even if the kitchen cupboard has been promoted to a salon. There is no established number of applications or waiting period that produces longer hair.2

When should I avoid it?

Avoid rice water on an inflamed scalp because it can add irritation. Leaving the mixture on your hair or scalp without rinsing thoroughly can also irritate it. If irritation develops, stop using the rinse rather than trying to solve the problem by changing the weekly schedule.24