DIY: How to Make Rice Water For Your Hair At Home

If you’ve spent any time on social media lately, you’ve likely stumbled upon some impressive videos showing the hair repair results of rice water, or searched for “rice water” after hearing about the healthy hair benefits of this treatment. Beauty influencers and celebs alike are professing their love for rice water after experiencing improved hair health, texture, and shine. Top experts agree that rice water is much more than hype—when it comes to bringing broken, brittle hair back to life, this ingredient is the real deal.

Typically, we don’t give much thought to the milky water we toss down the drain after we rinse our rice, but that’s all about to change. Rice water is loaded with hair-healthy vitamins and minerals and protein that transforms dull, lifeless, brittle strands into a healthy, strong and thriving mane.

About 80-90% of our hair is made up of keratin, which is a type of protein. When our strands are lacking moisture and craving protein, a rice water treatment can help create that perfect balance of protein and moisture to bring your hair back to life. One of the best benefits of rice water is that it’s easy to make. Chances are, you already have everything you need in your kitchen to make a recipe for this powerful, DIY treatment.

What you’ll need:
1/2 cup of uncooked rice
2-3 cups of water
Strainer
2 bowls
1 container with a lid
A spray bottle

Let's make rice water!

There are two popular ways to make water—soaking and boiling:

Method 1: Soaking the rice infuses the water with starch, vitamins, and minerals and helps the rice to ferment, which will restore the pH balance of your hair.

Method 2: Boiling the water releases all the vitamins and minerals into the water to add nourishment to your hair.

Pick the method that works best for you and your hair needs.

Soaking Directions:

- Pour ½ cup of uncooked rice into a strainer

- Swish the rice with your hands and thoroughly rinse the grains

- Add the rice to a bowl with 2 cups of water

- Soak the rice up to 24 hours at room temperature

- Strain the rice water into a clean bowl

- Pour the rice water into a spray bottle and save it in the refrigerator until you're ready to use it

Boiling Directions:

- Pour ½ cup of uncooked rice in a strainer

- Thoroughly rinse the grains of rice

- Boil 2 cups of water

- Pour rice into boiling water and boil until the water is cloudy

- Let the water cool

- Strain the rice

- Pour the water into a spray bottle

- Refrigerate until you’re ready to use! (Note: Store up to a week)

How to use rice water for hair:

When you’re ready to reap the benefits of rice water, simply:
Wash your hair with your favorite Briogeo shampoo
Towel dry your hair
Spray the rice water onto your hair and scalp
Massage into hair and scalp
Cover with a plastic shower cap or a plastic bag
Leave on for up to 20 minutes
Rinse thoroughly with cool water and style your hair as normal

Why protein + moisture balance is vital for hair health

A few minutes in the kitchen whipping up a DIY bottle (or two) of rice water is a quick way to soak up all the benefits of rice water, however it’s important to understand the delicate balance between protein and moisture when utilizing rice water. When your strands have the ideal balance of protein and moisture, your hair is healthy, happy, and thriving. Signs of imbalanced protein and moisture are:

Too much protein: Hair is brittle, straw-like, extremely dry and has split ends. You’re experiencing protein overload (link to upcoming protein overload blog)

Too much moisture: Hair is limp, lifeless, lacks volume and if your hair is textured, you’ll notice your waves, curls and coils aren’t as vibrant as they used to be. This is a condition known as hygral fatigue.

Hair repair magic with the power of rice water

This balance can be challenging to achieve on your own—that’s why we created a NEW 2-in-1 treatment that packs the power of protein and moisture in one convenient hair repair essential for stronger, healthier hair. Meet our NEW Don’t Despair, Repair™ MegaStrength+ Rice Water Protein + Moisture Strengthening Treatment—a professional-grade, at-home treatment that guesswork, messiness, and hassle out of DIY rice water hair treatments.

Check out the hair healthy ingredients that supercharge our most intensive treatment yet:

Powerful Advanced Rice Protein Complex (rice-derived water, protein, ferment, and oil): Strengthens hair cuticle + protects against damage
Rosehip Oil: Hydrates hair + minimize frizz
Algae Extract: Nourishes + strengthens hair
Biotin: Boosts hair’s elasticity + moisture retention
B Vitamins: Nourishes + Improves hair’s texture
Sweet Almond Oil: Reduces breakage for smooth, shiny strands