Rice Mask 101: How This Grain Can Emphasize Your Beauty!

Who said rice is just for eating? Discover the amazing ways that this common household item can be incorporated into your beauty regime.

bowl of rice for a rice mask

If you haven’t heard of rice hair masks, then where have you been? This beauty trend is not only affordable but also a very natural approach to maintaining healthy hair right from your home. So stop wasting money on expensive products that leave you unsatisfied and upgrade your routine with this amazing DIY. In this article, we will explain the scientific reasoning behind this mask as well as: 

  • History of Rice Masks
  • DIY Rice Mask Recipes 
  • Why Healthy Hair is Important

So if any of this sounds appealing to you, then you’re in the right place!

How is Rice So Powerful?

Rice has so many benefits both when it comes to eating as well as hair. It is packed with nutrients that helps strengthen hair bonds as well as moisturize dry hair follicles. So before you decide to give yourself a big chop, see if you can repair your hair and make it healthier than ever. It is important to remember that the key to healthy hair is a consistent routine! So remember that it's important to be patient when it comes to great results.

Rice contains a series of nutrients that support hair growth and help it maintain moisture. These nutrients include:

Amino Acids: Amino acids are an essential element when it comes to protein synthesis, which is valuable when it comes to strengthening hair bonds. If your hair is feeling brittle, especially due to overwashing, you need to begin to incorporate more protein into your routine. It absorbs into the hair shaft and helps improve its texture and resilience! If you have curly or wavy hair, this can also help improve your natural curl patterns!

Inositol: Inositol is a carbohydrate that is responsible for stimulating cell production which can help new hair follicles to form! If you feel like you are beginning to lose a lot of your hair due to chemical enriched products, inositol can help stimulate new hair growth and allow you to regain that full appearance once again. While this may take some time, when paired with other stimulating ingredients such as rosemary oil, this process can be accelerated even further!

Vitamin B1, B3, and B5: If you feel as if you have a sensitive scalp that easily gets irritated, dry, or itchy, then a rice hair mask is perfect for you. Due to the rice containing vitamin B1, B3, and B5, it helps soothe the scalp and allows it to retain moisture. So if you feel like your scalp is getting too dry, especially during the hotter months, this mask can help you get your healthy hair back!

Antioxidants: While we all love using hairspray to keep our hair perfectly styled and in tact, oftentimes it can lead to damage due to the free radicals it contains. It is important to utilize hair masks as a way to fully cleanse the hair especially when the product is consistently being used on it. Product build up can lead to oily hair as well as stunt hair growth. 

Having healthy hair can help you gain confidence and feel more open to trying out new styles

woman touching her hair
Have the healthy hair you’ve always dreamed of!

Have the healthy hair you’ve always dreamed of!

The History of Rice Masks

Although it has been a trend recently, this beauty hack has been around for centuries! Rice hair masks were very popular in ancient China, Korea, and Japan. However, they remain extremely common even to this day! China adored using rice as a hair mask because they believed, and still do, in a holistic and natural form of medicine and treatment. And a similar concept was present in Korea as rice remains a common ingredient in their skincare as well.

When it comes to beauty, sometimes less is more! There is no need to go out and buy a wide variety of products that are typically geared towards those with damaged hair. Typically these high end products contain silicones and sulfates which make the hair appear healthier, however, in reality it just temporarily covers the damage. So why not get to the root of the problem and start your routine today? 

DIY Rice Mask Recipes

Now that we know about all the amazing benefits, let's get into some recipes!

Standard Rice Water Rinse

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup of rice
  • 2-3 cups of water

Instructions:

  1. Rinse the rice thoroughly to remove any starch.
  2. Soak the rice in a bowl of water for 30 minutes.
  3. Strain the water into a clean bowl.
  4. Apply the rice water to your hair after shampooing.
  5. Allow the rice water to sit for 10-15 minutes. 
  6. Rinse thoroughly.

Repeat this process 1 to 2 times per week!

2. Rice and Aloe Vera Mask

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup of cooled cooked rice 
  • 2 tablespoons of aloe vera gel

Instructions:

  1. Mash the cooked rice into a smooth paste.
  2. Mix in the aloe vera gel until it is combined into a thick paste.
  3. Apply the mixture to your hair (start from the roots and gradually move towards the ends).
  4. Let this mixture sit on the hair for 20-30 minutes
  5. Rinse thoroughly with warm water.

This recipe is great for those dealing with dry scalp or dandruff because aloe vera also helps soothe the skin. If you feel like your hair has become brittle, it may be time to focus on maintaining better scalp health for an overall healthier appearance. 

3. Rice and Rosemary Oil Mask

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup of rice 
  • 1 cup of water
  • 1 rosemary sprig

Instructions:

  1. Rinse the rice to remove the starch. 
  2. In a pot, combine the rosemary sprig with the water until it boils (just like you’re making tea).
  3. Remove the rosemary sprigs and allow for the rosemary water to cool.
  4. Mix the rice water and rosemary water.
  5. Saturate the hair (this can be done in a bowl or via a spray bottle)
  6. Leave this on the hair for 20-30 minutes and rinse or you can even leave it on overnight!

This hair mask is perfect for those who struggle to grow out their hair and really want that long length without having to reach for hair extensions. As previously mentioned, rosemary oil helps stimulate the cells on the scalp and allows for new follicles to grow and existing follicles to gain length. So if you cut your hair too short and may be regretting it (don’t we all) don’t fear! Our rosemary and rice hair mask will have people wondering how your hair grew back so fast!

person at a spa
Relax, you deserve it!

Why Healthy Hair is Important?

While your appearance isn’t everything, our hair can reveal a lot about your overall health. If you struggle with hair loss it may be a sign that you are deficient in certain vitamins and may need supplements to help or focus on maintaining a nutrient rich diet. Healthy hair can also help prevent premature hair loss and give you an overall more vibrant appearance. While most people struggle with hair insecurity, it is important to remember that you are beautiful just the way that you are and these tips are solely to help you improve upon the natural beauty that you already have! These hair masks are also perfect for an at home spa day to destress from a long week or a great activity that can be done with a group of friends! While this article may be coming to an end, there are other helpful beauty tips waiting to be discovered, right at your fingertips! 

Giselle Amador

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