Rice water to grow hair: does it work? – GOOD SHAPE

The internet loves a self-care recipe, even more so if it’s for the hair! Truth be told, between moistening with olive oil and avocado masksit’s hard to know what really works.

One of the tactics that have gained popularity on social media in recent weeks is the use of rice water to make hair grow. With more than 500 million views on TikTok, the hashtag #ricewater, that is, “rice water” in Portuguese, has become a success on fast video networks.

Among them, many claims that celebrities like Kim Kardashian and Cardi B make use of the recipe to stimulate hair growth. Now, let’s understand if this actually makes sense?

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HOW HAIR GROWTH WORKS

“The growth of the threads basically depends on the genetic programming of each individual”, explains the Dr. Anna Cecilia Andriolodermatologist specializing in hair and scalp diseases.

O hair cycle It consists of three phases: growth, rest and hair expulsion. Each of the strands we have on our scalp goes through this process, and the longer the growth phase (called anagen phase), the greater the growth in length of that strand.

“Normally, hair growth is around 1 cm per month”, he explains. “Some hair diseases, such as baldness, can decrease the anagen phase and impair growth.”

According to the doctor, the treatments aim to reverse this situation, increasing the time of the anagen phase, but still respecting the genetic programming of each person.

One of the most famous compounds for this process is minoxidil, widely used by men and women dealing with alopecia. However, Dr. Anna immediately warns: there is no scientific evidence that rice water, despite its popularity, actually has an effect on hair growth.

THE QUESTION OF HOME RECIPES AND THE USE OF RICE WATER

Another important point: according to the scientific bias, there is no evidence that homemade recipes work for hair growth. We have already commented before, including the danger of using food to treat hair – in the “hair mask” style, for example -, but there are still many popular tales, propagated from generation to generation, which, supposedly, prove its effectiveness.

An important issue is that homemade rice water is not prepared for cosmetic use. “We cannot measure the safety and effectiveness of this use. Furthermore, it is interesting to remember that, despite being ‘natural’, there is the possibility of developing contact dermatitis and allergies”, explains the dermatologist.

There is a reason, however, why rice is used as an ingredient in some hair and even skin care products. The milky solution from rice is rich in starch, contains niacin, vitamin E, antioxidants, amino acids, Kojic acid, inositol and other properties that are beneficial to the hair, promoting shine and hair hydration.

“As a rule, there is no formal recommendation from dermatology for the use of homemade recipes such as rice water, for example. For the growth, strengthening and beautification of the hair shaft, always look for a dermatologist”, he concludes.