Searches for rice water and hair growth have roughly doubled in the US over the past year. It is worth looking at what has actually been studied.
Where the idea comes from
Rice water is the starchy water left after soaking or boiling rice. It is linked in popular writing to the women of Huangluo, a village in China known for very long hair, who wash their hair with fermented rice water. That is a tradition and a story, not a clinical trial.
What the research shows
The best-known review is a 2022 systematic review in the Journal of Drugs in Dermatology by Hashemi and colleagues at the University of California, Irvine. It looked at ten studies, six on efficacy and four on safety, but on rice bran, not rice water. The authors described the evidence as promising, mainly from lab and animal work, such as effects on hair growth signaling and on the 5-alpha-reductase enzyme. It also noted that rice bran extract appears safe for cosmetic use.
That is early evidence. Much of it comes from cells and animals, and the review does not show that rice water grows human hair.
What medical sources say
WebMD, with a medical review, says there is anecdotal evidence for rice water, and no scientific evidence that it grows hair. It also notes that studies of rice nutrients often involved people who were deficient, and mostly looked at oral intake, not products used on the scalp. If you are losing hair, it recommends seeing a doctor, because many causes have proven treatments.
If you want to try it anyway
- A short soak is simpler than fermenting, which can introduce bacteria.
- Patch test first, especially if you have eczema.
- Rinse well. Rice water can leave hair feeling stiff.
About our hair spray
Sagestry's Rice Water Hair Spray is a cosmetic. We do not claim it treats hair loss or makes hair grow. We wrote this article because people are asking, and the honest answer is that the research is early.
General information, not medical advice. See a doctor if you are losing hair.
Sources
- Hashemi K, et al. A Systematic Review: Application of Rice Products for Hair Growth. J Drugs Dermatol. 2022;21(2):177-185.
- WebMD, What to know about rice water for hair (medically reviewed Sept 27, 2024).
