Everyone has been talking about using fermented rice water for dreadlocks, especially those who have used it first-hand for growing and strengthening their hair. So, I had to test it out for myself to see what’s all the rave about. Well, I’ve noticed a few things, and I’m about to share them with you.
What Correlation Does Rice Water Have With Hair Growth?
Rice water, when fermented, is known to contain a lot of essential vitamins that are beneficial to the hair, one of which is called Inositol, which is known to promote faster hair-growth and elasticity to both hair and skin. Fermented Rice Water when used correctly, is said to yield good results.
My Honest Review of Fermented Rice Water
I decided to try this magical natural hair growth and hair strengthening remedy to see if it really worked. I noticed a few things after using the rice water treatment on my dreadlocks.
First off, I tried it as a hair treatment, which I eventually washed out after a few hours. I liked the results from this method, and would recommend this rinse to others with mature locs. However, there a few important steps to follow if you want to see great results.
Leave-in Rice Water Rice Versus Rinsing it Out
The second method I tried when using the rice water for dreadlocks, is the leave-in one. That one didn’t go so well for me. I was initially planning on leaving it in and continuing to use it as a daily spritz, but as the hours went by, I noticed that the smell was not that pleasant, even though I had dropped some lavender essential oil in it.
The next day I had to wash it out, however, it still left a weird smell in my hair. As gross as it may sound, I did hear that the more fermented and smelly it is, the more potent it is for your dreads. The fermented rice water is packed with a lot of nutrients that helps to keep your hair healthier as well as restores its sheen.
Valuable Tips for Using Fermented Rice Water on Dreadlocks
When using rice water on your dreadlocks, you want to follow some of my tips carefully to prevent a disastrous outcome. Remember that our hair are not the same as loose natural hair, so things can easily get stuck between the locs. Therefore, it is very imperative that you follow these simple tips below.
If you are making your own rice water, you should make sure that you rinse the rice first, throw off that water, add new water, and then leave the rice in a covered glass bottle to soak for at least 24 hours. Place the bottle in a dark area, such as your cupboard.
If there’s leftover rice water, after using a spray bottle to soak your hair, you can just place it in the refrigerator to prevent it from getting real smelly.
Preventing White Residue From Rice Water in Dreads
This next step is very important. When you are throwing off the rice water from the soaked rice after 24 hours, you should strain the water off, because if you look closely at the water, there are a lot of small particles in it.
If you don’t strain the rice water, whenever you use that water in your dreads, all those white stuff will get embedded in your locs. I know you wouldn’t want that to happen, so make sure you don’t skip this step.
Keeping Rice Water Nice Smelling
The first time I used the rice water in my dreads, I dropped some peppermint oil in it, and by the next day, the water didn’t have a bad smell. All I could smell was the peppermint scent. So, if you’re concerned about the rice water smelling, just add a little peppermint essential oil to the water.
How Often Should to Use Rice Water for Natural Hair
I would recommend using it whenever you are doing a wash, whether it’s weekly or every other week. For some people like myself, you may wish to rinse it out, then add conditioner to your hair, and then rinse again. But make sure that you let it sit for an hour or so in your hair with a steam cap, so that your hair can soak up as much as the nutrients as possible.
Can Rice Water Make Dreadlocks Hard?
Unfortunately, some people have mentioned that their dreads have become hard after using rice water. However, it could be because they used it as a leave-in conditioner instead of rinsing it out, or they may have issues with an overload of protein, and had a reaction to the fermented rice water.
You can avoid that issue by simply using it was a treatment during your wash routine, and then making sure to rinse it after each shampoo session.