How to wash one’s hair with rice water is one of the top trending searches for hair care recently, but it is actually an ancient hair care method with a long history in Asia. Japanese women in the Heian period (794-1185 CE) had floor-length hair and they kept their hair healthy by soaking it in rice water. Chinese women in a village called Huangluo in China generally have hair over 6 feet long, and they don’t even get gray hair until they reach their 80s.

At the end of this article, you will learn how to prepare rice water for your hair and tips to make the best use of it!

What is actually rice water?
Rice contains 75-80% starch and is a great beautifying aid. And rice water is the starchy water after the rice has been left to soak in it for a certain amount of time. It is said to be packed with rich nutrients that soothe inflammation in the scalp and dryness in the hair, including:

•      Amino acids
•      Vitamin B
•      Vitamin E
•      Minerals
•      Antioxidants

Advocates of hair treatments using rice water believe that:

•      It makes hair smoother and detangles the hair
•      It makes hair stronger and increases luster
•      It helps hair grow longer faster

Although it is rich in nutrients and used throughout history as a hair care ingredient, are all the beneficial values of rice water promoted on the internet true?

Myth: Does rice water help hair growth?
Except for the two Food & Drug Administration-approved chemical growth treatments available on the market, anything placed on the surface of the scalp will not make your hair grow. Hair growth is related to your genes and proper hydration of your body.

However, the rich nutrients such as inositol (vitamin B8) and protein in rice water can penetrate hair strands and help close the pores and gaps in the cuticles of damaged hair, preventing breakage and strengthening the hair. By reducing the breakage of hair, it helps retain hair and increase the hair volume that makes your hair appear to be growing at a faster rate. In reality, your hair grows at the same normal rate but looks more luscious and more voluminous as there is a decrease in hair breakage and hair loss.

8 simple steps to make rice water for natural hair:
1. You can use any type of rice: White rice / Brown rice / Wild rice / Basmati / Jasmine organic rice, etc.

2. Rinse the rice to wash out dirt and impurities with water.

3. At this stage, simply drain the water without letting the rice soak in the water for a long time to avoid the loss of nutrients.

4. After draining out the “dirty” water, add fresh water to the rice to soak. Depending on your preference, this is the range of ratio for making rice water:

• 1 tablespoon of rice to 1 cup of water, or, 1 jar of rice to 3 jars of water
• You can use any type of containers but you must be able to cover the soaking rice with a lid or a cover to seal the container.

5. Not everyone likes the strong smell of rice water, so you can add some citrus peel and a few drops of essential oil to the water (we recommend putting 1-2 drops of essential oil per ounce/30ml) to balance the scent.

6. Let it sit (covered) for at least 30 mins.

7. Stir it slightly or knead the soaked rice lightly until the water turns cloudy to help vitamins and minerals seep into the water.

8. Drain the freshly made rice water into a clean bowl or container for use.

You can even further ferment the rice water for better hair care performance!

Fermented rice water enhances the level of nutrients contained in the rice water. It is richer in antioxidants, minerals, vitamin B, vitamin E, and other substances that make it more beneficial and powerful than freshly made rice water.

2 more steps make fermented rice water:

1. After the first 6 steps above, instead of draining your rice water into a clean bowl, drain it into an airtight container.
2. For fermentation: Store in a warm dark place for 12-48 hours (i.e. allow half a day to 2 days for fermentation).

Depending on your hair type, you can boil the fermented rice water (or not) before you use it on your hair. Try both options and see which one works better for you. 

If you decide to boil the rice water, the smell of the water will be even stronger. You can add some citrus peel to the rice water while it boils and adds a few drops of essential oil after the water has been boiled and cooled. Stir until the essential oil is evenly distributed in the water.

Beware that as fermented rice water can be very potent, you may need to dilute it with warm water before use.
 
Store You Rice Water
You can store the rice water in the fridge for up to one week and shake well before use.

Ways to use Rice water / Fermented Rice Water
After shampoo, use it to rinse your hair and massage gently. We suggest a quality paraben-free, silicon-free and sulphate-free shampoo. The Iles Formula shampoo ticks all these boxes and is for all hair types.

Exclusive tips for you: Pay attention to your Hair type before using rice water!

People with dry and sensitive scalp

• People with dry and sensitive scalp should not overuse rice water. Restrict the use of rice water for no more than once or twice a week.

Protein-Sensitive hair: Avoid using too much protein

• Rice water contains a lot of proteins that may lead to protein overload.
• Protein and moisture treatments are very different and excessive use of one of them can eventually harm your hair.
• Usually, if your hair is stringy and limp it means that your hair needs more protein, whereas if your hair is hard and coarse, it generally has too much protein.
• If you have protein-sensitive hair, your hair will turn even more dry, stiff and brittle quickly after using hair products with too much protein. Once this happens, stop using any protein products for a while and just use moisturizing products until an optimal protein-moisture balance is achieved.

This comes to you from Iles Formula

Over the past two years, my already-fine ponytail has dwindled down to a quarter of its size. I’ve tried everything to reverse the trend: Going off birth control; going on a hiatus with my colorist; trying every hair-growth supplement under the sun. I had four failed hair trials for my upcoming wedding before I finally accepted defeat: I wouldn’t be able to wear my hair down as I had always wanted to, because my hair had become nearly see-through. I know I sound melodramatic (it’s only hair, after all), but it was devastating.   

Cue my excitement when a colleague suggested I meet with a trichologist to get to the root of the problem. For those unfamiliar, trichology is a subset of dermatology that focuses on scalp and hair health. Semblance of hope restored, I booked an appointment with Stephen Pullan, a consultant trichologist (aka hair doctor) for the Philip Kingsley Trichological Clinic in New York. Here’s what he taught me:

Birth Control Might Be a Factor
As mentioned, I had gone off birth control in the hopes of restoring my natural hormone levels. But as Pullan told me, that actually might have been a hindrance to my hair growth, as many birth controls can actually stimulate follicles. According to the clinic, “oral contraceptives that use drospirenone have the potential to be more favorable for hair follicles, as there is a lower androgenic affect.”

...and Ferritin Levels Definitely Are
PSA: Low levels of ferritin—a blood cell protein that contains iron—is the leading cause of hair thinning in women. Pullan instructed me to get a ferritin test to check whether my iron stores were low. But after sharing my standard weekday meals (a banana on the way out the door; veggie and grains salads for lunch), he assured me—no test needed—that my iron levels were definitely not up to snuff. He sent me home with a Tricho-complex supplement (a blend of iron, B12 and vitamin C) as well as gelatin proteins to take twice a day.

Hair Needs to Eat in the Morning
As new information to me, I learned that hair is a “non-essential tissue,” meaning the human body doesn’t prioritize its nutritional needs first and it’s the first place to visibly suffer when nutrition isn’t up to par. The most important hair meal (sorry, banana on the go) is breakfast: Energy to form hair cells is lowest when you first wake up, so you need extra protein in the morning—plus complex carbs, vitamins, minerals and tons of water for a healthy hair diet.

...And to Be Coddled
I replaced my brush with a wide toothcomb and have been using a detangling spray every time I comb my hair to avoid split ends and breakage. I’ve laid off heat styling entirely and now brush my hair super, super gently. While I’ve yet to get my blood work done to deduce whether something larger is at play, I can happily say that my locks are shinier and more voluminous after just seven weeks of the regimen.

This article was found on PureWow

Male-patterned baldness is nothing to be ashamed about—but it’s also nothing to ignore. If you attack hair loss at its first sign, you can stop baldness before it takes hold. Thinning hair happens to most of us in some form as we age. But only those who blow it off now will wake up one day and realize: “Oh no—I’m bald!” And once you cross the threshold and develop the dreaded “bald spot,” it’s extremely difficult to reverse your hair loss.

But it can be done. Scientific research on hair loss has ballooned over the last few decades, and what was once considered an unstoppable sign of aging is now a symptom that can be treated, if not cured. You just need to find the right hair loss product for you. And while the science is advanced these days, there’s still no miracle solution, no “magic bullet” to cure hair loss in everybody. Thus far, the only effective method way to find the hair loss product for you is to experiment until you find one that works.

What Causes Hair Loss?
Science has determined that the number one factor in hair loss and thinning hair is the production of dihydrotestosterone, or DHT. DHT is a hormone—an androgen that helps give us men our maleness. But as we age, DHT can cause our hair follicles to shrink, leading to hair loss.

It’s also been linked to prostate health. This is why many men who experience urinary issues are told by their doctors to take a saw palmetto supplement, an herbal DHT blocker. It can decrease the size of the prostate and improve urinary health. But it can also spur hair growth. You’ll find plenty of synthetic DHT blockers on the market and on our list. But if you prefer an all-natural hair loss solution, saw palmetto supplement is the way to go.

Propidren combines the natural benefits of saw palmetto with biotin-based DHT blockers, in a handy pill form that’s not too expensive. So you get the best of both worlds. With 90 percent of Amazon users giving it a perfect five-star rating, it was impossible for us not to pick it as our best overall hair loss product.

What are some of the other hair-loss products and treatments we recommend?

• Amplixin Intensive Growth Serum—If you’re just noticing your hair beginning to thin, get on this train now and stop baldness before it takes hold;
• Nutrafol—This all-around supplement contains not only DHT blockers but ingredients to improve your sleep and reduce stress, which aids in recovery and spurs hair growth;
• DrFormulas HairOmega 3-in-1—This vitamin supplement contains a full spectrum of vitamin E (keratin) as well as DHT blockers;
• Prime Beard—If you can’t fill in your scraggly beard, try this stuff, which promises to improve overall hair,s kin, and nail health.

Before you begin the process of trying hair-loss products until you find one that works for you, here’s something to keep in mind: Most if not all hair-loss products will stop working as soon as you stop using them. But once you find a product that seems to work—and you need to give it at least three months before you can expect results—you must use it, or you’ll lose it. Simply maintain a regimen—like brushing your teeth—and you should have a mane like Momoa in no time.

​Click here for the Pros and Cons of the recommended products.

Bad haircuts happen to all of us. But whether your bad new ’do is a result of chasing after cheap haircuts or pursuing a cut that doesn’t work with your facial structure, hair texture, or overall look, you’re going to want to learn how to fix a bad haircut, stat, because sometimes, waiting for your hair to grow out just isn’t an option.

But first, how do bad haircuts happen? According to hairstylist Kali Ferrara of the Roy Teeluck Salon in New York City, it’s usually not because of an objectively bad stylist.

“A bad haircut doesn’t always mean that a stylist doesn’t have good technical skills,” Ferrara says. Even good stylists mess up sometimes: “Not being able to give the right cut to a certain hair texture or not educating a client on the maintenance they’ll have to follow up with can ruin a client’s image for well over a year.”

To avoid a bad haircut, look for a stylist with experience cutting hair that is similar to yours. Ask for recommendations from people on the street with great-looking hair of the same texture as yours (they’ll appreciate the compliment, Ferrara promises) or look at a stylist’s social media to get a sense of what kinds of cuts they typically show off.

Ferrara recommends screenshotting pictures of work the stylist has previously done that you really like; that way, you have a definitive idea of what you want when you arrive for your first haircut with them. Once you’ve found a stylist you like, learning how much to tip for a haircut can ensure a positive stylist-client relationship (and good haircuts) for years to come.

How to fix a bad haircut

Let’s say you prepped and did your research (or maybe you didn’t—we’re all busy) but still ended up with a not-great cut or color job. Whether it’s the result of shoddy workmanship or just not what you initially pictured (if your pixie haircut is more of a bob, for example), you have some options.

“Most salons have a one-week policy for a client to have an adjustment to their cut or color free of charge,” Ferrara says. “Don’t feel timid about going back. As stylists, we really want you to be a happy customer because we value you and also want you to be our walking billboard.”

The key is to be understanding and patient—with a little compassion on your end, the stylist will likely do everything in their power to fix your bad haircut. And if you’re still unsatisfied, ask for the manager and see if they can have another stylist try to fix it or offer you a refund, Ferrara suggests.

Beyond returning to get your cut fixed (and likely having to lose some length to do so) or waiting for your hair to grow out, there’s not much else you can do to fix a bad haircut, Ferrara says—and that’s okay. A bad haircut might feel like a disaster in the moment, but a few months later, you might not even remember it.

“Everyone is human,” Ferrara says. “Stay calm and carry on. Hair is a big part of a person’s persona, but let’s be real: It does grow back.”

This article was found on Real Simple

Just because men have less hair, it doesn’t mean it should go uncared for. You might think it’s enough to go to the barber and get a haircut every once in a while, but the truth is your hair needs good care to make sure you’re looking your absolute best. In order to make your life easier, here are a few simple tips every man should take to have a good hair care routine:

Drying your hair the right way
When the hair is wet, it is prone to damage and rubbing hair with a towel can harm the outer layers of hair which leads to split ends and fizziness. Instead, you should pat dry your hair and gently stroke it in the right direction. 

Once the excess water has disappeared, you can use a blow dryer. To reduce the noise and avoid waking up those around you, a quiet hair dryer can be used to dry out the remaining wetness and leave your hair looking neat, sharp and shiny. 

Choose your hair products wisely 
Using natural shampoos ensure that the ingredients are all-natural and good for your hair. Other shampoos include chemicals that are very harsh on the hair, whereas natural shampoos can promote growth, strength and hair thickness. 

Avoid over-washing 
It’s ok to take a shower every few hours, no one will complain – except your hair. It is not good to wash your hair over and over again as it prevents the production of essential oils that the hair and scalp need, leaving it dry and frizzy. It is advised to wash your hair only 2-3 times per week. 

Use conditioner 
Unlike popular belief, conditioners are not just a luxury that women use to untangle hair. Conditioners should be used with shampoo to moisturize the hair, make it stronger and add a bit of shine to it. 

Be gentle with your hair 
When you come to comb your hair, use gentle strokes without yanking and pulling at it. If you’re combing after you’ve used conditioner, the hair strands will be soft and moisturized allowing the combing to be easy. But, if not, just make sure you’re gentle. 

Visit your barber frequently 
Getting a hair trim can help keep your hair healthy and grow the right way. That’s why you should stop putting off your visit to the barber and try to make your trims once a month. This will greatly benefit your hair in the long-run.

Use the right tools for your hair 
Using a good quality comb with a wide-tooth can ensure that you’ll get your hair all nice and neat without pulling excessively at the hair strands. If you’re unable to find a good quality comb, it is better to use your hand to style your hair rather than a low-quality comb.


Looking good does not require much effort. Just changing a few habits can make sure that your hair is not only looking healthy, but also neat, tidy and attractive. It’s time to start putting that extra few touches to have amazing looking hair.

This article is from Fashionably Male