The use of rice water as a hair treatment has become increasingly popular, according to research, the residual water left behind after you rinse rice prior to being cooked offers serious benefits to your strands. Now when it comes to low-porous hair, we all know is a special type so you need to learn exactly how to use rice water on low porosity hair to get the most out of it.

Rice water is rich in nutrients, especially proteins and Inositol that help with hair growth; this may sound counterproductive since the last thing low porosity hair needs is the extra dose of protein, this is because cuticles in this type of hair are packed together which leaves very little room for moisture to be absorbed.
So most people miss out on the benefits of rice water on low porosity hair since this type of hair doesn’t readily absorb water and treatments. If you use hair care products, they tend to stay on the surface of your hair rather than being absorbed. This makes hair care treatments less effective.
However, this doesn’t mean you shouldn’t know how to use rice water on low porosity hair. All the contrary, learning how you can use rice water on low porosity hair, means your low porous strand will get all the goodness from rice water. Keep in mind when you know how to use rice water on low porosity hair, rice water can help reduce wear and tear of the hair and can increase hair elasticity.
Best Shampoo: Maui Moisture Lightweight Hydration + Hibiscus Shampoo + Conditioner
⇣ Jump to ReviewBest Leave-In Conditioner: Mielle Organics Pomegranate & Honey Leave-In Conditioner
⇣ Jump to ReviewRice Water On Low Porosity Hair Advantages
- Rice water is thought to contain many of the vitamins and minerals contained in rice. These include amino acids, B vitamins, vitamin E, minerals, and antioxidants. This means that rice water helps to add shine, soften, and smooth the hair without the use of chemicals or heavy products.
- Advocates of using rice water for hair believe it helps in detangling the hair, makes hair smoother, increases shine makes hair stronger, and helps hair grow long.
- Another beneficial component of rice water, inositol, is a vitamin-like substance often found on the ingredient lists of hair growth supplements.
- The starch in rice water naturally coats the outermost layer of hair. This not only helps boost volume and thickness but also creates a smoothing effect for frizzy hair types and split ends.
- Rice water acts as a gentle cleanser and toner, so it can help remove traces of buildup or to refresh the scalp. Due to the content of the amino acids, it could also help to nourish the scalp, however, there is no scientific data to show that it has any benefits to promote hair growth.
Rice Water On Low Porosity Hair Recipe
Soaking
- Rinse and strain one cup of rice to remove any dirt or impurities that you don’t want to apply to your hair.
- Mix the strained rice in a medium-sized bowl with the water. You should mix until the water becomes pretty cloudy.
- Strain the rice, this time reserving the water. Store the rice for later, or cook it up!
- Put the rice water in a plastic container and cover it. Let the rice water sit at room temperature for 12 to 24 hours. This allows it to ferment and all of the yummy vitamins and minerals to come out. Tip: Don’t let it sit for over 24 hours.
- Refrigerate the rice water until you’re ready to use it.
- Fill a small container, like a travel-sized shampoo bottle or a small jar, with rice water for application. Keep the rest in your fridge.
Boling
- Cover ½ cup of rice with double the water typically used for cooking
- Cook the rice in boiling water
- Strain the rice water into a clean bowl before use
- The leftover water is what’s used in the hair
Rice Water On Low Porosity Hair Step By Step Routine
Step 1 Apply rice water
Simply use it whether that’s once a day or once a week. Pour rice water onto their hair or spray the rice water onto your hair until it’s fully saturated.

Step 2 Focus on the scalp
When applying the rice water, try to really focus on your scalp and work your way out. Massage the rice water into the hair and scalp.

Step 3 Put on a shower cap
Put on a shower cap and wait for 15 to 20 minutes. A shower cap traps your body heat, which can help your tightly closed cuticles open up and allow more of the rice proteins to penetrate your strands.

Step 4 Rinse
Let it sit for a few minutes, and then rinse the hair thoroughly using warm water from the tap. You’ll probably notice immediately how strong and thick your hair feels.

Step 5 Shampoo: Maui Moisture Lightweight Hydration + Hibiscus Shampoo + Conditioner
You want to continue with your usual shampoo and condition routine. We like Maui Moisture Lightweight Hydration + Hibiscus Shampoo + Conditioner.
With exotic hibiscus water, lush passion fruit, and juicy watermelon, this blend is perfect for easily weighed down, low porosity hair as well as instant transportation to endless summers.
Maui Moisture starts with a unique blend of aloe vera juice and is infused with pure coconut water, unlike some other hair products that start with deionized water as their first ingredient listed.
The results? Moisturized strands, mended split ends, and a healthy glow with every use. Uncover soft, smooth, and weightless strands with Maui Moisture Lightweight Hydration + Hibiscus Water collection.

Step 6 Apply leave-in conditioner: Mielle Organics Pomegranate & Honey Leave-In Conditioner
Apply a leave-in conditioner to promote moisture and prevent protein overload. Then dry and style your hair as normal.
Mielle Organics Pomegranate & Honey Leave-In Conditioner, fuses pomegranate extract, honey, babassu oil, citrus extracts, and other natural, restorative ingredients to moisturize and strengthen thick, curly hair.
The weightless, nutrient-rich leave-in conditioner smoothes and soothes dry, damaged, and dull hair instantly without weighing it down or leaving behind a greasy or sticky residue.
This daily replenishing protectant quenches even the unruliest Type 4 hair, taming stubborn frizz and flyaways while defining curly hair for bouncy, shiny locks and long-lasting hydration.
How to use Mielle Organics Pomegranate & Honey Leave-In Conditioner:
- Apply from root to tip
- Style as usual

Rice Water On Low Porosity Hair Additional Tips
- Due to the small spaces between cuticles in low porosity hair, large molecules in rice water can quickly accumulate. It is called protein overload. When you can observe dryness and brittleness in your hair, that’s a sign your hair is getting too much rice water.
- The recommendation is to use it for 20 minutes and only once or twice a month. The key is always to master moderation or suffer breakage as a consequence. Do a patch test on a section of your hair if in doubt. If the section feels brittle after spraying rice water, dilute the rice water.
- Always keep in mind never to leave rice water on your hair without rinsing it out. As well as avoid the use of other protein-rich products to prevent protein overload. You also want to cut the use of rice water on low porosity hair if it’s making your hair dry or brittle.
Common Question About Rice Water On Low Porosity Hair
Can you use rice water on low porosity hair?
Rice water for low porosity hair is very beneficial. If you’ve ever wondered, if rice water on low porosity hair is good, here is the answer: rice water is good for low porosity hair as long as it’s used with caution and moderation.
Low porosity hair has cuticles that are tightly packed and overlap each other making it harder for water and other elements such as the rice protein to penetrate the hair shaft.
Why you should use rice water on low porosity hair in moderation?
The proteins and starches from the water can coat the outside hair without being absorbed into the shaft. This coating can further make it difficult for moisture or oils to penetrate the hair shaft, leaving low porosity hair even drier.
You need to limit the use of rice water to once or twice a month to prevent protein overload on hair. This will ensure your low porosity hair gets the benefits of rice water without any of the side effects.
How often should you use rice water on low porosity hair?
If you have low porosity hair then you need to be cautious about using rice water. What you want to avoid is protein overload so most hair experts recommend rice water for low porosity hair to be used once a month or between 8-10 weeks.
Are there risks of using rice water on low porosity hair?
If you leave it on too long, it can potentially dry your hair out and cause more harm than good. Avoid the treatment altogether if you have very fine or thin hair since rice water could weigh it down.
Can you use rosemary oil for low porosity hair?
Absolutely! rosemary can help balance the levels of proteins in low porosity hair making it less prone to brittleness. It’s also got antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties so it’s good for scalp health as well.
In fact, rosemary oil is among the best oil for low porosity hair as it’s lightweight. If you have low porosity hair, you will notice that most hair products will rest on your hair but do not get absorbed.
What is the difference between high porosity hair and low porosity hair?
Low porosity hair has a tightly bound cuticle layer, making it difficult for moisture to penetrate (but also difficult for moisture to escape, once it’s in your hair.) On the other hand, high porosity hair has gaps and holes in the cuticle, allowing moisture to easily pass in and out.
Is aloe vera good for high porosity hair?
Aloe vera gel and coconut oil contain those ingredients that will help your high-porosity natural hair to respond better with time. The use of these ingredients in your mane will help seal in the moisture, which is key for your hair.
Rice Water On Low Porosity Hair Video Tutorial
Products Mentioned In This Article
- Maui Moisture Lightweight Hydration + Hibiscus Shampoo + Conditioner
- Mielle Organics Pomegranate & Honey Leave-In Conditioner
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