Does rice water actually help with hair growth? We asked dermatologists

According to TikTok, the secret to fuller, healthier hair could lie in an ingredient that's sitting in your pantry.

Rice water, the liquid left behind from soaking the grain, has been making the rounds on the app as a savior for drab locks. Videos featuring the #ricewater tag have garnered one billion collective views, with users saying that it has helped them boost hair growth and revive damaged hair.

Despite the recent surge in popularity, the practice isn't anything new. It actuallydates all the way back to the Heian Period (794 to 1185), when Japanese court ladies famously had floor-length hair. It's said that they combed it every day using Yu-Su-Ru, or the rinse water from the washing of rice.

So, should you be adding the ingredient to your hair care regimen? We asked experts to share their thoughts on the trend.

Does rice water help your hair grow?

From a scientific perspective, there isn’t any research to support the benefits of using rice water on your hair, says Dr. Caren Campbell, a board-certified dermatologist in San Francisco. She pointed to one 2017 study on rice mineral bran extract, which showed that the ingredient may be helpful in preventing hair loss and enhancing hair growth, but she added that it is just one limited study.

That being said, rice water has some other potential benefits. "It has antioxidants, which can theoretically help calm down inflammation on the scalp," says Dr. Robert Finney, a board-certified dermatologist in New York City. "It usually contains the compound inositol, which has anecdotally been shown to increase the growth phase and also decrease friction amongst the hair shafts." It also has amino acids, which can help your strands look firmer and healthier.

The water contains starches, which can also contribute to the appearance of fullness, Finney adds. They create a separation between the hair shafts and as a result, make your mane temporarily look thicker.

Fermented rice water is acidic, so when you rinse your hair with it, it restores and balances the pH of your hair, adds hairstylist Julian Guerrero. "We’ve been seeing hair care brands bring the benefits of rice to hair products, from cleansers to styling creams."

Finney warns that using it too often can cause a protein overload, especially in those with very dry or low-porosity hair, that can lead to further dullness and dryness. So, if your hair falls into those categories, it might not be the best choice for you.