In 2023, the global shampoo market had an estimated value of $32 billion. But deep in the mountains of southern China’s Guangxi province, the women of Huangluo Village won’t be contributing a single dime to the industry – because apparently,it’snot worth it.
For the Yao minority of ethnic women, hair is their most prized possession.The ancient settlement is known across China as the “Long Hair Village” and is even recognised by the Guinness world book of records as the “world’s longest hair village”. They grow their jet black hair up to2.1 meters (6.8 feet) long, and manage to keep it looking strong and healthy (and free of greys) well into their old age. Their secret?They wash with fermented rice water. You know, that milky-colored liquid left over from rinsingor boiling rice. It’s been the secret to beautiful hair for these village women as well as imperial princesses in the East since ancient times.
Hair has always been a big deal for theRed Yao women of Huangluo,who get their name from the traditional red clothing. You thought you knew someone truly obsessed with their own hair? In Huangluo, it’s considered so sacredthat until recently, no one was allowed even so much as to look at a woman’sloose locks except her husband and children.
Hair swishing in public was a major ‘no no’, to the extent that if a local outside the marital home, or a foreign traveler caught a glimpse,they would be forcedto spend three years with the woman’s family as their son-in-law. These outdated rules were scrapped in the late 1980s, presumably as the influx of tourism to the region became a source of income for the remote village, once among the poorest in the province. This is no longer the case for Huangluo, and it’s all finallyfitting in rather wellwith the ancient belief that growing their hair long bringslongevity, wealth and good fortune. The longer the hair, the more fortunate one will be.
Alongside normal day jobs and duties in the village of82 householdsand400 villagers, women with Rapunzel-esque hair will sing and perform in groups several times a day, displaying their long hair for tourists, earning over $300 a month during his season.
The women of Huangluo can only cut their hair once in their lives, on their 18th birthday. But the chopped hair isn’t exactlysold offonly to find its way into a packet of Kardashian brand hair extensions. Here,it’s given to the girl’s grandmother and made into an ornamental headpiece. It’s ironically at this time, with an ear-length haircut that the young woman is supposed to begin looking for a lover. When she marries, the hair is gifted to the groom, and later becomes a part of hereveryday hairdo.
In fact, one might even say that the idea of hair extensions originally came from the Red Yao women, whose hair is actually made of three bunches: her own hair, the hair from before her wedding, and the third is made from the falling strings of hair, which are collected and and cared for every day. All threecome together to form an elaborate expertly wrapped hairstyle. Different hairstyles also represent the different social status of the bearer.
For example,if the hair is wrapped like a circular tray on top ofher head, it means she is married but has no children. If she is married with children, she’ll wear abun at the front of her wrapped style– perhaps to represent a baby bump? I’d like to think it’s a playon“bun in the oven”!
If she wears a scarfaround her head, with her hair remaining hidden, it means she is looking for a husband, who traditionally, would be the only man with the privilege to see her hair in all its beauty. Nowadays, once she’smarried at least,the people ofHuangluoseem to be a little more comfortable with sharing that beauty with the world.
So about that ancient shampoo. Essentially, it’s fermented rice water that has gone slightly sour. Rich inantioxidants, minerals, vitamin E, washing your hair with the stuff will make it shiny, soft, strong and healthy. It’s also known tohelp to heal scars and reduce fine lines, and inflammation, “leaving the skin with a healthy glow”. Okay, I’m starting to sound like a beauty column.
But seriously, Red Yao women claim that most of them don’t see a single grey hair until well past theage of 80.
A New York-based natural health consultant,Dr. Margaret Trey decided to give rice water a go and noticed that it cleaned her hair well without drying it out, noticing that it also felt strong, softer and more manageable. Now a regular user of rice water, she finds that when she occasionally goes back to a commercial-brand shampoo, her hair is immediately stripped of its natural oils and becomes “wispy and almost too fragile to brush” and thenhas to use a hair-repairing product to moisturise it. (I might be losing the guys at this point).
But for those of you willing to try out this ancient hair-washing method (because you’re worth it), here’s a few tips on how to make the Red Yao shampoo. It’s pretty simple.
How to Make Rice Water “Shampoo”
First, collect the rice water (not the water you use on theinitial rinse to get off any dirt). “If you cook rice two to three times a week, you should be able to collect enough rice water for two to three rice-water hair washes”, notes Dr. Taylor. She even suggests makingfriends with the staff at your favorite Chinese or Asian restaurant and bringinga plastic container to add to your stock! Then leave the rice water at room temperature for a day or until it turns slightly sour and starts to ferment. Boil it, then allow to cool and maybe add a few drops oftea tree, lavender or rosemary essential oils andstore it in the refrigerator. A 60-fluid-ounce container will usually last about a week and you can use the rest fora daily face wash.
Needless to say, I’m washing my hair with this stuff tonight.
Image sources: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7
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