HUANGLUO: Don’t throw out the rice water

These ladies are from Huangluo, a minority Yao village in the Longji Terraces at the base of the mountain. It’s more famously known as the Long-hair Village.

According to local tradition, women cut their hair only once in their lives ― at about 16 to 18 years old when they’re considered ready for adulthood and marriage. The cut hair is kept like a headpiece, and twisted into part of their regular hairdo.

The women wear their hair differently depending on their marital status.

The woman on the left is married but has no children, while the one on the right is married and has kids.

According to our local guide, they wash their hair every two to three days with “rice water” (water used to rinse rice) in the nearby river.

The women can undo their hair, and tie it back up in just minutes, consistently combing it during the process.

Visitors can see this at the “official” show in the village ― for 60 yuan ($11 CAD) per person ― that includes about an hour of singing and dancing and concludes with the women unfurling their hair.

Or you can quietly arrange your own “unofficial” show that takes a few minutes and costs a “tip” of 20 yuan.