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Is there anything better than going to a hair salon and receiving a head massage at the sink? No, I don’t think there is. It’s one of the highlights of getting my hair done, and to be honest, the quality of the massage is the deciding factor for me. But it’s not just the skilled hands that make this part of a salon visit so appealing. In Ayurvedic culture, there is a long tradition of head massages, called champi, which help promote hair growth, improve blood circulation and reduce stress levels.
Thanks to TikTok, discussion around hair oiling has skyrocketed, with many believing this ancient technique stimulates hair growth and improves the overall health of their hair. But this isn’t just a social media trend – there’s thousands of years of practice to back it up. One of the leading brands bringing South Asian traditions to the mass market is Inde Wilde. Founded by Dipa Brar Kosia, she wanted to bring her family’s beauty methods and ingredients to as many people as possible, and this month the brand became available in all Sephora UK stores and online. One of its key products is Inde Wilde Champi Hair Oil (£29).
Buller-Khosia’s mother, Sangita Khosla, is one of Buller-Khosia’s biggest inspirations, as she created the brand’s signature hair oil formula. She owes her Rapunzel-length locks to regular hair oiling. Before Buller-Khosia, I thought hair oils were just about oiling your hair and letting it saturate, but after learning how the product could improve my self-care routine, I fell in love with it. Now, using hair oils is like meditation and makes me feel relaxed. The way my hair feels crinkly (is that the right word?) after using Inde Wilde Champi hair oil has me a little hooked, as well as the scent.
Read on to find out how to use hair oil properly and we’re sure you’ll fall in love with this ancient practice.
A step-by-step guide to oiling your hair at home
1. Brush your hair
This helps to detangle hair and distributes the oil naturally throughout your strands. Plus, it makes it easier to reach your scalp as you massage it. Buller-Khosia recommends using a neem comb (a comb with wide teeth) when brushing your hair. This acts as an anti-inflammatory tool for the scalp, helping to prevent scalp infections and increase blood circulation to the scalp.
2. Heat up the Champi hair oil
Place the bottle in a bowl of warm water. Warming the oil helps it be absorbed more easily and penetrates deeper into your scalp.
3. Identify the marma points
These are the acupressure points used in Ayurvedic medicine – Adipati (top of the head), Simanta (back of the head) and Krittika (lower part where the head meets the neck).
4. Try Shiatsu
This involves applying light pressure to these points in a circular motion starting at the top of the head and working down to the neck.
5. Close your eyes
This should involve closing your eyes and focusing on your breathing, says Buller-Khosia, and she also suggests repeating positive meditative affirmations to yourself to set the intention of good, happy, healthy hair.
6. Massage with Champi Hair Oil
Gather your hair in a bundle and apply one pipette of Champi Oil along your scalp, starting from the crown and working your way down. Repeat until every strand is covered. Massage with your fingertips in circular motions, just like you would in the shower, to work the oil deeply yet gently into your scalp.
7. Make sure your scalp is covered
Massage all over the scalp, around the ears and behind the neck.
8. Avoid scrubbing too hard
Always be gentle – gently massage the hair follicle, imagining you are waking it up and encouraging it to grow.
9. And we repeat…
To see the best results, practice Champi head massage and oil techniques at least once a week.
Lauren Ezekiel is Deputy Editor at PS UK, writing about all things beauty and health. With a degree in journalism and 12 years’ experience as the beauty editor of a major Sunday supplement, Ezekiel is obsessed with skincare, hair and make-up and can often be found doling out advice to innocent bystanders. Ezekiel’s work has appeared in Grazia, OK, Health and Beauty, The Sun, ASDA, Dare and Metro.
