If you grew up in a hot Indian town, you know khus. The wet curtains in the window that made the room smell like rain on soil. The green sherbet in summer. Your grandmother dropping a few roots into the matka so the water tasted cooler.
That same root, vetiver, has sat in Indian hair oils for a long time. Here's what it actually does, and what it doesn't.
What khus is
Khus is the root of a tall grass that grows across India. The roots are dried and sold in bundles at most markets. Its oil is thick and smells earthy and woody, a bit like the ground after the first rain.
Why it goes into a champi oil
- It feels cooling. Same reason it's in summer curtains and sherbet. On a scalp that feels hot and itchy after a long day in a helmet or under a dupatta, that cool feeling is welcome.
- It calms the smell of the oil. Plain coconut oil smells like coconut oil. A little khus makes the whole champi feel more like a ritual and less like a chore.
- It slows you down. The smell is heavy and grounding. Most people massage longer when the oil smells good, and the massage is half the point.
What it won't do
Khus won't make your hair grow overnight or stop hair fall on its own. Anyone who promises that is selling you something. What a regular champi does is keep the scalp clean, soft and less dry, and that's a good place for hair to grow from.
How to use a khus oil
- Warm a few spoons of oil slightly. Rub the bottle between your palms or keep it in warm water for a minute.
- Part your hair and apply along the partings.
- Massage in small circles with your fingertips, not your nails, for five minutes.
- Leave it on for at least 30 minutes, or overnight with an old towel on the pillow.
- Wash with a mild shampoo. Twice if your scalp is oily.
Where you'll find it
Our Muladhara scalp oil is cold-pressed coconut and almond oil with khus, rosemary and lavender. We made it for the scalp and roots, two or three times a week. If your lengths are dry and rough, pair it with Pranavahi on the ends.
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