Champi
The South Asian practice of massaging oil into the scalp and hair, the root of the English word shampoo.
Also: hair oiling, head massage
Champi is the Indian tradition of oiling and massaging the scalp and hair, from the Hindi champo, to press or knead. Coconut oil is common in the south and mustard or sesame oil in the north, often warmed, and the oil is worked in with the fingertips and left for hours or overnight before washing. In many families it is a weekly ritual between mothers and children. The word travelled to Britain in the 18th century and became shampoo.