How to use a Kansa wand: a five-minute Ayurvedic face massage

A Kansa wand looks almost too simple to need instructions: a smooth metal dome on a handle. What it does well is give a face massage a shape. Instead of a vague intention to "massage your oil in", you get a sequence you can repeat with your eyes half closed at the end of the day.

This is the sequence I use, what you need for it, and how to look after the wand so it lasts.

What is a Kansa wand?

Kansa is the Hindi word for bell metal, an alloy of copper and tin. In Indian households it has long been used for bowls, plates and massage tools. A Kansa wand is the facial version: a weighted bell-metal dome on a handle, made for slow face massage with oil.

Ours are handcrafted in India, which is where both the tool and the tradition come from.

What you need

• Clean skin. Cleanse first, and leave your face slightly damp.
• A face oil. Three or four drops. This matters more than anything else on the list, because the wand should glide, never drag.
• The wand.
• Five minutes. Three is fine. You do not need twenty.

How to use a Kansa wand, step by step

Hold the wand by its handle and let the weight of the dome do the work. The pressure should be light. If your skin goes red or feels sore, ease off.

1. Oil first. Warm three or four drops of face oil between your palms and press them over your face and neck. If the wand starts to pull at any point, add one more drop.

2. Forehead. Start at the centre of your forehead and work outwards to the temples in small, slow circles. Do this three or four times.

3. Around the eyes. Use the smaller end, very lightly. Trace along the brow bone and then under the eye, moving out towards the temple. Keep off the eyelid itself.

4. Cheeks. Sweep upward and outward along the cheekbones, from beside the nose out towards the ear.

5. Jaw and neck. Glide along the jawline from the chin towards the ear, then finish with long, light strokes on the neck.

6. Press in what is left. Put the wand down and press any remaining oil into your skin with your palms. At night, if your skin is dry, seal it with a thin layer of Universal Balm.

That is the whole sequence. Once you have done it a few times it takes less thought than brushing your teeth.

How often should you use it?

Daily, or a few times a week, whatever you will actually keep up. A few minutes of gentle massage is enough. Evenings are easiest for most people, because the oil can stay on overnight and you are not rushing out the door. If you like the idea of a steadier evening rhythm, I wrote about the Ayurvedic daily routine in dinacharya.

Skip it over broken skin, a fresh breakout or anything sore, and come back when it has settled. If something does not settle, that is one for your GP.

Which face oil to use with a Kansa wand

Any face oil with enough slip for the dome to glide. I use Seed Glow Face Oil, because it was the oil I made for my own skin and it has no fragrance and no essential oils. Three or four drops on damp skin is the right amount for a full face and neck.

If you already have a face oil you like, use that. The wand does not need a special one.

Why a Kansa wand can leave a grey mark

Sometimes you will see a faint grey tint on your skin, or on the dome, after a massage. It is common with bell metal and washes off with your usual cleanser. Wipe the wand afterwards and it will not build up.

How to care for your Kansa wand

Wipe it clean with a soft cloth after each use and keep it dry. Store it somewhere dry between uses, not in a steamy bathroom. That is all it needs.

Kansa wand vs gua sha

Both are facial massage tools used over oil, but the shape changes the technique. A Kansa wand has a rounded dome and is used in slow circles and gliding strokes. Gua sha usually means a flat stone or metal tool held at a shallow angle for longer, more targeted strokes. If you like the idea of a slower, circular massage, the Kansa wand is the one.

What a Kansa wand does, honestly

Used regularly as part of a facial massage, it leaves skin looking smoother, softer and more radiant, and it makes your oil step feel like a few minutes that belong to you. That is a good enough reason to own one.

Common questions

Can I use a Kansa wand without oil?
No. On dry skin the dome drags instead of gliding. Always use a few drops of face oil first.

Can I use it in the morning?
Yes. Use a little less oil so it has time to settle before makeup, or blot any excess with a tissue.

Can I use it with a balm instead of an oil?
An oil gives the glide. Massage with oil first, then press a thin layer of balm on top at the end if your skin is dry.

Is it safe to use around my eyes?
Use the smaller end with very light pressure, along the brow bone and under the eye, and keep off the eyelid.

Continue reading

• Abhyanga: what oiling your own skin actually does
• How to use facial oil: the right way
• Dinacharya: the Ayurvedic daily rhythm, and the three parts worth keeping