Natural Care of Gray Hair?

[mellie]

For those of you who have gray hair, do you have any natural recipes to care for your grays and condition them?

I am considering discontinuing my use of henna and letting them go natural again....although I may want to mute them somewhat with tea dyes as I used to do, at least until there's more of them!

But, I have issues with their wiry-ness! Are there any natural conditioners that might help them from sticking out and being so coarse and wiry? Does oiling help? Perhaps with specific oils? Or other natural conditioners (avocado, banana, honey)?

Please share what works for you!

[ktani]

mellie

I have been using catnip almost 3 years now. My greys are not wiry at all with it.

Some of my hair is more wavy/coarse than others naturally, even befor I started greying but with catnip my hair texture is much more even and smooth.

Catnip can go a deeper colour if left longer to steep. It is still a dark yellow to me (some call it gold) but there is no red in it, nor do I see brown.

I have left it steeped and covered as long as 4 hours - 6 maximum.

[mellie]

I think I may try this instead of henna/katam. It is easy, safe, and conditioning!

[spidermom]

I don't understand how coating wirey hairs with catnip tea would make them non-wirey. I'm going to try this, so maybe I'll find out. I planted 1 or 2 little sprigs of catnip a few years ago; now I've got it all over the place. I'm drying some right now.

[ktani]

I don't understand how coating wirey hairs with catnip tea would make them non-wirey. I'm going to try this, so maybe I'll find out. I planted 1 or 2 little sprigs of catnip a few years ago; now I've got it all over the place. I'm drying some right now.

spidermom

Catnip does not behave like coating herbs I have tried, that caused me a lot of breakage, dryness and split ends. It does not build-up on my hair. It does not stain my hands, nails, or leave a residue on my bathtub or shower curtain. It does stain my grey/white hair.

".... plant also is used to make light yellow dye."
http://www.ag.iastate.edu/aginfo/news/2001releases/catnip.html

".... it is commonly used to make a yellow dye."
http://dopamine.chem.umn.edu/chempedia/index.php/Catnip



Catnip does not have resin, mucilage or polysacharrides listed as active constituents. While most plants contain some mucilage, it is about percentages. I shampoo my hair and use the lather from the scalp (I only shampoo once per time) to extend through my length. Shampoo removes enough catnip each time, so that when I reapply it, there is not too much of it on my hair at one time. I always rinse it out.

Mucilage
http://www.answers.com/topic/mucilage?cat=health

Common catnip - Nepeta Cataria constituents - homepage http://www.swsbm.com/homepage/
http://www.swsbm.com/Constituents/Nepeta_cataria.txt

Catnip leaf constituents
"Acetic acid, ......."
http://www.monroecountymi.net/Medical%20Resources/Herbs%20&%20Vitamins/Herbs/catnip.htm

Catmint and common catnip are actually 2 different species but are often referred to as the same plant.
"Common Catnip (Nepeta cataria) White flowers, grows .... 3 feet. This is the variety most cats ....
Catmint (Nepeta mussinii) Purple flowers. This plant .... smallish, grey/green leaves. It grows .... 15 inches high."
http://www.cat-world.com.au/Catnip.htm



Catnip is the only herb of the 3 I have tried as conditioners, the other 2 being linden flower and German chamomile, (they did stain my nails, bathtub and shower curtain with residue) that has actually done something really positive for my hair. It has reduced breakage to a minimum, and I no longer get split ends.

Others have found it useful too. The way I use catnip and the ways others use it are in this thread.
http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/showthread.php?t=476

I use dried catnip leaves and flowers from the pet store (the flowers contain more oil than the leaves).

[jojo]

I have found since doing catnip rinses once a month, my wirey springers have softened a lot and was a golden colour (the grey ones), this was prior to my rhubarb colouring, do you think I will be O.K. using the catnip along side with my rhubard?

[ktani]

jojo

I see no problem using both.

[WURW]

I've joined the Catnip train primarily for the conditioning. It's amazing. I always thought conditioner had to be thick and creamy and goopy. I was skeptical that a tea would condition but by golly it really works! And a great detangler too. Thanks!!!

It makes my grey roots blond which helps me go a little longer between colouring but my hair is dark and trying to darken the roots with herbs (and other suggested stuff) hasn't really worked. Maybe I'll try the Rhubarb. I think reddish roots would let me go a longer time than the blond.

[mellie]

Me too! I was thinking of giving the rhubarb a try as well!

[wintersun99]

I have frozen Rhubarb chunks (from Nature's) that I bought to put into protein shakes, but don't really like 'em. So, is it possible to use them in a rinse? Follow Jojo's idea? Not sure how, she used powdered root, no? If one wanted to use thawed Rhubarb, is it as simple as simmering the chunks into a tea? questions, questions.... :)

[mellie]

Yes, she used powdered root. From what I've heard, the stalks produce a different color than the root...

However, if you've got 'em, and you're not going to use them otherwise, here's a lightening recipe that I found in my book "Beautiful Face, Beautiful Body":

1 large rhubarb stalk
3 T kaolin clay
2 t glycerin
2 c water
1 egg yolk
1 t ACV

Chop the rhubarb finely, then crush it with the back of a wooden spoon. Place the kaolin in a small bowl, then add the glycerin and stir. Pour the water into a small saucepan with the rhubarb and simmer for 25 minutes. Strain through a fine mesh (either eat the fruit or discard it). Beat the egg yolk then add to the kaolin mix. Once rhubarb infusion has cooled, add to the paste with the ACV. Whip gently with a hand whisk. Apply to clean, dry hair, parting it. Spread from roots to ends, then cover and leave on for 45 minutes. Then rinse out.

**

It makes me wonder if you could use JoJo's recipe but use an infusion of the rhubarb, as called for in the recipe above.

[iris]

AFAIK the yellow dye is only in the rhubarb roots, not the stalks.

The stalks maybe lighten a bit because they have this acid in them that also dissolves your teeth? I don't know, but it seems to me like the stalks could be a bit damaging to hair (like most things that lighten, of course).

Iris

[mellie]

Iris, I think you're right. I think that there is a big difference chemically between rhubarb's stalks, leaves, and roots...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhubarb

Rhubarb leaves contain poisonous substances, including oxalic acid which is a nephrotoxic and corrosive acid that is present in many plants....The roots have been used as an aggressive laxative for over 5,000 years...The roots and stems are rich in anthraquinones, such as emodin and rhein....The colour of the rhubarb stalks can vary from the commonly associated deep red, through speckled pink, to simply green. The colour results from the presence of anthocyanins...

http://sadr-new.cssd.pitt.edu/cgi-bin/texis/webinator/search?query=bioregionalism&pr=reesweb&prox=page&rorder=500&rprox=500&rdfreq=500&rwfreq=500&rlead=500&sufs=0&order=r&cq=&cmd=context&id=43742b8ca

Anthrocyanins are called phytochemicals - phyto from the Greek word for plant - or nutraceuticals because they act as antioxidants protecting body cells against undesirable oxidative changes. Anthrocyanosides prevent free radical damage with antioxidant and free radical scavaging action.


http://www.gardeningpatch.com/vegetable/growing-rhubarb.aspx

Do not eat the rhubarb leaves or roots as they contain oxalic acid which is poisonous.

So it seems that while the stalks are healthful and act as antioxidants, the leaves (and roots?) are poisonous. This seems to me to say that the stalks are very different chemically than either the roots or the leaves. However, I think it would be interesting to try to exact same recipe that JoJo used with the stalks instead of the root, to see what the results would be!

[ktani]

I found this link

Chrysophanic acid in rhubarb
http://www.ansci.cornell.edu/plants/medicinal/rhub.html (http://www.ansci.cornell.edu/plants/medicinal/rhub.html)

There is also this
http://books.google.ca/books?id=SAsAAAAAQAAJ&pg=RA1-PA501&lpg=RA1-PA501&dq=rhubarb+stalks+chrysophanic+acid&source=web&ots=fqA7287OQW&sig=T8ykhSiCr_eng1rqD6T5QV2N09U&hl=en&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=6&ct=result

Right now I am not sure where the chrysophanic acid is in rhubarb besides the root. It is in the stalks too?

[iris]

Well, the stalks have oxalic acid, too - that's what makes your teeth feel rough when you eat them. The oxalic acid binds with the calcium in your teeth. (Spinach has it, too - raw spinach has the same effect).

People used to add chalk to spinach and rhubarb to protect the teeth - the acid then binds with the calcium in the chalk rather than the calcium in your teeth. Nobody does that anymore though. Nobody eats rhubarb anyway ;). Not over here anyway.

In any case, the stalks have oxalic acid, too, but apparently less of it than the roots or the leaves.

The dye in the roots is chrysophanic acid, the same as in cassia, but there's more of it in rhubarb root.

The anthocyanins are the things that are either red or blue depending on pH. Anthos are also what gives hibiscus its color, and berries, etc. A lot of the blueish reds in nature are anthos. They are not stable so they can't give permanent color.

Iris

[ktani]

Well, the stalks have oxalic acid, too - that's what makes your teeth feel rough when you eat them. The oxalic acid binds with the calcium in your teeth. (Spinach has it, too - raw spinach has the same effect).

People used to add chalk to spinach and rhubarb to protect the teeth - the acid then binds with the calcium in the chalk rather than the calcium in your teeth. Nobody does that anymore though. Nobody eats rhubarb anyway ;). Not over here anyway.

In any case, the stalks have oxalic acid, too, but apparently less of it than the roots or the leaves.

The dye in the roots is chrysophanic acid, the same as in cassia, but there's more of it in rhubarb root.

The anthocyanins are the things that are either red or blue depending on pH. Anthos are also what gives hibiscus its color, and berries, etc. A lot of the blueish reds in nature are anthos. They are not stable so they can't give permanent color.

Iris

Thanks iris.

That works for me for now. I will continue to see If I can find out if the stalks also contain chrysophanic acid. I do not like unanswered questions.

[ktani]

I just saved myself some work.

jojo used rhubarb root and there is no dispute that the root contains chrysophanic acid, so for the purpose of hair colouring, it is in the plant part used.

The stalks contain anthocyanins, which while not permanent, are colour pigments, subject to change in different pH solutions.

The anthocyanins in cranberry juice did colour Viviane's hair a lovely burgundy colour, and then darkened it to almost black, when they destabilized. It took a lot of honey lightening to get that colour out (with the old recipes and dilutions). Honey lightening with the new recipes and the correct 4 to 1 dilution, have been reported to work much faster and better than the old recipes.

As to lightening hair, perhaps the oxalic acid and Vitamin C in the stalks cause redox, lightening hair the same way lemon juice can to a degree.

[wintersun99]

However, if you've got 'em, and you're not going to use them otherwise, here's a lightening recipe that I found in my book "Beautiful Face, Beautiful Body":

1 large rhubarb stalk
3 T kaolin clay
2 t glycerin
2 c water
1 egg yolk
1 t ACV


Well, I tried this last night, just for fun and minus the kaolin clay. Didn't notice much of anything afterwards. Probably won't try it again...

[mellie]

Oh well...sorry it didn't do much for ya!

[wintersun99]

Nah, that's ok. It was messy and I really don't like mixes that are elaborate to prepare. I actually like my current color, so it was just out of curiosity that I tried it. My new motto is to keep it all simple... I'm slowly backing away from experiments, but I am watching your new attempts with catnip... :)

[mellie]

I'm totally with you...I love simplicity too!! When I look at the elaborate recipes people do with their henna, I am just mystified. :-)

I tried the catnip rinse today actually, my hair looks great although it feels a bit different...hard to describe. A bit more flyaway, I guess? I will post photos later after work!

[mellie]

OK, here's a photos of the catnip rinse. I left the rinse on for just 20 minutes or so, then rinsed out. It feels a little weird like product-y, maybe I didn't rinse it out well enough?

http://www.guitarindiana.com/mcg/catnip2.JPG