Re: Catnip for split ends?
ktani - I have a question. Do you think I can somehow extract the catnip's properties some way other than boiling infusion? As you might seen, my swim cap probably will never keep the chlorine out of my hair, so I'm going back to soaking hair with catnip under the swim cap. But I would have liked to have the club soda soaked in my hair too while swimming. I need a way to combine the two, so I'll get the conditioning of the first and the chlorine canceling of the second. Do you think saturating catnip in club soda for a month straight might do the trick?
Re: Catnip for split ends?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Heidi_234
ktani - I have a question. Do you think I can somehow extract the catnip's properties some way other than boiling infusion? As you might seen, my swim cap probably will never keep the chlorine out of my hair, so I'm going back to soaking hair with catnip under the swim cap. But I would have liked to have the club soda soaked in my hair too while swimming. I need a way to combine the two, so I'll get the conditioning of the first and the chlorine canceling of the second. Do you think saturating catnip in club soda for a month straight might do the trick?
I understand your logic but I do not think it will work. The club soda will work against the catnip and the mix would not last a month in any case without going off. Anything with water in it, will eventually get bacteria in it unless properly preserved.
Club soda can remove build-up. It is not going to allow the conditioning properties of catnip to be able to do what you need them to do in a mix, IMO. You can try it but do not use a month as your timing. Catnip tea can keep, refriderated, up to a week or a bit longer.
Club soda unopened can keep for about 9 months but opened I would use it up within a week to 10 days, the same as any opened bottle of water, if you keep it refridgerated during that time.
Re: Catnip for split ends?
What is club soda used for?
And why will it work against catnip?
(I don't know what it is, but it sounds like some kind of drink thing, and the soda hints it can be alcaline.)
If one want to use them at the same time, couldn't it be an idea to make catnip tea with the half amount of water, and then dilute with club soda?
Re: Catnip for split ends?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
HotRag
What is club soda used for?
And why will it work against catnip?
(I don't know what it is, but it sounds like some kind of drink thing, and the soda hints it can be alcaline.)
If one want to use them at the same time, couldn't it be an idea to make catnip tea with the half amount of water, and then dilute with club soda?
Here is the Article about swimming and club soda I wrote. There are links inside it to explain about club soda and here is one more. Most soda waters are more acidic than club soda (the term soda water has come to mean any carbonated drink, most of which contain sugar and additives like citric acid). If it is true club soda, it contains some baking soda which raises its pH but not enough to make it alkaline.
In theory, anything added to something you want to ahere better to hair (both the carbonation and the baking soda in club soda help loosen and remove coatings) is not going to help that something condition hair, IMO.
When I added vinegar (which can also help to remove some kinds of coatings) to catnip, the results were not as good as when I use water alone. Also see this post.
However, it is not my experiment. The only way to know for sure, is to try it.
Re: Catnip for split ends?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
ktani
I understand your logic but I do not think it will work. The club soda will work against the catnip and the mix would not last a month in any case without going off. Anything with water in it, will eventually get bacteria in it unless properly preserved.
Club soda can remove build-up. It is not going to allow the conditioning properties of catnip to be able to do what you need them to do in a mix, IMO. You can try it but do not use a month as your timing. Catnip tea can keep, refriderated, up to a week or a bit longer.
Club soda unopened can keep for about 9 months but opened I would use it up within a week to 10 days, the same as any opened bottle of water, if you keep it refridgerated during that time.
Yeah, I haven't thought about the time factor. In my mind, catnip and club soda don't really interfere with each other, so maybe I'll soak my hair in club soda, and then saturate it in catnip. :shrug: My priority is to preventing chlorine damage, and only then benefiting from the catnip's conditioning properties.
Re: Catnip for split ends?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Heidi_234
Yeah, I haven't thought about the time factor. In my mind, catnip and club soda don't really interfere with each other, so maybe I'll soak my hair in club soda, and then saturate it in catnip. :shrug: My priority is to preventing chlorine damage, and only then benefiting from the catnip's conditioning properties.
It really depends as well as to what you expect from catnip. I want the maximum conditioning and colour. That is what I aim for when I use it. Others may be ok with less timing or a different method of application and like the results they have.
Re: Catnip for split ends?
Hello Ktani,
I´m new to this board, so forgive me, if I ask any question that has already been asked.
Catnip sounds just wonderful, so I definitely want to give it a try.
I read up to page 30 of this thread and also your article on catnip, but I still didn´t really find what I was looking for. :confused:
I understand the whole method, but my problem is that my hair is naturally medium blonde, but I dyed it a light golden blonde . So I am really worried, that the yellow catnip stain will make my hair look really yellow, since its already got a golden tint. Nevertheless, I really think catnip is great and I would like to use it with maximum conditioning and minimum coloring effects.
Do you think it would be better to use more flowers and less leaves (or only flowers?), since the leaves contain the color? I have catnip in my garden, that would be doable.
I will not let it steep for to long, only until the tea is at room temperature. Also, I think I will try leaving it on the hair for 1 hour, but if it gets too yellow, I´ll try less time.
I thought that I would use it once a week as a treatment, like you do it after washing. But since I only wash twice a week, any coloring effects wouldn´t really wash out.
Has anyone else with blonde dyed hair reported a method with minimum coloring effects?
And I also have to compliment you on the work you´re doing here. Your catnip research is great (I´m definitely also going to try it on my skin) and I also read your article on coconut/argan oil to prevent peroxide damage. :cheer: I´m also going to try that next time I color.
Thank you so much for any suggestions!
coccinelle
Re: Catnip for split ends?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
coccinelle84
Hello Ktani,
I´m new to this board, so forgive me, if I ask any question that has already been asked.
Catnip sounds just wonderful, so I definitely want to give it a try.
I read up to page 30 of this thread and also your article on catnip, but I still didn´t really find what I was looking for. :confused:
I understand the whole method, but my problem is that my hair is naturally medium blonde, but I dyed it a light golden blonde . So I am really worried, that the yellow catnip stain will make my hair look really yellow, since its already got a golden tint. Nevertheless, I really think catnip is great and I would like to use it with maximum conditioning and minimum coloring effects.
Do you think it would be better to use more flowers and less leaves (or only flowers?), since the leaves contain the color? I have catnip in my garden, that would be doable.
I will not let it steep for to long, only until the tea is at room temperature. Also, I think I will try leaving it on the hair for 1 hour, but if it gets too yellow, I´ll try less time.
I thought that I would use it once a week as a treatment, like you do it after washing. But since I only wash twice a week, any coloring effects wouldn´t really wash out.
Has anyone else with blonde dyed hair reported a method with minimum coloring effects?
And I also have to compliment you on the work you´re doing here. Your catnip research is great (I´m definitely also going to try it on my skin) and I also read your article on coconut/argan oil to prevent peroxide damage. :cheer: I´m also going to try that next time I color.
Thank you so much for any suggestions!
coccinelle
Thank you!
Catnip colour is really quite light blonde. It is not gold as I would call it. There is no brown or red in it. I suggest that you strand test, either on your hair direct or shed hair. I think that you will be pleasantly surprised as to what the colour it is not, in terms of a shade of yellow. It is more on the ash side rather than the yellow side. It is hard to describe but I do not think that you need to worry. It is not like turmeric for example.
The buds (you need to harvest the flowers before they open) contain the yellow tannin too but they contain more oils than the leaves. Leaves and buds make the perfect balance, IMO. You get the astringency and the oils without too much of one or the other.
Re: Catnip for split ends?
Hey ktani, I have very interesting observation, and I'm looking forward to see your input on it.
I hennaed recently again (full length, as I'm still in search for that red color :p), but I also shampooed the henna out. It would have been reasonable to expect the henna bleeding. I went to the pool the other day, and soaked my hair with about 50 50 mix of catnip tea (stronger than you suggest) and club soda. After the pool I soaked my hair in straight club soda to neutralize the chlorine like always, and the club soda turn slightly orange. Not more than it did a month after I hennaed last time. I thought that shampooing henna out played a role in that.
Today I went to the pool again, and I for got to take with me the catnip/club soda mix. I couldn't go back for it of course, so I soaked my hair with straight club soda before swimming. After I was finished and I went to take a shower, I soaked my hair with club soda (as usual) and this time the henna bled tremendously!
I'm not sure what happened. The pool water didn't drastically change over the last few days, so it must be switching between catnip/club soda and straight club soda. Maybe the catnip blocked somehow the chlorine, not allowing it the reach the hair and fade the henna?
What do you make out of this?
Re: Catnip for split ends?
This has been such an interesting read!
Thank you all so much for your thoughts and observations. And a big thank you to Ktani for the recipe!!!!
I've just bought a bag of flowers and leaves catnip. This particular brand came from a healthy pet petfood store and cost about $6.00 for 2.5 ozs. I think it's called Out of the Garden.
I came home with lots of groceries and such, dropped my bag with the catnip in it on the dining room table. My two furboys jumped up ON THE TABLE and pulled the catnip bag out of my purse! Apparently it's the good stuff! roflolol
So now, I've locked up the nip in a Tupperware container so I can have a little for my hair. I am steeping enough for two cups. Will let you know how it goes! Expect to try it tomorrow morning!
