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I do. I soak the herbs in catnip tea.Quote:
Originally Posted by wahmof9
I don't know if the catnip makes anything for me, I can't feel any real difference when using it.
I clarified with sulphate free schampoo yesterday, then soaked in catnip tea, but no effect at all, or very little effect.
Maybe I got too much oils and herbs on my hairs to get it to work, or my hair doesn't like it. My hair likes to get very much oil after a wash, like 30 drops or more (not when IHW).
I don't feel the effect of catnip either, but I figured it can't hurt, and that's why I follow with catnip tea each wash.
I've never tried this.
Cheers Suldrun and kdaniels8811. I might try that next time.Quote:
Originally Posted by Suldrun
Is catnip acidic?
ktani says it is: http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/...d.php?p=506183Quote:
Originally Posted by wahmof9
It's post #1187
Thank you!
My catnip arrived this morning and I've got some steeping on the counter, now. :cheese: Can't wait can't wait can't wait.
I bought from Ebay as I figured it would take at least that long for us to get out to a pet shop. It arrived contained in a ziplock, then shipped in a tough plastic outer bag and I could smell it before I opened the shipping bag, so I guess it's fresh, enough. Will keep you posted.
Allrighty.
Washed and rinsed my hair, squeezed out the excess moisture and soaked the length in my cup'o'catnip, then poured the remainder over my head then bagged it. Or, rather, tried to contain it in cling wrap. I'm going to have to use a bag next time.
Wrapped a towel around all that and soaked for an hour, then rinsed. I saw what some of you meant by my hair feeling kind of odd or at least not all that conditioned while it was still wet, but now that it's dry it feels a great deal softer than usual, and combs out much more easily. The normally straw-like ends feel much more like hair.
I like it on my skin, too. I believe I'll keep this up. Thanks, ktani! :flower:
AuntyClaus - it is easier to put it in a ponytail and put a plastic baggie over the ponytail and let it soak. That is the part you want to soak, anyway, the length. And remember, the catnip tea effects get better with time (continued usage)! I wash my hair about every 5 or 6 days and catnip soak afterwards, then another soak mid-wash day so every three days or so and I cannot find a split end. A major change from 6 months ago when my hair broke off all over the place due to all the damage. I love this site! Off to make catnip tea...
Argh, I guess I need to step it up with the catnip. I've found so much damage lately!Quote:
Originally Posted by kdaniels8811
Ah, good advice, thanks! I wish you could have seen me, it looked as though I were battling an angry squid on my head, trying to get it to all stay under the cling film.
Good to hear you can get good results in as little as six months. I think my hair feels stronger, already, but it would be great to say goodbye to splits.
i finally did it. I highlighted my hair the other day *please don't hurt me!! lol* and it felt a bit dry at the ends. I went and got some catnip from the pet store, refilled my kitteh's toy with fresh catnip and made an infusion of catnip and dipped my braids in it and left it there to dry. As a word of warning, DO NOT wave your hair around your cat after you've dipped it in the catnip tea. The meows wouldn't stop! hehe
the verdict: my hair is soft again...and cat likes me even more :D
Do you use dry or fresh catnip?Quote:
Originally Posted by flowers-n-waves
Wellll, I tried a new method with great success yesterday. Made catnip tea, ponytailed my hair, applied it to whole head with the tail in a plastic sandwich bag. Waited a half hour or more. Made up my herbal mix (shihaki, amla, aritha, etc) powder mixed with water) and applied to roots only. I was careless, kind of slopped it on, leaving the hair ponytailed and in the bag. Showered and at the end rinsed everything off. My hair is shiny! soft! no tangles from catnip, lots of body and shine from herbs! This may work - smile!
Wahmof9 - I know catnip does not penetrate well over conditioners or oils, which make sense but I had not heard it would not penetrate over herbs. The herbs go on the roots and the catnip on the length. Try this and see if it works for you. Let me know how it turns out. I get my catnip at Petsmart and it is dried. I dump a spoonful in a tea mug and let it steep until lukewarm, then apply to hair. Hope this helps someone.
Catnip and herbs.
Catnip does not do well over coatings that do not wash out easily or are left behind by shampoo or conditioners. This applies to herbs that coat hair too. Any herb with enough mucilage or resin in it will prevent catnip from being absorbed into the hair as much as it can be for help in preventing split ends.
The last few posts from herb users reinforce this. Aritha contains mucilage. So does shikakai I believe. I do not have my research available on this computer, so just Google the correct name of the herb you wish to check out and type mucilage or resin after it to speed up your results.
Maybe that is why it works so well when I use catnip tea soaking on the length and herb paste just on the scalp - together to save time. Always efficient... Tonight I hurridly washed my scalp with dairy whip and conditioned the ends because I am going out in 20 minutes and I can really tell the difference. Not good, my hair is dry and crunchy despite oil. Back to catnip tea for conditioning, it works better than anything else I have used.
Ok..I tried your trick this morning..catnip on the ponytail then bag. Indian herbs on the rest (which was pre-oiled), shower cap on, 10 minutes...then hibiscus rince.Quote:
Originally Posted by kdaniels8811
Done.
Results..I like it a lot!
Will do it again!
Thank you!:cheese:
While I was awaiting my computer repairs (I actually got a new computer under my warranty, an "equivalent" exchange ), I have washed my hair several times and it is back to the condition I love (with 0 split ends).
Ok, this is how I see things.
Even catnip cannot penetrate catnip for optimal conditioning, when it is applied as a shampoo and rinsed out first. The oils and other constituents that condition even without bagging and timing, do not rinse out completely, enough to not allow more catnip from penetrating the hair as well as over no "barrier".
Fortunately, catnip washes out well enough with a gentle non coating shampoo, so as not to be a problem with this method.
I decided that since my swim cap lets the chlorine in whether I like it or not, that I'll soak my hair with catnip tea, and for the time being in the pool it will condition my hair under the cap. So at least a little good comes out of this hair-bad time being.
I have to say that I realized that my hair is exceptionally glossy today! :D Like henna glossy, but I hennaed quite a while ago, so i have only the catnip to blame. My catnip does not contain bud unfortunately. I ordered "whole ground plant" in hopes that it will include flower buds (as opposed to catnip ground leaves), but no buds. Nevertheless, seems like I finally see some result from the catnip. I only hope that the breakage and the splits will stop appearing as well.
Two things though - I applied the catnip over previously oiled hair (coconut oil). Not oiled right before the soak, but the same day. Also, my ends don't seem as glossy as my length. Maybe I miscalculated and I still have dye damage left, but my length is in perfect condition and my ends a a bit rougher/drier/velcro, but again, less than usual. Yey for catnip :D
My hair was heavenly this last few days, so today I decided to do another experiment - Before my semi-SMT, I soaked my hair with catnip tea (I usually wet it in the sink), and then applied the conditioner/DC/honey/EVOO goo. I leave it in for an hour at least so I figured adding the catnip might work. Also, last time I successfully used the catnip (see post above) I saturated my dry hair with it, maybe it help the catnip to work better.
In any case, it can only do good, so I'm good. Results tomorrow :D
What an exciting thread! Thanks so much Ktani! I love non-conventional hair products.
1. Do you think catnip rinses on days I do not wash will work? (I wash a few times a week, but sometimes my hair gets wonky on the in between days. Normally on non-shampoo and non-CO days, I usually wet it and just apply VO5)
2. I wonder if the shampoo effects the outcome? Have you tried anything other than Sunsilk?
3. Do you remember how many uses it took for your hair to go from dry to moisturized? 2 or 20? I tried it once, but I had to add VO5 afterwards because it felt dry. I dont want my hair to break while waiting for it to adjust. My hair feels thin and whispy right now but it could be from build up.
Thanks again Ktani. I really appriciate your numerous thoughtful replies!
You are most welcome!Quote:
Originally Posted by fluffer
1. Do you think catnip rinses on days I do not wash will work? (I wash a few times a week, but sometimes my hair gets wonky on the in between days. Normally on non-shampoo and non-CO days, I usually wet it and just apply VO5)
Not over conditioner but it depends on what you want and expect the catnip to do. Extra conditioning? Yes. Help with split ends and maximim catnip conditioning? No, IMO. From my catnip shampoo experiments, catnip does not do as well over itself, compared to over freshly shampooed hair.
2. I wonder if the shampoo effects the outcome? Have you tried anything other than Sunsilk?
It absolutely does. Yes, I have used other shampoos. Some stripped out more catnip colour. The others I tried did not build-up (I read labels carefully to avoid that). I want a shampoo that plays nicely with catnip, does not strip colour or irritate my sensitive scalp. The Sunsilk Lively Blonde shampoo is the best for all of that for me.
3. Do you remember how many uses it took for your hair to go from dry to moisturized? 2 or 20? I tried it once, but I had to add VO5 afterwards because it felt dry. I dont want my hair to break while waiting for it to adjust. My hair feels thin and whispy right now but it could be from build up.
My example is not the best one for that kind of count. I had build-up at the beginning that I just let wash out vs clarifying. Rymorg2 did 2 or 3 catnip only conditioning treatments in a row at the beginning for her and saw progressively better results. It is an individual thing. I would definitely clarify if you want to save time. Just use less conditioner during your transition. It will be easier to remove.
Growing catnip, the video. Harvest the flower buds before they open.
Update
No long term effects from my catnip shampoo experiments.
My hair is now as it has been (no knots, no splits) and even better. I have been working on further reducing mechanical breakage (more gentle handling when I am in a rush to do something) and my breakage is even less than before.
Catnip forever! (for me).
That's nice to hear, ktani. I also didn't have blasting results from wetting my hair with catnip before applying my semi-SMT treatment, instead of tap water. But I didn't expect much. At least it worked for me once, and that's something!
The coconut oil would have soaked into the hair for the most part (it does not sound as if it was a heavy oiling) and most importantly, your swim cap kept the body heat in so that the catnip could be absorbed into the hair as much as possible. All good.Quote:
Originally Posted by Heidi_234
Try the catnip next time on unoiled hair that is not going to get chlorine from swimming, clean hair preferably, that is shampooed with something mild that will not leave a coating. You are on the right track (have the right idea). It can be difficult to guage how much catnip gets or is needed on the ends (too much on my ends make them separate more because my hair is mostly fine).
Well, I only soaked my hair with catnip because the alternative is tap water. I thought the setting (soaking, swimcap, and the time) is much like what is used for catnip, and I was right. I doubt it was warm enough though, as the swim pool rather cold, and the swimcap is in constant contact with the water (not to mention it leaked a little). I got the long hair swimcap, I'm going to test if it really works very soon. If it does, I'll reserve the swimming time for possible deep conditioning/catnip treatments. I'm reluctant to wash my hair more than necessary, I try to cut down on washes. The swimming made it impossible but now I might be able to go back to weekly washes.Quote:
Originally Posted by ktani
I know I don't allow perfect conditions for the catnip, I have to have my hair oiled everyday, especially the ends (which I suspect are still damaged from years ago!). And I also cut out everything cleansing from my routine - shampoos, shampoo bar or soapnuts. I clarify with mild shampoo once a month before hennaing, but other than that it's WO on the scalp and semi-SMTs/CO on the length. I'm aware of the fact that it's not ideal, but the catnip worked, so it's alright with me and I take it into consideration.
I also thought of trying to soak the catnip for an hour before I apply the semi-SMT, it might work better. In addition, I also do a little experiment - I soaked some catnip in ACV for couple of weeks, I'll try it as ACV rinse, maybe the infusion will be good, maybe it won't make a difference.
I understand your choices and the reasons behind them. Good luck with your experiments.Quote:
Originally Posted by Heidi_234
Just jumping in, but catnip essential oil anyone used it in their hair oil infusions or with their herbal hair care? Like a rinse or something? I know no essential oils can be used directly but what if in your oils or in your spray or into the henna or herb mix? Something like that?
Anyone ever seen this page(it has some catnip stuff on it):
http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/P...8088/hair.html
I think that was one of the very first links someone got catnip information from, over 4 years ago.Quote:
Originally Posted by Henna Sooq
That link recommends comfrey - toxic and not a good idea.
I do not see catnip essential oil alone,(diluted in a carrier oil), being useful. It is a strong irritant and only one of the many constituents in catnip that makes the plant so special.
oh..thanks Ktani :) but the herb itself is fine, right? How was everyone using it again? fresh or dried?
I do not have access to it fresh and if I did I would dry it to preserve it for later use, lol. Here is the Catnip Article, http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/...&articleid=118.Quote:
Originally Posted by Henna Sooq
thanks I needed a refresher :) it's too bad the oil can't be used...but the herbs I know I saw them for sell at the local nursery...wonder if I should get some... what do you think?
Catnip tends to take over a yard if you plant it outside. Just make sure it is the species Nepeta Cataria. There are ornamental catnips that are not the same, http://www.cat-world.com.au/Catnip.htm.Quote:
Originally Posted by Henna Sooq
merci :) I'll think about it and could always pot it.
You are most welcome!Quote:
Originally Posted by Henna Sooq
you've done so much research and such, I was beginning to think maybe we should have our own long hair meetups....wouldn't that be fun and neat? Or if not, at least mark your calender for Henna Chai next year and please try to come for it as a guest speaker.
All of that is certainly something to consider. I am honoured that you would want me as a guest speaker. How did Henna Chai go? Did you post a report and pictures?Quote:
Originally Posted by Henna Sooq
If growing catnip in your garden, won't the neighbour cats come and destroy it? :)