Catnip for split ends?

I was doing experiments with marshmallow root. It turns out my scalp does not like it, so I switched to catnip.

I did 1 tsp to 300ml. Let it cool.
Washed with poo bar and did a vinegar rinse.
Let the catnip set for 2+ hours (aiming for 1 hours but kids) and rinse out.

My hair has always been a tangly mess while wet. I got great results with MMR, but that was only once dried. I did not try to detangle, but I could separate my hair enough to braid it.
I'm use to my hair drying faster with the vinegar rinse, but I am certain catnip cut another hour off my time.
Fairly certain there is more wave. It is also fluffy (fly-a-ways everywhere!!!), but it does not seem to have the same volume that MMR has. Or at least it compacts well when in a bun. MMR did not stay compacted.
While drying, the ends felt crunchy. Now they feel soft but slightly different texture.
It is shiny, but not quite as much as MMR.
I have not done a full detangle, but it is decent. It does not coat like MMR, so I can feel a difference while detangling. I have to be more careful. I'll be interested in seeing how it changes as I use it more.

(still damp photo from this morning)
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4537/...80e6d6041c.jpg

Next time will be 1 tsp to 275ml.

ETA - I had 2 pimples hiding in my hair (nape and forehead area) that just would not go away. I can feel a pump along my nape where it was, but I can't even feel were the one on my forehead was at.... and it was painful to touch just yesterday! It was not quite the miracle worker for the one on my neck, which did not get saturated and soaked for several hours, but I'm going to keep using it.

I’ve been using the catnip spray that I bought my cat (cat didn’t like the spray) for the past 2 months. I snipped off all the splits I had before starting, and I haven’t got a single split since. Catnip really works! I was skeptical at first, but I am really seeing results

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Originally Posted by LeonineMane

Has anyone tried catnip essential oil? Any thoughts on if I could use this on its own to oil my ends or if it would be a bad idea (cause dryness/ build up/ need mixed in a carrier oil)?
I'm not sure if it would have the same benefits as the tea rinse for split ends but I would assume it does, I can't find any info on the oil being used on its own!

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I have been using a catnip spray (water + catnip oil + emulsifiers), and my ends have never been less un-split. It works!

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Originally Posted by Beeboo123

I have been using a catnip spray (water + catnip oil + emulsifiers), and my ends have never been less un-split. It works!

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Oh my this double negative got me a mental workout :D I bought some catnip I'm excited to try it out tonight

Is catnip to harsh to make a paste like with cassia or henna? I want a longer effect but dont want to burn my scalp:/

Bumping this thread to remind myself to do a rinse soon!

I wish I could use it. I tried it twice and both times I itched like mad and scratched like a hound. Truly YMMV. Just my experience with it .Glad it's working for you guys and gals! Carry on!

I should try this along with my nettle rinse, I have so much volunteer catnip growing in my yard, more than my cats can use lol!

Tried this as a leave-in on sunday.
I usually spray a mist on my hear after shampoo and conditioner and then apply OGX argan oil. This time I used catnip mist with OGX. Hair feel smooth and silky without frizz or tangles. I am not very sure if the improvement is due to catnip tea or general improvement in condition of my hair after joining LHC. Guess I need to use it longer to be sure.

Really want to see if this helps with split ends though.

Has anyone tried to infuse catnip in oil?

I've just given this a go... 1 tsp in 275 ml of almost boiling water, steeped until just warm. Shampooed and rinsed the catnip tea through. Left it baged and toweled for 40 min and then rinsed. I definitly noticed a difference. I dont usually condition above my ears, this hair is now silkier. It helped define my waves through the length too!

I have a cold brew in the fridge for later in the week. Just warm water to begin the steeping process. I'll fliter it sometime tomorrow. (This is how I make my ice teas... so thought that it would likely work here too).

Been seeing too many splits lately and not sure why, so I got some catnip and did my first treatment today. I typically WCC when I clarify and used it as my second C. It was drippy and annoying and kept running down my face and into my eyes. I kept it on during most of my shower, as I would a typical second C. I usually like thicker, heavier conditioners, but I’m honestly surprised so far how much it’s already reduced tangling. I may need to tweak my WCC/Co-washing routines to leave the first conditioner on for most of the shower if I continue this, though. Not a fan of runny stuff dripping all over my face.

I really want to try this, but I'm afraid my cat will smother me to death in my sleep trying to get to my hair. She's way too responsive to catnip!

Steeping the catnip in hot water destroys the chemical that attracts cats and makes them dopey. Keeping the cats away from the stuff you haven’t used yet will be a much bigger problem. Though if your cat is the sort that thinks human hair is a toy or a nest, you might have trouble with your cat messing up your hair whether you use catnip or not :lol:

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Originally Posted by JennGalt

Steeping the catnip in hot water destroys the chemical that attracts cats and makes them dopey. Keeping the cats away from the stuff you haven’t used yet will be a much bigger problem. Though if your cat is the sort that thinks human hair is a toy or a nest, you might have trouble with your cat messing up your hair whether you use catnip or not :lol:

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That's good to know! I will have to borrow some of her catnip and give it a try then.

I just found this thread and I am so excited to try a Catnip rinse in my next wash! I have been trying to strengthen my hair for so long and I get splint very easily even though I don't use heat, sulfates, or any damaging tool/product/etc on my hair.

Going to try brewing some up. Can I use a metal filter basket that I have that is meant for loose tea?This way I won't have to strain it.

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Originally Posted by Nevb1973

Going to try brewing some up. Can I use a metal filter basket that I have that is meant for loose tea?This way I won't have to strain it.

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That should be ok. I use metal to strain mine and it doesn’t seem to affect it.

I've been reading this thread and researched catnip a lot and decided to give it a try. I've had really bad split ends and I chopped my hair off to my shoulders-ish in early January. Since then, I just do a couple S&D's. I tried catnip rinse day before yesterday to help with split ends, and I loved the feeling of my hair. It felt really soft and fresh! I think I'll definitely be doing this once a week.

I brewed some up this weekend. I ended up using a tablespoon in one cup of water, I thought that’s what the original instructions were. I have a metal loose tea thing or, so I just left it in there with the cup covered over for a few hours until it cooled. Then put it in a spray bottle. Just sprayed in my hair until damp and didn’t rinse. I had washed and conditioned my hair just normal on Friday and this was Saturday when I made it and stayed in. Have applied a few more times since then, no further washing and no stickiness at all.No stickiness in my hair just made it very soft. The spray bottle is in the fridge.
My cats are attracted to it though. Not crazy attack me interested but they know it’s in the air.
My hair always ends up with split ends which results in my chopping it off. So I’m hoping this will stop the splits with some applications semi regularly. Liking it so far though.

I’ve tried catnip twice and I’m not sure what to think, I would welcome any advice!

The first time I got the dilution a bit wrong, I did a heaped teaspoon to around 250 ml water. I realised while it was brewing so I topped it up to 400 ml. I kept it on for 35 minutes as I didn’t have time to do the full hour. My hair was tangled when I rinsed so I used conditioner and my usual extras (leave in, curl cream, flaxseed gel). Result - nice waves, my scalp was fine.

The second time (next wash) I clarified/chelated and got the dilution right :) I left in on for an hour under a shower cap. When I rinsed the ends were slightly tangled but not too bad. I needed something extra to avoid damage. I didn’t use rinse out conditioner but I did use leave in, curl cream and flaxseed gel. Result - lovely defined waves, lovely shine...but then my scalp started to itch.

I never get an itchy scalp so this has baffled me a bit. The dilution was more or less the same each time (by the time I added water to the first batch). Maybe the chelating shampoo was too much, because I didn’t get an itchy scalp when I used a sulphate free shampoo. The chelating shampoo has never given me problems before though.

The obvious answer would be to keep the catnip away from my roots, but the hair that would really benefit is right at the roots, around the hairline. Hairs that usually break off at around 4-6 inches are forming curls with catnip, much better than they do when I use oil on them. I don’t know any way to get catnip onto those short hairs without it getting onto the scalp.

ETA: I used hard water the first time and soft water the second. I am not the Queen of controlled experiments :) Maybe the second batch was too acidic for my scalp.

Any ideas on how I could use catnip in the future?

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Originally Posted by Lady Stardust

I’ve tried catnip twice and I’m not sure what to think, I would welcome any advice!

The first time I got the dilution a bit wrong, I did a heaped teaspoon to around 250 ml water. I realised while it was brewing so I topped it up to 400 ml. I kept it on for 35 minutes as I didn’t have time to do the full hour. My hair was tangled when I rinsed so I used conditioner and my usual extras (leave in, curl cream, flaxseed gel). Result - nice waves, my scalp was fine.

The second time (next wash) I clarified/chelated and got the dilution right :) I left in on for an hour under a shower cap. When I rinsed the ends were slightly tangled but not too bad. I needed something extra to avoid damage. I didn’t use rinse out conditioner but I did use leave in, curl cream and flaxseed gel. Result - lovely defined waves, lovely shine...but then my scalp started to itch.

I never get an itchy scalp so this has baffled me a bit. The dilution was more or less the same each time (by the time I added water to the first batch). Maybe the chelating shampoo was too much, because I didn’t get an itchy scalp when I used a sulphate free shampoo. The chelating shampoo has never given me problems before though.

The obvious answer would be to keep the catnip away from my roots, but the hair that would really benefit is right at the roots, around the hairline. Hairs that usually break off at around 4-6 inches are forming curls with catnip, much better than they do when I use oil on them. I don’t know any way to get catnip onto those short hairs without it getting onto the scalp.

ETA: I used hard water the first time and soft water the second. I am not the Queen of controlled experiments :) Maybe the second batch was too acidic for my scalp.

Any ideas on how I could use catnip in the future?

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It would still touch your scalp, but perhaps less if you use a spray bottle?

I use catnip as one of the ingredients in my home made "deep conditioner" before washing my hair, but also as one of the ingredients, in a spray bottle in between washes.

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Originally Posted by TatsuOni

It would still touch your scalp, but perhaps less if you use a spray bottle?

I use catnip as one of the ingredients in my home made "deep conditioner" before washing my hair, but also as one of the ingredients, in a spray bottle in between washes.

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Thank you for your reply, I appreciate it. A spray bottle is worth a try, I think, if I’m careful. Maybe I should try a slightly weaker dilution to be on the safe side.

I had a look at your blog because I remember you posting about your mask on there. It looks lovely :) Your hair is obviously thriving on it too. I have some marshmallow root, but only powder, I might try that.

I might also try making flaxseed gel with catnip tea.

My hair is waving from the root today which is either down to the catnip, or the oil I put in scalp to soothe the itching :) Unfortunately I have to wash my hair today though, I can’t get away with oily roots.

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Originally Posted by Lady Stardust

Thank you for your reply, I appreciate it. A spray bottle is worth a try, I think, if I’m careful. Maybe I should try a slightly weaker dilution to be on the safe side.

I had a look at your blog because I remember you posting about your mask on there. It looks lovely :) Your hair is obviously thriving on it too. I have some marshmallow root, but only powder, I might try that.

I might also try making flaxseed gel with catnip tea.

My hair is waving from the root today which is either down to the catnip, or the oil I put in scalp to soothe the itching :) Unfortunately I have to wash my hair today though, I can’t get away with oily roots.

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Good luck and please tell us how it goes! :)

What about “white dots” and breakage, will it (or anything) reduce or eliminate them?

I get splits, but not enough that I consider them a real problem. The dots, however, is another story.

I just wanted to post that I have tried this the last few weeks and I am amazed at how well it works to replace conditioner for me!

For the first few weeks I have been washing twice a week with silicone free shampoo, then letting a tea rinse sit for one hour and rinsing it out. This week I have done an only scalp wash and then used the catnip tea as a leave in with a couple of drops of argan oil over the damp hair. So I have used it two different ways now and it works good. I can’t believe I have not tried it before.

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Originally Posted by calmyogi

I just wanted to post that I have tried this the last few weeks and I am amazed at how well it works to replace conditioner for me!

For the first few weeks I have been washing twice a week with silicone free shampoo, then letting a tea rinse sit for one hour and rinsing it out. This week I have done an only scalp wash and then used the catnip tea as a leave in with a couple of drops of argan oil over the damp hair. So I have used it two different ways now and it works good. I can’t believe I have not tried it before.

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So glad it - catnip tea - is working for you. You may find it slightly tints your hair red. It will wash out.

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Originally Posted by Hellebore

That's good to know! I will have to borrow some of her catnip and give it a try then.

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I have found that if my hair is still damp, the cats love me. Twice it has happened that a usually antisocial cat comes up to me and rubs and purrs. Owners have been surprised. The cats don't go crazy, tho. And the magic disappears when my hair is dry.

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Originally Posted by chiapommama

I wish I could use it. I tried it twice and both times I itched like mad and scratched like a hound. Truly YMMV. Just my experience with it .Glad it's working for you guys and gals! Carry on!

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You could try just dipping your ends or the last foot or two of hair so it doesn't get on your scalp or skin. Worth a try. Too bad about your reaction.

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Originally Posted by Kathie

I've just given this a go... 1 tsp in 275 ml of almost boiling water, steeped until just warm. Shampooed and rinsed the catnip tea through. Left it baged and toweled for 40 min and then rinsed. I definitly noticed a difference. I dont usually condition above my ears, this hair is now silkier. It helped define my waves through the length too!

I have a cold brew in the fridge for later in the week. Just warm water to begin the steeping process. I'll fliter it sometime tomorrow. (This is how I make my ice teas... so thought that it would likely work here too).

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You don't need to rinse it out. It DOES define waves more.

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Originally Posted by lunalocks

You could try just dipping your ends or the last foot or two of hair so it doesn't get on your scalp or skin. Worth a try. Too bad about your reaction.

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Originally Posted by lunalocks

You don't need to rinse it out. It DOES define waves more.

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Huh ... interesting. If I can ever find catnip cheap enough to justify the cost of it potentially not working (or not working enough to be worth the effort), I would definitely be up for giving it a go on my lengths :hmm:

Lunalocks

Thank you, even on chestnut colored hair? Mine is pretty dark, my picture makes it look lighter than it is in real life.

Lunalocks

I have noticed this with my one cat that is very reactive to catnip when my hair is damp. And just this evening when I was spraying the tea on my ends she was reacting to the mist in the air. Once it’s dry though she does not pay any attention.

Sorry for the double posts that were not direct replies. It’s been awhile since I have posted anything on the forum, and I’m doing it from my phone this evening. :o

Musicalspoons, find a store that sells catnip in bulk. I get organic catnip from my food Co op and there is also an herbal store here that carries it. For the amt used, it lasts a long time. I wash my hair about once a week and the half cup or so I bough maybe six months ago has hardly a dent. I use maybe a tablespoon at a time. Growing it can be difficult with the space it needs and cats wanting to rub it unto the ground. Once I grew it in a sort of cage about 2 feet high and the cats kept it mowed to the top of the cage. They would also sleep on top of the cage. I imagine they were having very sweet dreams.

Calmyogi, my hair is now a medium to darkish brown (I once was blond) with reddish highlights already, but the tea brings those out even more in the sunlight. Its not a bad thing, but up in a bun I sometimes wonder if people think I once dyed my hair red, more of a henna tint.

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Originally Posted by CosmoCat

What about “white dots” and breakage, will it (or anything) reduce or eliminate them?

I get splits, but not enough that I consider them a real problem. The dots, however, is another story.

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You will always have to snip off those white dots and splits.. Be sure to use super sharp shears! Catnip tea helps to PREVENT splits, not fix them. Nothing will fix them.

I'll just post my method. Morning of wash day I put about 1 Tbsp of catnip in a small stainless steel pot and pour 1 mug, about 1 and 1/4 cup, almost boiling water over it and cover and let it steep for 15min to several hours. I strain it through a paper coffee filter set inside a typical v shaped coffee filter, into a stainless steel water bottle. I take that into the shower. After washing and rinsing, and gently squeezing out as much water as possible, I put as much hair as I can into the water bottle. used to soak for up to a half hour, but these days its for less than a minute. I still have good results. If the water is still warm, ill pour it all over my head, gently squeeze out and wrap with a towel. The air dry. Then when ends are still damp I apply a drop or two of generic baby oil to the ends, maybe up to a foot of hair. Continue to air dry and finger comb.

So now I am off to do just that. My tea is brewed and strained.

I just want to give another shout out for catnip tea. It's been months since I have even looked at my ends and today I found very few splits. I am at knee and have been growing for maybe 5 years with no trims (other than my bangs) and very few S & D missions and my hairs are pretty intact.

I also have my hair up about 99% of the time. I do not wear a protective cap for sleeping and sleep on a linen pillowcase. My hair is up on top of my head at night, held with spin pins. I've been stretching washes during quarantine to 2 and sometimes 3 weeks.
I've been oiling my ends and maybe a foot up, only after washing when still damp. I air dry. No heat, no curling of any kind. Just a combination of protective care and benign neglect.

I’m trying to get back into the catnip tea habit too. I was pretty diligent last year for several months and it seemed like my splits had reduced. Then I stopped and my hair turned back into split central so here we go again. I’m on week 3 of catnip rinses again. I wash twice a week and I don’t rinse the catnip tea out. I make mine in a french press and let it brew overnight for morning washes.

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Originally Posted by Jane99

I’m trying to get back into the catnip tea habit too. I was pretty diligent last year for several months and it seemed like my splits had reduced. Then I stopped and my hair turned back into split central so here we go again. I’m on week 3 of catnip rinses again. I wash twice a week and I don’t rinse the catnip tea out. I make mine in a french press and let it brew overnight for morning washes.

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Yep, me as well. I was using last year and it was great. I stopped over the winter and it's been a split end and tangle mess. Started again last week.

I will be buying catnip tomorrow lol