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Thanks ladies--I really appreciate the help :) Unfortunetly, I need something I can do with a quicker routine---with my life style, I don't know if I could let it sit on my hair for a period of time. Plus, I'm leary about any yellowing as my ends get very dry/brassy colored due to exposure to the sun. I may try coconut oil first to see if that helps the ends :)
Woohoo! Okay, I love this stuff.
I don't know how many people trying catnip on their hair use shampoo bars, but I am pretty sure my tangle issues were caused by that in conjunction with the catnip. Either the catnip by itself wasn't acidic enough to get rid of the residue left by the shampoo bar, or the residue was causing me not to get the full benefit of the catnip, but after washing my hair today I rinsed with the same vinegar rinse I'd always used and after rinsing again to get the vinegar out, I soaked it down with catnip.
I got a bit crafty and let half my hair dry with the catnip in it, and rinsed the other half out that I'd bagged up an hour later. Quite frankly, I couldn't tell the difference after both sides were dry, if anything the side I'd left the catnip in was shinier, but both sides were soft and well behaved with no dry ends whatsoever. Now, I'm sure its possible that the side I didn't rinse will need washing sooner, I'll just have to wait and see.
I just want to say thank you to Ktani and all the rest of you wonderful folks around here for figuring all this stuff out. :cheese:
KarmalQuote:
Originally Posted by Karmal
You are most welcome.
I have been experimenting with catnip for about 3 years now.
For me, it works best rinsed out.
I found that it did not work well over conditioner, in terms of conditioner not always washing out easily.
I shampooed, catniped, then added a bit of conditioner at the end, for a time.
My preference and fortunately my results are that catnip alone after shampoo is enough to colour and not only condition, but prevent split ends and give me the least amount of breakage I have ever had with my hair.
It is thicker, I shed less, my hairline has filled in, my hair now grows without the thin tapered ends I did not like, and I use the catnip on my skin.
I love the stuff!
I posted this in another thread but I am posting it here too because I think that it is relevant.
http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/...8&postcount=22
I just read the tags for this thread, lol.
Thank you so much. I am glad that you find catnip works for you too.
Updated Health Canada Catnip Monograph
No changes really - catnip has never been recommended during pregnancy. Many herbs are not recommended during pregnancy.
ETA: Actually, I have seen catnip recommended during pregnancy but not from sources I trust. I do not think using catnip during pregnancy is a good idea.
"Caution(s) and warning(s):
Consult .... health care practitioner if symptoms persist or worsen.
Consult .... health care practitioner prior to use if you are breastfeeding.
Contraindication(s): Do not use if you are pregnant ....
Known adverse reaction(s): No statement required."
http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/dhp-mps/prodn...ataire-eng.php
"Catnip .... very safe for cats .... no need for any concern on the part of owners regarding its safety. Despite .... widespread use, very little .... known about catnip and how it works."
http://www.animalhealthcare.ca/conte...&category=Cats
Ktani if you don't mind me asking, you mentioned a problem you had in the past with chamomile? what was the problem? I was thinking of adding it to the catnip?
naturechildQuote:
Originally Posted by naturechild
Of course I do not mind.
There are 2 kinds of chamomile on the market for general use, German - the one in most groceries and Roman - that one is harder to find but it can be bought online or in health food stores.
I used the German. It contains polysaccharides and built-up on my hair, and caused dryness and breakage. I do not clarify as such. I was using a very strong tea, 8-10 tea bags at one time.
Roman chamomile contains resin, and I believe that it can build-up too, with frequent use.
I was researching Roman chamomile recently and found this.
"Chamaemelum nobile flowers .... examined. The camomile tea contained a large amount of polyphenolic compounds (340 mg/l) .... most important being chamaemeloside (155 mg/l). ] Only traces of essential oil were recovered in tea (7 mg/l).”
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1...d_RVDocSumBoth
Both versions have very similar constituents.
I believe that so little oil content is also why my hair was so dry.
Ktani, I look to your superior wisdom:
I've read through quite a few of these posts, but my eyes are tired :sleepy: so I'm sorry if this has been asked/answered already. I note from some posts that increasing the ratio of catnip:water can increase the astringency, as can the time for which you steep the catnip. Does the same apply to the amount of time the catnip infusion is on the hair? i.e. if I leave it on my hair longer will it make it dryer?
I'm 98% sure the answer is "no" because the strength of the infusion would appear to be the determining factor... but I'd like to make sure please!
Thank you :flower:
pariateQuote:
Originally Posted by pariate
Superior wisdom, I have never claimed that, lol.
I remember reading somewhere that catnip can become bitter if it steeps too long.
That might apply to any tea, IMO, for drinking.
I have let it steep to cool as long as 6 hours. I was curious to see if that made any difference to my results.
It made absolutely no difference to catnip's colour or conditioning abilities. The odd time I tried that, the tea appeared to be a more intense yellow.
The only way I know of to increase catnip's astringency is to increase the amount of herb to water.
So the answer to your question is no.
The strength of the infusion is the determining factor, even if it is steeped for a shorter period of time, like 20-30 minutes - my old times.
I usually just steep it now, until cooled to room temperature - 1.5-2 hours.
The longer I have left catnip on my hair, the more conditioned my hair has been, but with the right dilution.
Darkhorse1 very kindly send me this link.
http://www.naturalnews.com/022575.html
Thank you for the link.
I have seen similar ones. A number of the suggested rinses do not actually work in practice, as reported on these boards. I do not think that catnip would either as a rinse per se.
From my experience, its benefits are best when it is left on the hair for an hour but at the very least 15 to 20 minutes minimum.
Odd that it is filed under brunette - catnip yields, a light yellow dye or stain.
".... plant .... used to make light yellow dye."
http://www.ag.iastate.edu/aginfo/new...es/catnip.html
This is where links like that lose me. Under Brunette rinses
".... infusion of tea, walnuts and coffee"
http://www.naturalnews.com/022575.html
I have never heard of dying hair with walnuts. And if the writer means walnut hulls, they are toxic. The nuts are safe.
This is the walnut hull dye thread with research links in addition to the information I posted.
http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/...ead.php?t=5378
That link at the top of this post has some good references on chemicals, but not herbs and plants, IMO, with the exception of henna and PPD.
It looks to me, that for an article on safer hair dye alternatives, the freelance writer did only half the research she needed to do to be credible.
Fab, thank you Ktani! I bought a little catnip yesterday and it's wash day today, so I think I'll give it a go.Quote:
Originally Posted by ktani
I'm always excited by the prospect of a new conditioner! :cheese:
P.S. Superior knowledge - you haz it, compared to lil' catnip noobie me :D
Thank you.Quote:
Originally Posted by pariate
Knowledge is acquired - it is free to anyone seeking it.
This post is relevant here too IMO.
http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/...72&postcount=5
Hi Ktani
I am thouroughly fed up with my hair at the moment as it is thin and straggly at the ends and my scalp is irritated :rolleyes:
I am booked in to have the stragglys cut off on Thursday and I will buy some catnip tomorrow, I plan on using it as a conditioner that I will apply after shampooing and will leave on as long as I can in my daily shower, I will probably do a long treatment at the weekends or may just apply it in the evening and rinse it out the following morning, do you think that would work?
I am hoping that it will help to keep my ends healthy and my scalp clear.
I will use your dilution, I plan on making it in the evening and just leaving it to brew and cool and will then use it the following morning.
I really appreciate all the helpful research results and advice you give and believe you are truly worthy of the title Catnip Guru!!!:cheese:
GillyQuote:
Originally Posted by Gilly
Thank you for the kind words.
I understand your frustration but make this easier on youself.
Just let the catnip steep until cool before straining. That is enough. It does not need to be steeped overnight.
Nor do I recommend sleeping in a treatment. I tried that. It serves no purpose, from my experience.
In the shower, after thorough application (I apply it sections to make sure that all of my hair is saturated) I bag and time it.
That is what works for me.
Good luck!
Thank you Ktani!
I have read through all the pages in this thread and this really does sound like something that would be great for me if I can get it to work (as long as I follow Ktani's instructions!)I really need to get some strength into my ends as they are so whispy its unreal :rolleyes: this is why I can't seem to get any length I think as whenever it looks this ratty I just chop it off, at the moment there is areas that look really thin and even different lengths, I will get it evened up on Thursday but I will start doing the catnip tomorrow morning (Tuesday), I figure by Thursday I will be able to tell if this is going to work, I wash daily with Alchemy unscented or Ionil shampoo, but I am hoping I will be able to clear my scalp with the catnip so I can drop the Ionil.
Gilly
You are most welcome.
I know whereof you speak, lol.
I could never grow my hair before catnip without ratty thin ends that were breaking off, plus I had split ends. I still have areas of my hair that are growing in but my hemline is much thicker and my ends no longer taper. I now have minimal breakage and 0 split ends.
Even though I have been using catnip over 3 years now, for the first year and a half, I was still experimenting with getting the conditioning right and gradually washing out horrendous build up from linden flower tea. I also had what I used to call "natural layers", hair that "never grew" very long on my side areas and on one side, nape hair that I not so fondly referred to as the "no zone" because it just "would not grow". It was actually breakage that outpaced the growth I did have. Most of that has grown in but I have continued to grow my hair, so there is still a bit of catch up going on. I now cut my hair myself and I am taking my time evening out those areas.
"natural layers", "no zone" certainly ring a bell with me :rolleyes:
It really is frustrating :(
At least now I have something that does sound like it really could deliver and of course, its cheap and natural, how easy can it get, brew tea, cool, strain, dump on hair after washing, rinse out after available time. I can live with that!!! :cheese:
I am hoping this will help me to save money on my condish, I am currently using Terax Crema which is AU$60 for a 500ml pump!!!!
I do other things too.Quote:
Originally Posted by Gilly
A long while back (pre catnip), I not only bought satin acetate pillow cases, I bough satin acetate sheets and a comforter, plus bedskirt. It was actually quite inexpensive. It is a knit that does not get too hot in the summer but is quite warm in winter.
I no longer use a comb or brush, just my fingers and I gently separate my hair, not rake my finers through it.
The breakage I do get is mechanical - I still get impatient sometimes but I no longer have tangles as such.
My shampoo is great but sometimes I use too much and even catnip cannot compensate completely but my ends are no longer "crunchy".
If I had it to do over I might have clarified but I hate the idea of really overcleaning just to have to overcondition afterwards.
I was not the first to notice the difference in my hair.
I knew about the no split ends and reduced breakage from doing regular s &d's.
But I was out somewhere and somone who had a major ponytail taper, remarked that my hair, though long, was even in thickness.
I was surprised. At the time I was not concentrating on my hair. I was settled into a routine.
I checked out my hair and sure enough, she was right. My hair was even in thickness for the first time in memory for me having it long. It had snuck up on me. That is about when I started to post more about it and people started referring to my posts.
Gilly
Be patient with catnip. You are getting the benefit though of my struggles with it to get it to the point that it works so well for me.
From the first time I used it, even with the wrong dilution as it turned out, and the wrong optimal timing, I did notice a difference in my hair.
If you have any questions, just post or pm me anytime. That goes for anyone else too.
Dear Ktani,
What problems or disadvantages did you notice when not washing the catnip out? I am about to try catnip for the first time soon, but with my lifestyle it seems so much more tempting to apply it as a leave-in rather than having to wait around for an hour or so and then getting the hair all wet again.
Should that not work, too?
Thanks!
I do not like leave-ins. My hair felt tacky fully saturated with catnip as a leave-in but not so with just a bit applied to hair as I did this last time. My hair felt and looked oily this time but was in need of a wash in any case. I just decided to apply a bit to the top of my hair.Quote:
Originally Posted by Kazazi
My best results are when the catnip is on freshly washed wet hair and bagged for the hour that it is on my hair.
Applying it on dry hair as a leave-in did not colour or condition as well.
Well last night I brewed my catnip tea (I used Cosmic catnip!) let it cool and strained it, I could not wait until the morning as my scalp was itching and annoying me so off I trotted to the shower, I shampoo'd with Alchemy unscented shampoo and then dumped the catnip on, I bagged it and wrapped it in a towel and left it for an hour, I rinsed it off and straight away noticed a difference, I did get some slip, not as much as I would get from my Terax but I was ok with it. I thought that I would give it a good test so did not use conditioner after and left it to air dry, it felt great!! :cheese: Soft to the ends, no itch, great result.
This morning when I woke up it had done its crazy thing and would not lie down properly so I hopped in the shower and did a sort of WO wash then dumped the last bit of the catnip tea from last night onto it and left it while I showered, then rinsed and again did not use conditioner, I could comb through with no problem using a shower comb, I lightly blow dried it on warm from a good distance away and it looks great today and feels so silky!
I am very happy with this and am hopeful that it will help my scalp, normally shampoos seem to work for about a week then I start itching again :rolleyes:
Thank you so much for your research and struggles, I really apprecate all that you have done for us Ktani :flowers::rockerdud
You are most welcome.Quote:
Originally Posted by Gilly
Now for a special treat. Wash your face with it and use it on your hands. Not need to leave it on for a time - just apply and rinse. It is not meant to replace soap for your hands, just hand cream.
I do not use moisturizer or hand cream, just catnip.
If you get it in your eyes - no worries it is supposed to be good as an eye wash. I have no idea what an eye wash is by the way, lol.
I did scratch the corner skin of my eye area and applied cold catnip from the fridge - instant relief- it took the redness and discomfort away and it was not just because it was cold. It made a difference.
Wow, interesting! I'll have to wrestle some catnip away from my kitty to try this...
Ok I think I am onto something here!
I put some catnip tea on my head after shampooing this morning and left it on till I had finished my shower then rinsed it out.
I asked my hubby to have a look at my scalp last night and he said it was looking sore and dry, I asked him again this evening and he said "blimey, its nearly cleared up" I was amazed, he told me that compared to what it was like last night to now it looks heaps better and he reckons that it will be gone pretty soon, this is amazing for me as I have had this horrid scabby itch patch on my head for ages and I think that I may finally be able to get rid of it!!! :cheese:
My hair is also feeling pretty nice, I have not used conditioner yet as I have had no problems combing it with a wide comb when I get out of the shower.
Just thought I would update you all and I would recommend that you have a go.
From the research I have done on catnip, it is stated to be a specific for scalp irritation. IMO, it is amazing!Quote:
Originally Posted by Gilly
He could not believe the difference, I specifically asked him before I did my first treatment to get a good idea on how it is working and he is very impressed with it :cheese:Quote:
Originally Posted by ktani
I, of course am very happy that I am itching much less, just occasionally which I can live with compared to scratching like a dog with fleas!!
I am getting my trim today so I will be able to keep a check on how it will grow out.
I am happy to read that you are so pleased with it.Quote:
Originally Posted by Gilly
I'll try it tonight!Quote:
Originally Posted by Gilly
I hadn't paid much attention to this thread until today, I'm not sure why, since I'm always on the prowl for good anti-breakage advice. :)
Anyhow, I'm giving my hair a catnip soaking with tonight's shower.
Thanks for the advice, everyone, I appreciate it.
Ktani, you have me sold on catnip rinses...I'm going to try this!
One question (and thanks in advance-you are a WEALTH of info!) I use a rinse after I condition with ACV, Yarrow and Sage. Should I use the catnip AFTER the rinse, or IN PLACE of the rinse? I am just wondering if it will react with the yarrow.
I would replace the rinse with catnip.Quote:
Originally Posted by happylynngilmer
Catnip for me did not work over conditioner.
I suggest that you wash, catnip, see how your hair feels and then add conditioner if you feel that you need to.
You may find that you need less or no conditioner at all but bag and time it for a bit. I do an hour but you can do less time if you wish, to give it a fair chance.
Aha, ok. :} and no acvys, check! Thanks!Quote:
I suggest that you wash, catnip, see how your hair feels and then add conditioner if you feel that you need to.
You are most welcome.Quote:
Originally Posted by happylynngilmer
What do you wash with?
If it is a shampoo bar, use acv, then catnip.
Catnip does not require acv after it.
I use Nexxus Therappe shampoo. I like using an acv rinse just cause it keeps off build-up and really helps my dandruff. Yarrow is the main "dandruff-keeper-away-er" but the acv helps.
Lots of other people in the thread though have testified to catnip helping calm unhappy scalps, so I think my scalp should be fine if I replace the acvys rinse with it anyways. :}
IMO, you do not need acv after shampoo.Quote:
Originally Posted by happylynngilmer
I think that you will be pleased with catnip on your scalp but it is not a specific for dandruff, just irritation.
If you use acv for dandruff, I suggest that you use it before the catnip.
Ok, I've only made it to page 20, but I think I'll give this a shot. I am on the lookout for natural conditioning product (I waste too many conditioning bottles and feeling the guilt from excessive environmental impact) but just wanted to verify that the original recommendation for mix (on the first page) hasn't changed? I think I'll start there. I currently don't have enough new root growth to see how this will work on brown hair with some gray, but I'm sure in a few weeks I will be able to see how that works. I'm off the henna/color roller coaster through winter...
I'll be making a trip to the pet store... don't think I've been in a pet store in the last 10 years :)
Ktani - just curious about how this will work in addition to the honey lighening mixes we've been experimenting with... any thoughts? I do still shampoo so if done on different days I would think the two routines wouldn't interefere with each other? guess I'll find out...
You can always pm me to about it too.Quote:
Originally Posted by wintersun99
Catnip will be fine after honey lightening but not, repeat not added to a honey lightening recipe. Catnip contains iron and other minerals so it will not play nice with honey lightening. On your hair it will not stain noticeably over henna but henna may or may not affect its conditioning abilities, depending on how soon after a henna you apply catnip.
Catnip does not do well, in my experience, over coatings, and henna contains resin, that washes out between applications.
I noticed no colour on my hair when I left it on for an hour, I think that the scabby bits on the back of my scalp have been causing the hair in that area to grow in more sparsely which would explain why my hairdresser was a bit shocked at the thinness of it on that side :rolleyes: I hope that the catnip will clear it eventually so that it can grow out properly.
I am doing a rinse everyday now, I shampoo, rinse, apply catnip, do showery things then rinse and apply a bit of condish to the ends and rinse again. I will do a hour treatment over the weekend again, I am enjoying the fact that the itching is totally bearable now and I'm sure it won't be long before the nasty patches are totally gone. :cheese: