Ktani
When you first began using catnip treatments, how did you get the buildup off of your hair? Did you just use a clarifying shampoo?
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Ktani
When you first began using catnip treatments, how did you get the buildup off of your hair? Did you just use a clarifying shampoo?
No, that was the best part for me. I just kept using catnip and my shampoo, having stopped what caused the build-up (linden tea) and the build-up washed out over time. I did not want to risk my hair getting even drier by clarifying, although that would have been a lot faster.Quote:
Originally Posted by Canarygirl
I was very surprised and pleased to see that just by using catnip following my shampoo, that my hair was improving each time I washed it. Then it became a matter of getting the catnip use to improve even more. Bagging it and timining, did that and by that point, the build-up was gone.
That is what proved to me that catnip itself does not build-up. Enough of it washes out with each shampoo for that not to happen. My hair that had been breaking off (nape hair on one side in particular), started to grow long again. I was still experimenting with the best way to use catnip, adding things to it, using conditioner from time to time, until I stopped doing any of that and just persued using catnip on is own, as I said, bagging it and increasing the timing. That is when I stopped seeing split ends, and the rest is history. For me it was a long journey (roughly about 2 years into using catnip that I saw optimal results). What I recommend now is based on of all of that.
Even a little conditioner did not wash out each time I washed my hair and catnip could not stain over it, during the experimental time for me, and my hair was still not in optimal condition, until I just used catnip on its own, the way I do now, and have for some time. The increased timing caused the biggest change but all of the things combined did it, no coatings, bagging and the timing.
I am not sure why you would want to use green tea first but it may interfere with absorption of catnip. Green tea contains resins and polysaccharides that can build-up on hair.Quote:
Originally Posted by AuntyClaus
You are most welcome for my part of the information. I am very pleased to hear that you are so pleased with your results. I suggest experimenting with the timing. For me, 1 hour in total (I do my catnip treatment in 2 sections, to get all of the hair thoroughly done), works best, for optimal results.Quote:
Originally Posted by Shiva
Mostly wanted to use it just to try something different as a hair wash. We also have a few yucca plants on the property, but I know you've said the mucilage they contain will interfere with the catnip, so that's a "no".Quote:
Originally Posted by ktani
Thanks for the info! I definitely do not want to get in the way of catnip absorption!
You are most welcome! I am not sure what in yucca leaves a coating but I tried 2 different species to wash my hair with ages ago (different dilutions too) and both definitely left a coating of some kind. It was "yucky", lol.Quote:
Originally Posted by AuntyClaus
Catnip and dogs. I just had to look this up, lol.
1. It is on the safe list of plants for dogs, although I would not recommend any of them in quantity or without consulting a vet, just to be sure.
2. "Common uses in dogs
This herb, because of its mild tranquilizing effect on most animals, is effective for treating restlessness, nervousness, and insomnia. If your dog gets nervous or restless in stressful situations such as vists to the vet, long car trips, etc., try putting a few fresh leaves into his drinking water, or sprinkle the dried herb (1/8 to 1/2 teaspoon of per pound of food) on his food. For prolonged period of stress, use a glycerine-based tincture - use 12 drops/8 oz. of water as a start.
The gas relieving and antispasmodic effect of catnip also makes it excellent for treatment of flatulence, diarrrhea, and dyspepsia.
The herb is also effective in treating early symptoms of colds, flus, and other feverish conditions, especially ronchitis due to its sweat inducing property.
Externally, catnip can also be used as an antiseptic poultice for sores and wounds."
My school projects are delayed right now, frustrating!
However, I have been able to do other things and almost catch up on the boards (I am still behind on reading the blogs list I had made)!
Interesting observation.
I sleep with my hair loose. I always have. I have satin acetate knit bedding (including pillow cases, it breathes, so it is warm in winter and cool in summer) and is great for my hair.
I noticed that sleeping in a smooth synthetic material (wearing it), my ends stay smoother. I wear cool, sleeveless all cotton sleep sets on really hot nights, but I recently went back to a synthetic set (top and bottom) of smoother material, (it is not hot here right now), and my ends are again smoother in the morning.
I hate air conditioning and I do not need it in my apartment. My hair does not tangle with catnip use but having my ends smoother after sleeping, is nice. Cotton seems to not allow that as well, even with the satin bedding. So, I think, what one sleeps in, (as in wears) is as important as what one sleeps on, if one wears their hair loose.
Kudos to you Shiva!!! I've tried to read the whole thing but skipped ALOT and it took me much longer than days!!
First report. I love this stuff. !!!!
I've done it a total of three times now, and am simply AMAZED at how moisturized, untangly, and smooth my hair looks and feels. I will be doing it as often as I can. It allows me to use a cheap cone-free conditioner as opposed to more expensive ones. It has totally changed the way I feel about my hair.
Will post again soon!!!!!
Great! I am pleased that you are so pleased. It is something that until it is tried a certain way is difficult to understand how it can work so well, from my experience.Quote:
Originally Posted by mugglemomof3
Ok, so I gave it a go today. :) Thanks, Ktani, for your quick responses to my questions. Many of which I realize could've been answered by flipping through the first few pages of this thread - which I'm slowly but steadily working through.
So, my last two washes have been done with aritha/amla which cleaned my hair in the same way shampoo bars seem to. Which is to say "gently", but while leaving my hair a little rough feeling - like the cuticle needed closing, even though a vinegar rinse was used. Aritha/amla has changed the texture of my hair somewhat into waviness that hasn't been present in a very long time, but it seems to be leeching the henna out, damn. Anyway, back to the relevant parts of the catnip discussion: I used catnip tea (one largish stalk of fresh catnip leaves (by my estimate it would've been close to 1tsp if dried) steeped in 300mL boiled water) that sat around until cool (a couple of hours at least) on freshly washed (with the amla/aritha) and lightly towel-dried hair. So, the a/a was on there for maybe 15-20 minutes prior to rinsing, and then the catnip was left on (covered with saran wrap, my shower cap, and a towel around the shoulders for drippies) for an hour prior to cool water rinsing.
Woah, my hair felt rough after the a/a wash, but now it's almost oily feeling again. Heavy. Like my scalp feels like it's day three after a wash and my length honestly feels fabulous. It's not tangly and lacks that same coarseness that a/a was doing to it - but at the same time still has body (and feels like it might hold a wave) compared to before introducing amla to my henna and herbal washes.
So it looks like the catnip was brewed at a good measurement, because hey, it did some conditioning, and didn't dry out my hair. On the other hand, holy crap it's conditioning! I wish my scalp didn't feel so oily, I'll never stretch this out to three or four days. Heck, I'll be shocked if I don't wash it again tomorrow.
So, Ktani, the aritha powder can still contain mucilage? Very interesting. I wanted to continue with using it and amla as a wash, but upon seeing more henna leeched out (two weeks later) kind of makes me hesitant, and now to hear it could interfere with the catnip is pretty much the deciding factor. Now I just need to find something that cleans my hair without stripping it (like most store bought shampoos) or leaving behind a little something extra. COs would leave behind a coating, wouldn't they?
Zombienkins - just to let you know of my method which prevents exactly the oiliness you are referring to - I soak the length in catnip tea and put the hair into a baggie, wrap a coated elastic around the top of the baggie, and go about my business for an hour. Meanwhile my herbs are steeping - the same as you are using but I added fenungeek and sharika (sp?) and I apply that mixture to my scalp, leaving the bagged hair alone. Let that soak for 15 minutes, remove the baggie and rinse the whole thing out. My scalp is clean, my length is conditioned. This method has worked really well for me. Let me know if you try it.
You are most welcome!Quote:
Originally Posted by Zombiekins
The aritha rough feeling may be a coating. That is my opinion, based on reading aritha constituents and reading reports of people stating that their hair feels coated and tangly, after using it, mostly with those reports, without them pre-oiling. Aritha can be drying. It can also add a bit of a red tinge to hair. Traditionally and here on the boards, most people pre-oil before using it to cleanse their hair, to keep it from drying out the length.
mellie, whose hair is naturally oily, loves soapnuts and uses it with lime juice, which, as it turns out naturally contains less mucilage than lemon juice. Most fruits contain mucilage. The content varies. Aritha, powdered or soapnuts whole, is a dried fruit. mellie has had no problems just using soapnuts with lime juice. She does not need to pre-oil, nor does she need conditioner of any kind to follow and her hair looks great. The lime juice may cut the level of mucilage in the soapnuts.
You need to see what works best for you as a hair cleanser with catnip. I know what works best for me. Your results will tell you how well something is working. They have for me.
As to the oiliness, that is not what happens after I wash my hair and use catnip but I am using a cut and dried mix of leaves, some stems and catnip buds. The buds contain more oils than the leaves but my mix, based on observation, balances my hair so that it is moisturized and clean.
I am glad that so far, you are pleased with your results.
Great advice!Quote:
Originally Posted by kdaniels8811
Thanks, KDaniels! I don't have any fenugreek or shiraki. Is shiraki the same as shikakai (acacia concinna) you think? My local Indian Grocery has been letting me down here of late concerning beauty products...not to mention raised their prices quite a bit on certain products (like rose powder jumping up three times what it was and my henna by half). Next time I wash - I think I have enough powder for one more - I'll try your method.
Ktani - So aritha adds a red tint? Hmm...perhaps that explains why my water is colored after rinsing, and why the catnip tea was dribbling orange. Although I still believe it is pulling henna color from my hair. It's lighter than it was a week after hennaing (and after two CO washes) and looks very different after each wash and dry.
Ok, so aritha is definitely making my hair weird... maybe I'll try out the method of mixing a little lime juice in with it. Oh - wait - I don't have any lime juice on hand. How about freshly squeezed orange juice? I'm only hesitant to do that because of the henna. I henna repeatedly to get my hair darker, and I don't want anything to lighten it. Oh, as far as mucilage and buildup and whatnot, would a vinegar rinse help get rid of any of that for the catnip to then work its magic?
Thing is, my length is usually quite dry, and my scalp doesn't get "oily" under normal conditions until the third day, and around four or five days its kind of greasy looking while the length is still "ok", if not a little dry. Working on a new way to clean my hair takes so damn much experimenting! Sheesh! Good news is that I got very soft hair from the catnip. Soft hair that isn't sticky or more tangly than normal, so something is right. The a/a wash makes my hair fluffy, but I definitely need oil or a mist with watered down conditioner to keep it from feeling too dry or tangly. Not so with the 'nip.
Thanks again for the tips. I look forward to further experiments with catnip. I certainly don't mind experimenting to find what works for me, but gentle nudgings into tried and true methods for others is always welcome. :D
I think that is supposed to be shikakai. I do not think vinegar can remove mucilage. It does wash out with conventional shampoo. It is in cassia and washes out gradually. It is not only in fruit. It is in fenugreek too. I think that it is in most plants but the degree certainly varies.Quote:
Originally Posted by Zombiekins
Linden tea gave me terrible mucilage build-up. It very gradually washed out though and I used catnip over it. I still saw results, enough to keep me working on experimenting with catnip. However, I did not see catnip optimal results, as in no split ends, until all of the build-up was gone.
Update
Another happy, carefree, catnip wash day!
The directed extra catnip on my length, has completly, again (third time), solved the roll over problem and my ends have been behaving, since I have been sleeping in the light synthetic sleep sets. I am very pleased!
OT, but what is that? (I bolded in the quote.) A cap? Or something for the bed or pillow?Quote:
Originally Posted by ktani
No, the full explanation, is here.Quote:
Originally Posted by HotRag
:D I guessed all but that :)Quote:
Originally Posted by ktani
(I learn a lot of English by being on this board :))
Ok.Quote:
Originally Posted by ktani
In my language, pyjamas is both, and Swedish wiki says that if one differ between them, "pyjamasdress" (~pyjamasoverall) is the one which is not in two parts.
Well, I sleep in a set then, or home made set from T-shirt and soft trousers.
I know I am off topic. Sorry for that, couldn't resist asking what it was.
Not off topic at all IMO. Your question is valid to me and I very much appeciate learning about your language!Quote:
Originally Posted by HotRag
ktani: have you ever thought about dong professional research for a hair care company or salon??
I can understand the concepts behind certain scientific research, what the research says and "connect the dots" (pull it all together) between research results and potential applications but I am not a scientist.Quote:
Originally Posted by hennaphile
I had a theory that naturally produced peroxide, from plants, oils and honey was non damaging, based on research I had read and results in the Honey thread.
If you read the August 2008 portion of this post, scroll down to it, scientists have long been working on elements concerning that and producing results, that support "my" theory, lol.
So far, applying that research to coconut and argan oils is working, based on 33 reports in the peroxide thread. It is just a matter of analyzing it all and testing it, which LHC members are doing and helping with, in terms of missy60, suggesting argan oil, which I looked into and found that it can chelate copper and Linda, was already using coconut oil as a pre-treatment before dying her hair. She just did not know why it helped prevent damage for her. missy60 too used coconut oil, on already damaged hair, and continued to dye her hair and got no further damage.
I like to know why things work and how, if possible.
I have not been able to find the same kind of research with regard to catnip. I only know it works for me, used a certain way.
Ha, I have had this for a while. But until looking into coconut oil here, I never made the lauric acid connection! Sweet! I love it when things connect!
Now, in no way am I comparing catnip to coconut oil but I do know that catnip can penetrate hair, when bagged and timed, through my experiments and results.
Catnip works for me. Lauric acid has an affinity for hair proteins (according to this research here). Cool!
Tried my first hour long cat-nipping while bagged after a shampoo and vinegar rinse (ok, I've decided my hair doesn't like vinegar).
Made my hair seems nice, but nothing too significant. I'll have to try again. How many times a week did you folks who saw growth do it?
Great to hear that at least your hair is nice!Quote:
Originally Posted by hennaphile
It can take time for you to see the results you want, provided all things are in place, like no coatings on the hair. I cannot predict a time frame though. My growth rate was good before catnip and is even better now, IMO.
I do know and others have agreed, that for me and them, catnip use can get better, the longer (or more often), it is used.
I only need to do my hair once a week. Shampoo then catnip and bagged for 1 hour. Have been doing this for 3 months and my hair feels better than it has done for years.:D It can take time to see results but you need to stick with it.Quote:
Originally Posted by hennaphile
I've tried vinegar rinses in the past and my hair really wasn't happy with it.:(
I think that I answered this too fast. My apologies. I used to wash my hair twice a week with catnip, now only once a week, but that can vary.Quote:
Originally Posted by hennaphile
For me, it was a journey in experimenting. I did not pay too much attention to growth as such. I did notice a growth increase, sometime after I started increasing the bagged timing, several months in, in doing that, I believe. It has been the quality of my hair length that has been my focus.
Ok, catnip fats. Not as much saturated fat as I thought in the seeds. I also zoomed in on that other article.
"57% linolenic acid, 18% linoleic acid, 12% oleic acid, 6% saturated fatty acids."
http://earthnotes.tripod.com/catnip.htm
I will look for more information on the essential oil and the fatty acids. I need to assemble it all.
Rereading that first article, there are "39.3%" saturated fatty acids in one part of what they divided the oil into. Ok, well I am happy with catnp results. There is not anywhere near as much information on catnip oils and the breakdown, like there is on food oils.
I will still check it out anyway. Catnip seeds only have about 24% oil in them in any case.
Ok, my second catnipping happened today. Backstory: I oiled the s**t outta my hair last night. If you think expletives weren't necessary, I assure you, they are. :p I probably put a 1/3 cup of oil (coconut and castor) on for some crazy ass reason and my hair was saturated with it. Don't ask why, I seriously can't tell you. After deciding that being a greaseball while I slept wasn't going to happen, I attempted to remove the oil a couple of hours later via CO on dry hair, left for at least a 1/2 hour (didn't watch the clock, went by tv show), rinsed - no dice. Applied my herbal wash (aritha and amla) to towel dried hair for another twenty minutes, rinsed - no dice. I was still a skeevy greaseball when I went to bed last night.
This morning I applied the rest of my herbal wash, left on for...geez, I don't even know probably an hour. Rinsing didn't budge the oil at all. Cue heavy CO with kiwi-lime VO5 coiled up under shower cap for duration of shower (25 minutes?) followed by a light splash of water and a sulfate shampoo. After following all taht with a vinegar rinse I *still* had oil in my hair (oh god - will it ever get out?!) and my scalp hurt from all the washing abuse.
So, yeah, even though I knew it was doubtful as to whether or not catnip would be able to get through my still oiled hair, I saturated my hair and scalp anyway. Ooh, also didn't rinse off the catnip water that got on my facial skin and you know what? My normal dry and crinkly skin at this time of night still feels soft. Anyway, allow me to ramble further. So, I left the catnip on for an hour, rinsed, and what do you know? My hair felt soft, less stripped after that sulfate shampoo wash (on top of two COs and two herbal washes) and also mostly oil free. I've still got some semi-stringy strands here and there, but for the most part it's just soft hair. Awesome.
So, after doing a thorough look through my hair yesterday, I found barely any splits (whew! Looks like all the chemical dye from years past is completely gone... a two foot hair chop'll do that. :p), and would like that to continue. I'm just amazed that something so simple as a tsp of catnip (today I used dry stuff from the petstore. Why not? the cats prefer the fresh anyway) in 300mL of water, brewed until cool and ready for use, left on for an hour, and rinsed can actually have this kind of impact on my hair. My hair is soooo dry and two steps from being damaged at any given time when not treated gently or lacking in too much moisture, and I don't even need to use conditioner with catnip water? Seriously? It's just insane.
Ok, rambles aside. I have one question for you, Ktani, when you "bag" your hair, what exactly do you do? I get the leaks whether I use saran wrap around my hair (piled on my head) and covered with a shower cap, or saran wrap and towel, it doesn't seem to matter. I just drip like mad. Simple answer would be to use less I guess, but it seems like no matter how small the amount, it will eventually drip down. The first time I did try to put my length in a plastic bag and secure it with a scrunchie, but that was really heavy and pulled at my scalp.
Great read!, lol quite a story.Quote:
Originally Posted by Zombiekins
I love that catnip was so great on your skin.
A couple of things. Indian washing herbs hare not great at removing vegetable oils. That is way they are used on pre-oiled hair, to leave some behind , so that the hair does not get dry.
Catnip for some reason, based on at least one report, used with washing herbs does help remove vegetable oil.
CO is reported to remove oils best.
Yes, it is amazing to me still, that 1 level tsp. of catnip to that much water, 300 ml or about 10 oz can do what it does for me. But it does.
I use a freezer bag for my treatment, the ones that come with ties and are extra thick plastic. I stretch the opening and just put in on and twist the extra bit, where my forehead is and tuck it under. I get fairly few drips with round 1 (all of my hair pinned up). Round 2, with my length loose and just the top bagged, I still get few drips.
Going by my observations through experimenting, some part of catnip oils are being absorbed into my hair I believe, not like coconut oil that absorbs the best, and only with body heat (bagging) for 1 hour, on hair that has no coating on it.
When I used catnip as a shampoo, the oils and other catnip constituents, were enough to prevent added catnip from being absorbed into my hair as well as it can, so they provided a barrier of some sort.
Catnip does contain lauric acid, not as its main fatty acid, like coconut oil, but enough to connect I believe, somewhat to my hair protein to make a difference, combined with the other constituents, to moisurize and strengthen. Catnip used without body heat (bagging) and extra time on my hair did not yield optimal results.
In other words catnip tea can penetrate hair to a degree, which is what I thought, used a certain way, for optimal results. The tea contains some oils.
Catnip tea, rinsed off as a shampoo, with added catnip applied over it, was not enough to to yield optimal results, so quantity plays a role too.
Would love to see photo results---put a few threads up on the mane forum--photos of your ends and before and after photos of results you've seen using a new method learned on LHC.
I do not have before and after photos of my ends and I did not learn my method from LHC. I developed it over 2 years, using it the last 2 of the almost 4 years (in September) I have been using catnip. The information is all in this thread and the catnip Article.Quote:
Originally Posted by Darkhorse1
I was wondering if there is a listing somewhere of which cleansing methods work well with catnip...ie don't leave a coating on the hair that does not allow the catnip access. I've tried searching through this thread but couldn't find all the information.
Have people had success with soapnuts? Do the stats indicate that soapnuts would work with catnip?
What about herbal washings? I believe shikakai leaves a coating?
CV soap bars?
I would like to give the catnip a go, but my current routine is herbal washings with pre-oilings and I'm pretty sure that leaves a coating on the hair. I also oil lightly post-wash, leaving another coating, so I am seeing if a new routine would allow me to use catnip. Commercial shampoos, even the all natural organic ones, leave my hair frizzier, drier and less shiny, so I don't really want to back to shampoo. Thanks for any input.
I only use shampoo but here is a method that works for a herb washer, herbs on the scalp, and catnip on the length, http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/...postcount=1692Quote:
Originally Posted by cocolover
You may find that you do not need a leave-in with catnip. From my experience, catnip does not work well over coatings and most washing washing herbs can leave one. A shampoo bar, followed by a vinegar rinse may not.
Cocolover - I use herbs on the scalp only and catnip on the length, I tried oiling once prior to herbal wash and it was a disaster so now I just use the herbs on the scalp with catnip tea on the length as described in my post that ktani so kindly linked. If you would like more information, please ask for specifics and I will do the best I can to answer. I do use oil, coconut oil is applied to the length of my hair while it is damp, after I have rinsed the catnip/herbal wash out. It soaks in by the time I am ready to wash again, 4 days or so. Hope this helps!
So if I only oiled my scalp, washed the scalp with the herbs and basically only catnip was touching the length, would that work?
ktani- you once mentioned that the catnip leaves a residue that can even inhibit the next use of catnip, so if I'm not washing the length with anything at all, would the catnip buildup and then not work anymore? Maybe clarifying once a month?
kdaniels- Currently all oils seem to be making my ends crunchy, which is what is motivating me towards catnip. The hair at my scalp loves coconut oil, my ends HATE it! It is a recipe for instant crunchiness for me. Is there a place to look up which oils would soak in the most, leaving the most chance for the catnip to be effective?
Thanks for the responses