Re: Catnip for split ends?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
ktani
You do not need coating agents (polymers, mucilage, polysaccharides, etc.) on the hair for moisture or volume. They tend to have the opposite effect (weigh hair down and restrict moisture). My hair today, after the directed catnip application is the fullest I have seen it in a while and it is soft. My ends as usual, are moisturized. I have always found that the least coatings on my hair, the better it is (more moisture, more volume and less breakage). The oil that has been shown to
penetrate the hair best, coconut oil, for example, has aslo been shown to help protect the hair from protein loss and hair damage.
Moisture can still penetrate hair, when oils are in/on the hair, the degree of which, depends on the oil used.
Interesting.
I was just wondering if oil would coat my hair and make a barrier for moisture.
I have allways some oil in my hair, and it (besides other benefits) makes my updos better, easier to tuck in ends and so on (in other words, the opposite of making dos from newly shampoo washed hair).
I though have stopped using amla and methi, due to coating (and also the amla is to acidic for me).
The hairs feel not as coated from oil as from mucilage. And this even when there are lot of oils.
I still use molasses though, and sometimes aloe concentrate.
It may be so that the molasses are coating more than honey, I will have to test.
The catnip is still hanging in here too. I soak my Indian herb washes in catnip tea and yogurt, make rinses from the left over catnip, and use catnip tea on my face (that is really good).
Re: Catnip for split ends?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
ktani
You do not need coating agents (polymers, mucilage, polysaccharides, etc.) on the hair for moisture or volume. They tend to have the opposite effect (weigh hair down and restrict moisture). My hair today, after the directed catnip application is the fullest I have seen it in a while and it is soft. My ends as usual, are moisturized. I have always found that the least coatings on my hair, the better it is (more moisture, more volume and less breakage). The oil that has been shown to
penetrate the hair best, coconut oil, for example, has aslo been shown to help protect the hair from protein loss and hair damage.
Moisture can still penetrate hair, when oils are in/on the hair, the degree of which, depends on the oil used.
My hair loves coconut oil.
Re: Catnip for split ends?
Here is my report after two months of catnip use.
First of all, a big big thank you for Ktani and her competent, friendly and detailed advice. I'd never have thought of trying catnip without this thread, and I frequently read and re-read it.
I found no good catnip around here, so I ordered from a little herb shop on the Internet. I could compare the catnip to the pictures Ktani showed so I know it's good catnip. This was so helpful because the catnip in the next pet shop is simply hay and I'd never have known the difference without the detailed information given here.
I prepare it like tea, in the quantities given by Ktani, or I make it more concentrated and then dilute it. Sometimes I add rosemary (for shine) or rooibos (for red glint) but it works very well also on its own. I let it stand for some hours, strain it and then fill it into my applicator bottle with nozzle.
After I wash my hair (gentle SLS-free shampoo, diluted), I squeeze out gently excess water and apply some catnip tea. Then, I put on a shower cap and really fill it well with catnip. My hair, coiled in the back part of the shower cap, swims in catnip. I then proceed to my other showerly duties and take a break. I may have to re-fill the shower cap after a while.
After c. 20 minutes, I take off the shower cap. Then, I do what Ktani would probably never do ;-) I take a little squirt of conditioner (Alverde lemon flower), dilute it with the rest of the catnip or water, and coat my lengths and ends with it. I let it sit for a short while, and then I wash off both together. This makes my hair amazingly strong, no splits at all, and soft at the same time.
For me, this is the ideal application. If I use it without conditioner, my hair gets too dry and tangly (and I did play around with the concentration). This way of combining a catnip soak with a catnip last conditioning round simply makes my day. I may decrease the amount of conditioner I use gradually when my chemically damaged ends are gone but while I have them, I can't go without it.
Thank you for this great, great thread. As I said, I've been using it for more than two months, and haven't skipped the catnip even once.
Re: Catnip for split ends?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Melisande
Here is my report after two months of catnip use.
First of all, a big big thank you for Ktani and her competent, friendly and detailed advice. I'd never have thought of trying catnip without this thread, and I frequently read and re-read it.
I found no good catnip around here, so I ordered from a little herb shop on the Internet. I could compare the catnip to the pictures Ktani showed so I know it's good catnip. This was so helpful because the catnip in the next pet shop is simply hay and I'd never have known the difference without the detailed information given here.
I prepare it like tea, in the quantities given by Ktani, or I make it more concentrated and then dilute it. Sometimes I add rosemary (for shine) or rooibos (for red glint) but it works very well also on its own. I let it stand for some hours, strain it and then fill it into my applicator bottle with nozzle.
After I wash my hair (gentle SLS-free shampoo, diluted), I squeeze out gently excess water and apply some catnip tea. Then, I put on a shower cap and really fill it well with catnip. My hair, coiled in the back part of the shower cap, swims in catnip. I then proceed to my other showerly duties and take a break. I may have to re-fill the shower cap after a while.
After c. 20 minutes, I take off the shower cap. Then, I do what Ktani would probably never do ;-) I take a little squirt of conditioner (Alverde lemon flower), dilute it with the rest of the catnip or water, and coat my lengths and ends with it. I let it sit for a short while, and then I wash off both together. This makes my hair amazingly strong, no splits at all, and soft at the same time.
For me, this is the ideal application. If I use it without conditioner, my hair gets too dry and tangly (and I did play around with the concentration). This way of combining a catnip soak with a catnip last conditioning round simply makes my day. I may decrease the amount of conditioner I use gradually when my chemically damaged ends are gone but while I have them, I can't go without it.
Thank you for this great, great thread. As I said, I've been using it for more than two months, and haven't skipped the catnip even once.
You are most welcome! Thank you for your kind words.
While I was still experimenting with methods and my ends were not quite how I wanted them, I tried conditioner, off and on. However, I could not maintain colour coverage with it, so that proved to be a problem. Even when I managed to find a conditioner that was light enough not to be too bad for that, my hair was still not in optimal condition. That is when I experimented with pushing catnip on its own, to see if I could get it to give me everything I needed, and it did. Less time on my hair back when, did not work as well for me as one hour, although I can get away with less time now. I still tend to go for the hour though.
I am very pleased for you, that you are pleased with your results.
One thing I have noticed that seems to be constant with catnip use for most people is that results get better with consistant use. That is how it worked for me.
Re: Catnip for split ends?
While watching a suspensful movie on TV last night, I scratched my face accidently. The skin was broken but not bleeding. I put some cold catnip on the spot and today the mark is half the size and healing perfectly. Catnip forever!
Re: Catnip for split ends?
ktani may I ask what you use for hair wash and do you oil.
I have only been on for a couple weeks and I feel like experimenting with everything...and I have.
I ordered some dairy whip - not received yet - and I used some Meera (Indian wash) and trying to debate if I want to buy some Indian herbs and make my own wash and then use herbs and dairy whip or just stick with just one thing.
I am trying to figure all this out without breaking the bank...which would be easy to do :)
Re: Catnip for split ends?
Another quick question:
Since both catnip and henna are supposed to coat the hair can henna still be used when one uses catnip?
Re: Catnip for split ends?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
wahmof9
ktani may I ask what you use for hair wash and do you oil.
I have only been on for a couple weeks and I feel like experimenting with everything...and I have.
I ordered some dairy whip - not received yet - and I used some Meera (Indian wash) and trying to debate if I want to buy some Indian herbs and make my own wash and then use herbs and dairy whip or just stick with just one thing.
I am trying to figure all this out without breaking the bank...which would be easy to do :)
Of course you may ask. Right now all I use is shampoo (Sunsilk Lively Blonde, that I import from England) and catnip), although I sometimes do a 2nd straight catnip shampoo and I may also just shampoo with catnip. I use nothing else on my hair, nothing.
I realize that being a new member, there are so many options that may be applealing to you but I suggest that you take it nice and slow, and try one thing at a time.
If you want to try Indian washing herbs, buy 2 and try mixing them. Buy a conditioning herb/plant to add to a mix. Be selective. Not everything is for everyone. Patch test everything that you have not used on you skin before, especially plants.
Re: Catnip for split ends?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
wahmof9
Another quick question:
Since both catnip and henna are supposed to coat the hair can henna still be used when one uses catnip?
Catnip does not coat the hair the way henna does. Catnip washes out easily. The resin in henna washes out between use but the dye in henna binds to the hair (inside it) permanently.
Catnip oils remain on the hair and its conditioning benefits penetrate hair somewhat but it does not build-up.
If henna resin has been washed out sufficiently, catnip should be fine over hennaed hair.
Re: Catnip for split ends?
Thank you ktani you are such a wonderful source of information!
