Catnip for split ends?

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Originally Posted by kdaniels8811

I have followed Ktani's recipe for catnip tea and I soak my hair for an hour, putting it into a ponytail and putting the length in a plastic baggie so it really soaks. My split ends and breakage are gone and my hair is growing! For me, the soaking time is what made the difference over using it as a rinse.

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I have been using your method...catnip on pony tail/bag and Indian herbs on crown....love it!
Thanks!

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Originally Posted by rach

thank you :)

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You are most welcome!

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Originally Posted by kdaniels8811

I have followed Ktani's recipe for catnip tea and I soak my hair for an hour, putting it into a ponytail and putting the length in a plastic baggie so it really soaks. My split ends and breakage are gone and my hair is growing! For me, the soaking time is what made the difference over using it as a rinse.

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Great news! The timing is what made the difference for me throughout my experiments.

I have used the 8 hour brewing time for several times now and it is definitely a winner!

The first time I tried catnip, I just used it as a rinse with a little follow-up conditioner.

This time I am sitting around with my ponytail dunked down in a big Ziplock bag. I've got the top of the bag scrunched up around back and up on top of my head. *snark*

Just so you know, I'll be hanging out catnipping for the next hour! roflol

Will post a follow up about my results.

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Originally Posted by gmdiaz

The first time I tried catnip, I just used it as a rinse with a little follow-up conditioner.

This time I am sitting around with my ponytail dunked down in a big Ziplock bag. I've got the top of the bag scrunched up around back and up on top of my head. *snark*

Just so you know, I'll be hanging out catnipping for the next hour! roflol

Will post a follow up about my results.

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I look forward to reading your results!

Ktain

I've followed your Catnip recipe/instructions precisely three times now. My hair looks and feels lovely and I have found no need for any additional conditioner. Like you I am also using the catnip for colouring white hair. The light ash colouring in the length of the white hair has worked really well and looks good but I am having trouble with the white hair closest to the scalp – approx 2 inches. On the last attempt I steeped the tea for nearly 8 hours to ensure I got the best colour from it but I still had the same problem. Do you have any tips or suggestions as to how I can overcome this? Other than this I am very happy with the results and am very pleased that I found your helpful and informative article on catnip as I had been looking for a long time for a gentle way to colour my white hair.

I am a cat lover as are most of my friends and they all find it kind of appropriate and amusing that I am using catnip on my hair - having no problem with my cats so long as they have their own catnip toys!:kitten:

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Originally Posted by KarpatiiSiv

Ktain

I've followed your Catnip recipe/instructions precisely three times now. My hair looks and feels lovely and I have found no need for any additional conditioner. Like you I am also using the catnip for colouring white hair. The light ash colouring in the length of the white hair has worked really well and looks good but I am having trouble with the white hair closest to the scalp – approx 2 inches. On the last attempt I steeped the tea for nearly 8 hours to ensure I got the best colour from it but I still had the same problem. Do you have any tips or suggestions as to how I can overcome this? Other than this I am very happy with the results and am very pleased that I found your helpful and informative article on catnip as I had been looking for a long time for a gentle way to colour my white hair.

I am a cat lover as are most of my friends and they all find it kind of appropriate and amusing that I am using catnip on my hair - having no problem with my cats so long as they have their own catnip toys!:kitten:

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I am so pleased that you are pleased with catnip.

As for tips, here are a few suggestions.

Don't use too much shampoo. If I use more than I absolutely need, it removes too much colour and because I apply the shampoo to the scalp first and then just work the lather through the length at the end of shampooing, the areas closest to the scalp tend to be the hardest to stain.

That is where I use most of my catnip. I apply small amounts repeatedly to the top areas and hold my hand over the area for a few seconds. When I remove the bag from part 2 of the way I apply it, I add more catnip before cooling down and then rinsing. That seems to help as well. Another tip is to separate the hair on top just a bit with your fingers, so that the catnip can get the underlayers stained too.

Ktani

Many thanks for the suggestions.

Like you I apply the shampoo to the scalp and then work it through the length which is how I have always washed my hair but it could be the amount of shampoo I use that isn't helping so I'll definately try and use less - hard to break some habits! I will also try your other suggestions. I intend to continue using the catnip as my hair does appear to like it. I am happy with the colouring in the length so now I'll have to try harder with the areas closest to the scalp.

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Originally Posted by ktani

Thank you!

Catnip colour is really quite light blonde. It is not gold as I would call it. There is no brown or red in it. I suggest that you strand test, either on your hair direct or shed hair. I think that you will be pleasantly surprised as to what the colour it is not, in terms of a shade of yellow. It is more on the ash side rather than the yellow side. It is hard to describe but I do not think that you need to worry. It is not like turmeric for example.

The buds (you need to harvest the flowers before they open) contain the yellow tannin too but they contain more oils than the leaves. Leaves and buds make the perfect balance, IMO. You get the astringency and the oils without too much of one or the other.

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Hello Ktani,

thanks for your answer. I tried it with leaves and buds and it worked out quite nicely. The color didn´t change that much, I only left it on for 30 minutes and my hair didn´t get yellow.
Also, I dyed the grown out hair on top of my head applying coconut and argan oil before (I left it on over-night because I wanted to dye first thing in the morning), the color turned out as usual and my hair felt really soft. I did not apply color all over my hair, only to the top. I cannot see any damage there but it´s hard to tell since its only a small area. I will continue doing this and I hope it will help protect the newly growing parts of my hair, my ends are already quite damaged from dying.

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Originally Posted by coccinelle84

Hello Ktani,

thanks for your answer. I tried it with leaves and buds and it worked out quite nicely. The color didn´t change that much, I only left it on for 30 minutes and my hair didn´t get yellow.
Also, I dyed the grown out hair on top of my head applying coconut and argan oil before (I left it on over-night because I wanted to dye first thing in the morning), the color turned out as usual and my hair felt really soft. I did not apply color all over my hair, only to the top. I cannot see any damage there but it´s hard to tell since its only a small area. I will continue doing this and I hope it will help protect the newly growing parts of my hair, my ends are already quite damaged from dying.

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You are most welcome!

Catnip does not really turn hair yellow but it can add a light yellow stain that will show up on some hair colours more than other (like grey/white).

I am pleased to hear that the coconut and argan oils worked well for you. I will add your report to the others in the peroxide thread. I agree that the roots area is hard to get a fix on re damage but the fact your felt really soft is an indication to me, that it was not "stripped" in terms of lack of moisture and possible damage from the dye.