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I used catnip rinse for three times now, but I cannot see a difference between my hair with catnip and without.
My hair doesn't get dry or frizzy if I use catnip, but either it doesn't get softer or shinier than normal.
I don't know why, maybe I use a false amount of catnip or I don't let it enough time to brew.
I just want to know if this is safe to try if you have kitties who *really* like catnip....
I don't notice any visible difference when I use catnip but I have much fewer split ends.
and my cat doesn't pay any more attention to my hair by using catnip than before... except he gives me the evil eye occasionally because he knows I am using his stash..
My cat loves the dry catnip, but he doesn't like the tea at all!
I let him smell, but he ran away and was totaly uncurious about it.
And you can't smell the catnip in you hair after it's dry.
I just started using this, and I'm pretty impressed. My hair has a lot more slip now, and I'm looking forward to not trimming for a very long time. :) I didn't even brew it correctly the first time. :laugh: Luckily, I've got a lot of catnip in the backyard that my cats are inexplicably uninterested in.
This is about catnip oil, not the cut and sifted leaves and buds but the toxicity part is in keeping with previous research I have read and posted. Catnip oil can be an irritant. This is the concentrated oil, not the amounts present in an infusion.
2009
"Although the demonstrated effectiveness of repellency against biting flies and mosquitoes, the toxicity of this natural product repellent has not yet been evaluated. In comparisons of the published acute toxicity data on DEET, Picaridin, and para-menthane-3,8-diol (three most widely used mosquito repellents) to the results from the currently study, catnip oil appears to be the least toxic. However, catnip oil may cause skin irritation due to the observed redness of the applied skin area after the treatment. ... The primary skin irritation test on New Zealand white rabbits showed that catnip oil is a moderate irritant. Catnip oil was classified as practically non-irritating to the eye. Compared to other EPA approved repellents, catnip oil is considered relatively safe to use."
http://www.ars.usda.gov/research/pub..._no_115=232664
Drugs.com plant profile 2009
http://www.drugs.com/npp/catnip.html
Health Canada plant profile, 2008
http://webprod.hc-sc.gc.ca/nhpid-bdi...id=41&lang=eng
That's weird - a moderate irritant to the skin, but practically non-irritating to the eye..? Sounds like it's one of the least irritating things around, even concentrated.
I know. There is limited information on it in some areas. I am covered in canip all of the time (rinsed off but still present), so I keep up with the most current information I can find.Quote:
Originally Posted by justme
I have seen and read reports that contradict the initial "10 times better than Deet" report which was taken out of context in any case. It will be interesting to see more reports regarding its effect on insects, for protection.
I must have used about half a dozen different catnips in over 4 years (when I was using bulk health food store catnip) and all worked to prevent split ends but the quality and conditioning and colour effects varied somewhat. I find pet store catnip more consistent in quality and results. That said, batches can vary too. Anything natural can have crop variances even with the most diligent care.
This no doubt explains some of the differences regarding its insect repellancy too.
"The major constituents in the volatile oil of catnip include the major compound geranyl acetate (54.8%), followed by citronellyl acetate (13.4%), citronellol (6.9%), and geraniol (5.5%). The most abundant sesquiterpenes in the essential oil included germacrene D (1.9%), caryophyllene oxide (1.8%), and spathulenol (1.1%). Constituents vary depending on vegetation period and region ... Although there appears to be considerable variation in chemical compounds in these plants, it is known that there are at least the 2 chemotypes of catnip; one has a preponderance of nepatalactones and one has more terpenoids ....".
http://www.drugs.com/npp/catnip.html
It can take time to see results. It can depend on the catnip itself, what is or was on your hair, your hair, in terms of the thickness of the strands, the amount you use and the timing and method. I get better results with it bagged and timed for 1 hour altogether than I did with previous methods.Quote:
Originally Posted by Elfe
See the last link at the end of the Catnip Article, http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/...&articleid=118.
I changed my brew time to exactly 5 hours this last time and my hair has been perfect all week, no curlover, no friction (in varied weather conditions), just amazing. But my hair is mostly fine so this brew time may be the best for my type of hair in particular. Different brew times, timing, methods and dilutions may work better for others and their hair, and in fact such has been reported to be the case.