Catnip for split ends?

I love figuring out how things work. To me, knowledge is empowerment and contol over things I work with but more importantly, I can hopefully avoid previous mistakes that can take ages to reverse.

I did more reading about mucilage. It is in most plants. It is not mentioned in the constituents list of many plants though, if it is not considered an "active ingredient".

I read only one source as I said about catnip and mucilage, while I have read multiple sources about soap nuts and mucilage. Soap nuts get sticky when wet and they do leave a coating on the hair. How much of that coating adheres well to hair, is down to pre oiling with a vegetable oil, IMO. http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/...5&postcount=22

Catnip left-in does not get sticky but tacky, although not for everyone.

I have been thinking about catnip cleansing my hair and scalp.

I know that like can remove like. Working with nail hardener, (I use it to repair things sometimes), if I get some on my hands, I use more of it to remove the spilled dried nail hardener, and wipe off the extra while it is still wet. It removes every trace.

There are 2 ways I have found to remove adhesive (like that left over when removing a price tag off of a bottle), a little bit of oil, which can be messy or I take some shipping tape, wrapped inside out around my hand and pull off the adhesive from the bottle surface (apply the tape and pull). It works every time.
So, in theory, catnip applied to my scalp, massaged in and rinsed off, like I do on my face should cleanse my scalp. If I apply the catnip to my length and just rinse, not leave it in timed (no need IMO, because I have not shampooed), it should remove some of the catnip already there, while still leaving my hair soft and coloured.

I am sitting here with a cap on my head soaking. This will be my first treatment, I will let you know how to turns out after it dries.

I do have a question though. I'm sorry if it has been answered already but I have been looking and I can't find the answer to it. How often do you do this? Once a week? Twice a week?

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Originally Posted by CurlyOne

I am sitting here with a cap on my head soaking. This will be my first treatment, I will let you know how to turns out after it dries.

I do have a question though. I'm sorry if it has been answered already but I have been looking and I can't find the answer to it. How often do you do this? Once a week? Twice a week?

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I use it every time I wash my hair, which can be every 5 days or once a week or longer. I used to use it twice a week when my hair was more oily.

I think that you can use catnip as often as you wish, barring allergies or reactions.

Here is the updated Health Canada monograph
http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/dhp-mps/prodn...ataire-eng.php

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Originally Posted by CurlyOne

How often do you do this? Once a week? Twice a week?

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My answer, for what it's worth, is every other day, since I wash my hair every other day. But I have only been using the catnip soak for about 3 weeks. I like it so far but can't boast any miraculous de-tangling results yet. My hair strands feel stronger at the ends and I can't help but think the soaking really helps.

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Originally Posted by MsBubbles

My answer, for what it's worth, is every other day, since I wash my hair every other day. But I have only been using the catnip soak for about 3 weeks. I like it so far but can't boast any miraculous de-tangling results yet. My hair strands feel stronger at the ends and I can't help but think the soaking really helps.

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In the beginning for me with catnip, I had build-up on my hair and I was experimenting with time and amounts. I did see a difference in my hair right away but it took time for me to get where I am now with it.

The dilution and timing I recommend here, is the end result of countless experiments and they are what I use now to maintain the success I have with catnip.

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Originally Posted by CurlyOne
How often do you do this? Once a week? Twice a week?

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I use it about twice a week, sometimes more often.:p I use catnip on days that I don't use shampoo as I find I have the best results that way. I find that it makes my hair soft and fluffy, and easier to detangle. Plus I shed a lot less with catnip. :D

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Originally Posted by catfish

I use it about twice a week, sometimes more often.:p I use catnip on days that I don't use shampoo as I find I have the best results that way. I find that it makes my hair soft and fluffy, and easier to detangle. Plus I shed a lot less with catnip. :D

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I get much less shed with catnip, than I used to with conditioner too.

How long it takes until I notice results?
I have done several treatments already (every time I showered, actually), and I can't say it made my hair whole lot better or any worse. I still got damage and breakage in my ends as always. I admit I wasn't entirely precise about the amounts, but I've got this special cup for steeping herbal teas, with a inner filtering cup to contain the herbs that are sunk into the cup and a lid. It can contain more or less 275 milliliters. I usually used about a teaspoon of catnip and put it in hot water to steep before I went to shower, and i used right after. I keep it for half an hour to hour on my head, dripping down my neck (that's the part I really don't like about the whole thing), and then I rinse it out.
Maybe the difference isn't as noticeable as I thought it would be?

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Originally Posted by Heidi_234

How long it takes until I notice results?
I have done several treatments already (every time I showered, actually), and I can't say it made my hair whole lot better or any worse. I still got damage and breakage in my ends as always. I admit I wasn't entirely precise about the amounts, but I've got this special cup for steeping herbal teas, with a inner filtering cup to contain the herbs that are sunk into the cup and a lid. It can contain more or less 275 milliliters. I usually used about a teaspoon of catnip and put it in hot water to steep before I went to shower, and i used right after. I keep it for half an hour to hour on my head, dripping down my neck (that's the part I really don't like about the whole thing), and then I rinse it out.
Maybe the difference isn't as noticeable as I thought it would be?

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I noticed a difference in my hair right away but it depends on what else you are using on your hair, IMO. I stopped using things that coated my hair and contained things like mucilage, that I knew had already built-up on it. My shampoo gradually washed out the build-up and my hair continued to get better with catnip. Anything that coats the hair well from my experience, does not allow catnip to "get to the hair" and perform as well as it can. I noticed a huge difference, as the build-up washed out and when I stopped experimenting with conditioners.

I then started about 2 years ago, to increase the catnip timing. That made the final difference in getting my hair to where it is now, 0 split ends (although they decreased considerably much earlier than that), and less breakage than ever.

Ktani, thank you for posting these instructions. I don't really have splits or damaged ends, but the longer my hair gets the more I worry about getting them. I think I'll try this at some point. My only worry is that my cat will try to eat my head. :)