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Re: Catnip for split ends?
I thought I'd appraise everyone on my catnip experiments recently.
I decided to try my catnip infusion as a CO the other day. I wet down my hair in the shower and squeezed out the excess, poured catnip in like normal and massaged it a bit, leaving it on like a normal treatment, bagged for an hour. When I rinsed in the shower I massaged my scalp a bit more, rinsed, and then did a distilled water final rinse. I put just a tad bit more in as a leave in.
As a leave in, I'm not sure I'm going to like it, it was just ok. But my hair doesn't seem to like leave ins of any kind, other than several types of oils.
As a CO though.....I'm adding this one into my regimine for sure. :D I will probably replace at least one wash with this. My hair behaved like it had been cleansed, very fluffy and soft. My scalp felt soothed and felt clean like I had washed. I had very little sebum-y smell, even after day 2. The only thing was my bang area was a bit oily looking and separated still. That's easily remedied though...I will occasionally spot clean them anyway. That's where my hair first shows the greasies and shows them the worst as well. Yesterday I spot cleaned my bangs only and put in a little argan oil....my hair looked and felt soft and smooth all day and no separating of the bang area.
:cheese: for catnip!
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Re: Catnip for split ends?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
rymorg2
I thought I'd appraise everyone on my catnip experiments recently.
I decided to try my catnip infusion as a CO the other day. I wet down my hair in the shower and squeezed out the excess, poured catnip in like normal and massaged it a bit, leaving it on like a normal treatment, bagged for an hour. When I rinsed in the shower I massaged my scalp a bit more, rinsed, and then did a distilled water final rinse. I put just a tad bit more in as a leave in.
As a leave in, I'm not sure I'm going to like it, it was just ok. But my hair doesn't seem to like leave ins of any kind, other than several types of oils.
As a CO though.....I'm adding this one into my regimine for sure. :D I will probably replace at least one wash with this. My hair behaved like it had been cleansed, very fluffy and soft. My scalp felt soothed and felt clean like I had washed. I had very little sebum-y smell, even after day 2. The only thing was my bang area was a bit oily looking and separated still. That's easily remedied though...I will occasionally spot clean them anyway. That's where my hair first shows the greasies and shows them the worst as well. Yesterday I spot cleaned my bangs only and put in a little argan oil....my hair looked and felt soft and smooth all day and no separating of the bang area.
:cheese: for catnip!
This is intriguing! I suggest for spot cleaning your bangs, try washing them with catnip but rinse it out right away. And if necessary, do it twice.
That is what I do to remove sumblock on my face.
If you are washing with shampoo and bagging catnip once during the week, for the next wash with catnip only, theoretically you should just be able to wash and go, no bagging or timing of any length required. You have already conditioned with it once deeply, post shampooing.
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Re: Catnip for split ends?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
ktani
This is intriguing! I suggest for spot cleaning your bangs, try washing them with catnip but rinse it out right away. And if necessary, do it twice.
That is what I do to remove sumblock on my face.
If you are washing with shampoo and bagging catnip once during the week, for the next wash with catnip only, theoretically you should just be able to wash and go, no bagging or timing of any length required. You have already conditioned with it once deeply, post shampooing.
I'll definately try that.
That's true, but I'm trying to get as much goodness out of the 'nip as I can now, to speed up results LOL. In a pinch though if I'm short on time I'll keep that in mind too.
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Re: Catnip for split ends?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
rymorg2
I'll definately try that.
That's true, but I'm trying to get as much goodness out of the 'nip as I can now, to speed up results LOL. In a pinch though if I'm short on time I'll keep that in mind too.
True. This is all theory on my part. I have yet to try catnip this way. I am so set into my routine, lol and I have been stretching out hair washings. I can now go almost a week without my hair getting too oily but it depends on my diet.
I do know for sure that if I start to wash my hair more frequently again (twice a week), that one of the washes will be catnip only.
My skin gets clean with it but never dried out (I use my hair dilution) and the fact that catnip can remove my oil based sunblock, still amazes me, but it does.
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Re: Catnip for split ends?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
ktani
True. This is all theory on my part. I have yet to try catnip this way. I am so set into my routine, lol and I have been stretching out hair washings. I can now go almost a week without my hair getting too oily but it depends on my diet.
I do know for sure that if I start to wash my hair more frequently again (twice a week), that one of the washes will be catnip only.
My skin gets clean with it but never dried out (I use my hair dilution) and the fact that catnip can remove my oil based sunblock, still amazes me, but it does.
That's what I'm hoping....to stretch my washes a bit more but we'll see. The very fact that I can go for 2-3 days between is good enough.
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Re: Catnip for split ends?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
rymorg2
That's what I'm hoping....to stretch my washes a bit more but we'll see. The very fact that I can go for 2-3 days between is good enough.
It really will depend on someone's hair and scalp, how oily or not etc., as to how much one can or cannot stretch a wash but I find that catnip is perfect for me at my dilution and lately, even when I have used more shampoo than normal, my hair remains perfectly conditioned, for me.
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Re: Catnip for split ends?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
ktani
It really will depend on someone's hair and scalp, how oily or not etc., as to how much one can or cannot stretch a wash but I find that catnip is perfect for me at my dilution and lately, even when I have used more shampoo than normal, my hair remains perfectly conditioned, for me.
That's wonderful ktani....I hope to get to that point eventually. It'll take some time though and I already see results.
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Re: Catnip for split ends?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
rymorg2
That's wonderful ktani....I hope to get to that point eventually. It'll take some time though and I already see results.
Results are individual too and I am so glad for you that you have. I did at the beginning too but I need to and did wash out my build-up before thre best catnip results were apparent.
My hair is still improving with catnip. No downside for me yet. It has almost been about 4 years.
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Re: Catnip for split ends?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
ktani
Results are individual too and I am so glad for you that you have. I did at the beginning too but I need to and did wash out my build-up before thre best catnip results were apparent.
My hair is still improving with catnip. No downside for me yet. It has almost been about 4 years.
That's terrific!
I forgot to add that when I did my CO I had ZERO breakage and very little shedding than even with the diluted DW. HOORAY!!!!!
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Re: Catnip for split ends?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
rymorg2
That's terrific!
I forgot to add that when I did my CO I had ZERO breakage and very little shedding than even with the diluted DW. HOORAY!!!!!
That is very encouraging.
I still use shampoo but in the shower my hair no longer tangles when wet and I know that my hair is less stressed over all. My brealage is waaay down from what it was pre catnip, and even with catnip over 1.5 years ago. Increasing the timing did the latter for me.
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Re: Catnip for split ends?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
ktani
That is very encouraging.
I still use shampoo but in the shower my hair no longer tangles when wet and I know that my hair is less stressed over all. My brealage is waaay down from what it was pre catnip, and even with catnip over 1.5 years ago. Increasing the timing did the latter for me.
I don't do a lot to my hair, despite being a stylist, to cause breakage anymore. What I have now is leftover from highlighting about a year ago. I do still occasionally use a demipermanent color, but it's fairly gentle. That's awesome!! :D
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Re: Catnip for split ends?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
rymorg2
I don't do a lot to my hair, despite being a stylist, to cause breakage anymore. What I have now is leftover from highlighting about a year ago. I do still occasionally use a demipermanent color, but it's fairly gentle. That's awesome!! :D
I have seen some awesome pictures of your hair lately. You can try coconut and argan oils as a pre treatment before the demi, if you like.
I think that a stylist's hair can be an indication of what they know about hair. How do you feel about that as a viewpoint?
Mind you, I have seen some pretty wild looking celebrity hair stylist hair and the hair of their clients still looks great.
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Re: Catnip for split ends?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
ktani
I have seen some awesome pictures of your hair lately. You can try coconut and argan oils as a pre treatment before the demi, if you like.
I think that a stylist's hair can be an indication of what they know about hair. How do you feel about that as a viewpoint?
Mind you, I have seen some pretty wild looking celebrity hair stylist hair and the hair of their clients still looks great.
Wow, thanks! :D I definately plan on trying the coconut/argan oil before my next demi, which may not be awhile.....it's been a good month and my color is still good and my regrowth not so bad, although it's growing as well. :shrug: I have no idea why that is.
I think I LIKE that viewpoint....:cheese:
eta that I have seen some stylists in my area the same way LOL...and their clients usually look good too. Go figure
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Re: Catnip for split ends?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
rymorg2
Wow, thanks!
You are most welcome!
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Re: Catnip for split ends?
So I went and got my stash of dried organic catnip leaves and flowers that I had harvested from my garden and stored (thinking for the cats) and made some catnip tea.
I used 2 tsp's for 2 cups water and steeped it for 45 minutes. Then I diluted shampooed, slapped it on my hair, did my lather, shave, and other shower crap then rinsed it out. I did use a small dab of conditioner on my ends but :bigeyes:
My hair was SO SOFT! Even my ends were soft. And my ends are NEVER soft. My hair simply smelled of my shampoo and I made my fiance pet me like 12 times.
I made a batch for my nephews super strawlike hair and even his hair was shiny and soft. He even said his scalp felt better (He had gross cradle cap type stuff on his head)
We even doused the dog with it when we gave him his monthly bath and he came out smelling faintly hay like and being softer than he usually is post bath.
I didn't remember to make a tea for this days shampoo and when I went to bed fiance said "Why do your ends feel dry?" I felt them and THEY DID! So I am making a pot of Catnip tea tomorrow and am going to do a simple rise, soak and rinse in the shower.
I love the stuff! I can't wait to try it on my sisters super dry end hair.
(also, I tried it on fiance's hair and he asked if we had new conditioner because he felt softer on top :lol:)
KJ
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Re: Catnip for split ends?
Ok I have read a few pages of this thread and I am intrigued off to look for catnip when I go shopping tomorrow, that is if you can get it in Australia :ponder:
Another thing to try , goodie. :D
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Re: Catnip for split ends?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Alley Cat
Ok I have read a few pages of this thread and I am intrigued off to look for catnip when I go shopping tomorrow, that is if you can get it in Australia :ponder:
Another thing to try , goodie. :D
Buy pet store catnip if you can, leaves and flowers. I recommend steeping until cooled, about 1.5 hours or longer if you like. I use 1 level tsp to just under 300 ml of boiled water. I cover the mug with a saucer. Just before I strain it into a creamer for easy pouring, I tap the condensation from under the saucer, on my finger, back into the mug. The condensation contains the volatile oils. Catnip contains fixed oils too.
I then rinse the tea strainer I use, shake it a bit and strain the tea into a washed out shampoo bottle and either refridgerate the tea or use it right away. If refridgerated (it keeps up to a week), I take it out of the fridge an hour before I use it, to let it warm up to room temperature. I do not reheat it.
I have not tried to CO with it yet. Others have and reported success. I wash my face with the tea and it removes my oil based sunblock and my soap and water washable mascara. It is very soothing and moisturizing to skin, as well as hair.
I get the tea in my eyes all of the time in the shower. No problems there. Catnip has actually soothed eye irritation for me. I have seen it recommended as an "eye wash" on the internet but ignored that. When I had scratched the inner corner of my eye one day, I applied some catnip to it and it relieved the redness right away.
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Re: Catnip for split ends?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Keenkitty
So I went and got my stash of dried organic catnip leaves and flowers that I had harvested from my garden and stored (thinking for the cats) and made some catnip tea.
I used 2 tsp's for 2 cups water and steeped it for 45 minutes. Then I diluted shampooed, slapped it on my hair, did my lather, shave, and other shower crap then rinsed it out. I did use a small dab of conditioner on my ends but :bigeyes:
My hair was SO SOFT! Even my ends were soft. And my ends are NEVER soft. My hair simply smelled of my shampoo and I made my fiance pet me like 12 times.
I made a batch for my nephews super strawlike hair and even his hair was shiny and soft. He even said his scalp felt better (He had gross cradle cap type stuff on his head)
We even doused the dog with it when we gave him his monthly bath and he came out smelling faintly hay like and being softer than he usually is post bath.
I didn't remember to make a tea for this days shampoo and when I went to bed fiance said "Why do your ends feel dry?" I felt them and THEY DID! So I am making a pot of Catnip tea tomorrow and am going to do a simple rise, soak and rinse in the shower.
I love the stuff! I can't wait to try it on my sisters super dry end hair.
(also, I tried it on fiance's hair and he asked if we had new conditioner because he felt softer on top :lol:)
KJ
I am glad that you are so pleased. I have found that the longer it is left on the hair, the more conditioning it is to the hair.
I gently squeeze out extra water, after shampooing, apply the catnip and bag it. That works best for me. I do that in 2 "sections". I wash my hair all forward or upsidedown. I apply catnip to the underneathth back, top, sides and length, pin that up and bag it for 1/2 hour. Then I remove the bag, apply more catnip to the top front, sides and back and rebag, with my ends down and out of the bag, and leave that on for another 1/2 hour.
I remove the bag, let my scalp "cool" down for a few minutes and rinse. Because I am also using catnip to cover my grey/white hair, with light yellow stain, I add some extra catnip at this point, to my greyest hair areas.
I now have no tangles wet or dry in my hair, 0 split ends and reduced white dots, less than ever before. Even this winter which is very cold here, static is minimal and my ends are not dry.
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Re: Catnip for split ends?
How I prepare my catnip tea
You need an inexpensive tea strainer or a teaball. I use a stainless tea strainer (about $3.00), a stainless (stainless is optional) 1 tsp measuring spoon, a bone china mug (bone china is optional, from the dollar store), a demitasse saucer (any saucer will do), a creamer (easy pouring) and a 2 cup Pyrex measuring cup.
Boil the water (stainless kettle for me), measure out the catnip (I steralize the mug, saucer, Pyrex measuring cup and tea strainer each time with the boiled water before use) measure out the catnip, add to the mug, measure out the water, add to the mug, cover with the saucer, steep untill cooled or longer, if you wish.
I empty the mug into the creamer (through the tea strainer) and tap condensation from inside (underneath the saucer) into the creamer as well and then use the creamer to pour the cooled tea into a washed out plastic shampoo bottle, through the rinsed out (tap water) strainer. I either use the tea right away or store it in the fridge, to use later.
I use a bigger plastic strainer to empty the tea strainer (before rinsing it, to use again to use with the shampoo bottle) and mug, that I gather the dregs from, with a paper towel and discard. I then wash out everything used, except the Pyrex measuring cup, because it only gets boiled water in it.
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Re: Catnip for split ends?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
ktani
Buy pet store catnip if you can, leaves and flowers. I recommend steeping until cooled, about 1.5 hours or longer if you like. I use 1 level tsp to just under 300 ml of boiled water. I cover the mug with a saucer. Just before I strain it into a creamer for easy pouring, I tap the condensation from under the saucer, on my finger, back into the mug. The condensation contains the volatile oils. Catnip contains fixed oils too.
I then rinse the tea strainer I use, shake it a bit and strain the tea into a washed out shampoo bottle and either refridgerate the tea or use it right away. If refridgerated (it keeps up to a week), I take it out of the fridge an hour before I use it, to let it warm up to room temperature. I do not reheat it.
I have not tried to CO with it yet. Others have and reported success. I wash my face with the tea and it removes my oil based sunblock and my soap and water washable mascara. It is very soothing and moisturizing to skin, as well as hair.
I get the tea in my eyes all of the time in the shower. No problems there. Catnip has actually soothed eye irritation for me. I have seen it recommended as an "eye wash" on the internet but ignored that. When I had scratched the inner corner of my eye one day, I applied some catnip to it and it relieved the redness right away.
Thank you for that ktani. I will try to look for a pet shop one today. :) I will be relieved it can't hurt the eyes unlike the soapnuts did. Yikes. :eek:
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Re: Catnip for split ends?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Alley Cat
Thank you for that ktani. I will try to look for a pet shop one today. :) I will be relieved it can't hurt the eyes unlike the soapnuts did. Yikes. :eek:
You are most welcome. Pet store catnip brands are very competitive and the catnip is no doubt fresher than health food store bulk catnip because of the stock turnover. I buy organic catnip. It is still cheap in pet stores for that too.
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Re: Catnip for split ends?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
ktani
You are most welcome. Pet store catnip brands are very competitive and the catnip is no doubt fresher than health food store bulk catnip because of the stock turnover. I buy organic catnip. It is still cheap in pet stores for that too.
I am hoping I can get it here I have never looked for it so I don't know, we will find out today. :)
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Re: Catnip for split ends?
I do not know why but 2 people so far have misread my catnip dilution. It is 1 level teaspoon to just under 300 ml of boiled water.
Teaspoon, not tablespoon. I have deliberaely not used the short forms.
I hope that this helps.
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Re: Catnip for split ends?
I used catnip on my hair today and it is so soft....
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Re: Catnip for split ends?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
kdaniels8811
I used catnip on my hair today and it is so soft....
For me, it is catnip forever. I use it for both hair and skin.
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Re: Catnip for split ends?
I couldn't get catnip today I went to 2 pet shops and a produce shop , they only sell a spray bottle with it in . :shrug:
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Re: Catnip for split ends?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Alley Cat
I couldn't get catnip today I went to 2 pet shops and a produce shop , they only sell a spray bottle with it in . :shrug:
I just found some on eBay in queensland. ;) Go have a look!
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Re: Catnip for split ends?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Gilly
I just found some on eBay in queensland. ;) Go have a look!
Thanks for that. I just looked it's a plant . I'm not sure about a plant coming into Tasmania they are pretty strict on things like that down here? Just looked again cannot post to WA or Tasmania.
Thanks anyway. :)
My parents tried to bring in some fruit and had to eat it before they came through the terminal much to the annoyance of the air port security. :lol:
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Re: Catnip for split ends?
I just saw another one on there from NSW does that look like the right stuff ?:
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/Cosmic-Catnip...3A1|240%3A1318
That is if it can be posted here it's not a plant ??.
I will ring around the other pet shops tomorrow or soon anyway to see if any others carry it, there aren't a lot of pet shops down here so it won't take long :)
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Re: Catnip for split ends?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Alley Cat
Thanks for that. I just looked it's a plant . I'm not sure about a plant coming into Tasmania they are pretty strict on things like that down here? Just looked again cannot post to WA or Tasmania.
Thanks anyway. :)
My parents tried to bring in some fruit and had to eat it before they came through the terminal much to the annoyance of the air port security. :lol:
They do sell it here in Tasmania but it is not a pet store.
http://www.highlandherbs.com.au/inde...ex&cPath=71_67
I also found this. But you need to call around. I do that here. Someone should have an idea what pet stores carry the dried herb.
http://www.communityguide.com.au/com...foodssupplies/
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Re: Catnip for split ends?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
ktani
Thanks for that ktani your a gem :)
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Re: Catnip for split ends?
Ok, I did an experiment of my own tonight. My hair got unusually oily this past this week. It does that sometimes even though I did not change my routine. In the shower I did not use more shampoo than normal. I reached for the catnip I was going to use only for colour/conditioning.
I rinsed out the shampoo and used the catnip just like I do for my face. I applied it to my scalp and length and then rinsed it out right away.
Then I reapplied the usual amount to my hair, bagged and left it on for the hour. I half expected my hair to be flatter and piecy. Just the opposite happened. my hair is clean, soft, silky and full. This is exciting. It is still not completely dry but it is twice as full as usual.
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Re: Catnip for split ends?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Alley Cat
Thanks for that ktani your a gem :)
My pleasure!
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Re: Catnip for split ends?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Alley Cat
I just saw another one on there from NSW does that look like the right stuff ?:
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/Cosmic-Catnip...3A1|240%3A1318
That is if it can be posted here it's not a plant ??.
I will ring around the other pet shops tomorrow or soon anyway to see if any others carry it, there aren't a lot of pet shops down here so it won't take long :)
This is the right stuff.
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Re: Catnip for split ends?
I am starting to wonder if I have proper catnip. I bought it online (in the UK) being labelled as such, but only in English, not with the latin name. It smells minty when freshly brewed and I haven't noticed any amazing effects on my hair - nothing dreadful either, though. I don't see any flowery bits in it, looks like only leaves.
Could it be that I have catmint instead of catnip? How would I find out? The stuff sure works on my cat but as I said I haven't noticed it doing much for my hair or skin, I don't notice it being oily at all like some here have described and it does smell faintly minty...
Also, if I wanted to try a different batch, does anybody know of a good brand or supplier in Germany?
Thanks,
Kaz x
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Re: Catnip for split ends?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Kazazi
I am starting to wonder if I have proper catnip. I bought it online (in the UK) being labelled as such, but only in English, not with the latin name. It smells minty when freshly brewed and I haven't noticed any amazing effects on my hair - nothing dreadful either, though. I don't see any flowery bits in it, looks like only leaves.
Could it be that I have catmint instead of catnip? How would I find out? The stuff sure works on my cat but as I said I haven't noticed it doing much for my hair or skin, I don't notice it being oily at all like some here have described and it does smell faintly minty...
Also, if I wanted to try a different batch, does anybody know of a good brand or supplier in Germany?
Thanks,
Kaz x
I was mistaken about the white bits. Those are stalks. Catnip flowers are buds and can be seen as small round bits in the mix. I corrected the white bits part further back.
Catnip does not smell minty to me but that is me. It is a member of the mint family.
My catnip does not say Nepeta cataria on the label. I had to email the brand to get that information but that is what I have.
I think that most pet store catnip is Nepeta cataria or common catnip. It should say leaves and flowers though, on the label.
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Re: Catnip for split ends?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
ktani
This is the right stuff.
Thank you . :)
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Re: Catnip for split ends?
I went back to the website from which I had bought my catnip and it does say it's Nepeta cataria: http://www.sparkipuss.com/cushion.htm
But it doesn't say about leaves and flowers...I will email them and check my stuff for the flowers and shall then report back.
Cheers,
Kaz x
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Re: Catnip for split ends?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Kazazi
I went back to the website from which I had bought my catnip and it does say it's Nepeta cataria:
http://www.sparkipuss.com/cushion.htm
But it doesn't say about leaves and flowers...I will email them and check my stuff for the flowers and shall then report back.
Cheers,
Kaz x
Great. please update.
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Re: Catnip for split ends?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Alley Cat
Thank you . :)
You are most welcome.
