Catnip for split ends?

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Originally Posted by podo

I've been using catnip rinse for about a week now, and I can really see the results!

I decided to go all natural, so I whipped up my own shampoo and use the catnip tea as a rinse. With both of them, it doesn't feel like commercial products when I'm showering or when it's wet, but it dries MUCH more quickly, and once it's dry it's mostly tangle free (the tangles that are there are more from the shampoo).

My split ends are almost gone - my S&D sessions only last a couple minutes now, and I snip out split ends I missed before or kinks in my hair. It's no longer a case of cutting my hair one hair at a time! YAY!!

It doesn't seem to cover the gray though. I've only got about 6 gray hairs so far, but they're still gray - no blond or anything. I'm considering trying walnut to put some color back in, but one thing at a time!

The first time I used it I put it in and went to bed, and then kept my hair in a snood the next day because I didn't get a chance to rinse it out. By evening, it was almost dry, and seemed ok, though I probably won't use it as a leave-in. I do have some in my mister though, and mist my hair on the days I'm not washing it.

Excellent idea!! I wonder how someone thought of it originally?

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I have no idea who came up with this--but it is brilliant!

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Originally Posted by catfish

I've used the catnip tea (per Ktani's instructions) a few times and so far I really like the results. My skin is improving really quickly, and my hair feels about the same as when I used conditioner.

The only difference in my method of tea rinsing is that I don't bag my hair up, I just soak my length in the cup of catnip tea, then pour the leftovers over my head. I continue with my bath as usual then rinse well at the end. I found bagging to be a bit cumbersome and my hair feels pretty moisturized even though the tea is sitting on my hair (the same way conditioner does) throughout my bath.

I am using a tiny bit of coconut oil on just my ends, do you think the oil will block the catnip from treating my ends? I don't have any buildup at all and the oil makes my very dry ends a little nicer, maybe one day I wont have to use oil at all, just catnip.

Can I still use a little oil without ruining the catnip effects?:o
Thanks, catfish

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catfish

Try it and see.

From my experience, especially if you use my steeping method for preparing the catnip, by covering it and knocking the condensation from the inside of the cover back into the mug (on your finger), catnip has enough oils in it, not to need anything else..

If you prefer to use coconut oil, just do not use too much, as you have been doing, and make sure that you wash it out well enough, so that it will not block the catnip.

dor3girl

Catnip was recommended on the boards about 3 years ago now, for "strength and shine".

A few people tried it in various ways.

I tried it too and noticed the colour possibilities, researched catnip (it is known to yield a light yellow dye and it is safe to use) adapted, it for that, and pressed forward to get it to condition for me to completly replace conditioner.

The end result is far more than I could have wished for.

While I am not the first to have tried catnip on these boards, to my knowledge, I am the first to have thoroughly researched information on it.

The no split ends and reduced breakage were part of the result of continued experimentation on my part, for myself - to get catnip to replace conditioner altogether.

It worked.

Catnip rocks:rockerdud I wish I had known about catnip years ago:rolleyes: would have saved my skin a lot of rashes. I've only been using catnip for two weeks now and even though it isn't miracle stuff, my hair does feel the same as with conditioner, and more importantly my skin is not irritated by it, even the burned/recovering skin.:D

:bowtome: Big time thank you to Ktani and everyone else in this thread for the great info. :bowtome:

Question: The last six inches of my hair are still real dry and kinda crispy, will my ends improve with steady catnip use?

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Originally Posted by catfish

Catnip rocks:rockerdud I wish I had known about catnip years ago:rolleyes: would have saved my skin a lot of rashes. I've only been using catnip for two weeks now and even though it isn't miracle stuff, my hair does feel the same as with conditioner, and more importantly my skin is not irritated by it, even the burned/recovering skin.:D

:bowtome: Big time thank you to Ktani and everyone else in this thread for the great info. :bowtome:

Question: The last six inches of my hair are still real dry and kinda crispy, will my ends improve with steady catnip use?

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catfish

You are very welcome.

I do not consider catnip a miracle for my hair and skin - I consider it close, lol.

The last 6 inches of your hair - I had a similar problem for a while - build-up. The build-up gradually washed out.

I tried using less catnip on the ends - that seemed to help but what really made the difference and what I still do, is the bagged extra timing.

I found that to be the best.

Here is my reasoning.

While the lesser time still makes the hair feel good - the conditioning constituents in catnip are not designed, like those in conventional conditioners, to work in a specific 2-3, or 5-10 minutes.

They are the all in their natural raw form.

It takes more time IMO, for them to penetrate however much of the cuticle they are able to do.

All I know is that the bagging - body heat - and the extra timing worked, whereas using more catnip or less water, or less catnip on the ends, did not work for me.

I will tell you what the biggest difference is that the bagged extra timing of my catnip treatments does for my hair now.

I still have no taper when my hair grows.

It had been 7 months since my last trim.

I modified the Faye method and did it myself, successfully.

I just completed a very thorough s&d.

I had not done one in about 6 weeks.

While there were still no split ends, I do still get some white dots.

But they were the usual very small fraction of the amount I used to get, using conditioner or any herbal treatment that I tried.

I use to separate a strand of hair and go - "where do I start?"

Now it takes a good while to find a white dot, which is usually too faint to see clearly, except under strong light, and while wearing dollar store reading glasses, that are stronger than I need to read text (I bought really strong ones just for s&d's).

Ok, I don't think I've asked this question yet, and Ktani, please forgive me if you've already told me (though I'm sure all we've discussed is its use for hair), but what exactly does the catnip tea do for one's skin? And how is it applied - frequency, method (sprayed on, with a cotton pad?), etc.? :confused:

I have an oil-prone scalp and combo skin - oily t-zone (prone to break outs along and under the jaw which I understand to be hormonal, but rarely breakout anywhere else on my face), and somewhat dehydrated cheeks and areas outside the T. What can I expect catnip to do for my skin? And would it even be a good idea for me to use it considering my skintype?

TIA! :)

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Originally Posted by MermaidGirl

Ok, I don't think I've asked this question yet, and Ktani, please forgive me if you've already told me (though I'm sure all we've discussed is its use for hair), but what exactly does the catnip tea do for one's skin? And how is it applied - frequency, method (sprayed on, with a cotton pad?), etc.? :confused:

I have an oil-prone scalp and combo skin - oily t-zone (prone to break outs along and under the jaw which I understand to be hormonal, but rarely breakout anywhere else on my face), and somewhat dehydrated cheeks and areas outside the T. What can I expect catnip to do for my skin? And would it even be a good idea for me to use it considering my skintype?

TIA! :)

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MermaidGirl

No worries.

I use the catnip for my skin that is left over from the batch I use on my hair. I leave some aside specifically for that purpose.

So, it is a mild dilution.

My skin has always been and still is oily.

I find the catnip to be very soothing and softening and yet when I wash my face with it, and my arms, and neck in the morning (I shower at night), it removes my oil and replaces it with its own.

Right after I wash my face, my skin is soft but no longer oily.

I just put some in my hands, apply it well and rinse.

I do not time it or do anything special.

You can if you wish, (I have done on ocassion) let it sit for 30 seconds before rinsing, but most times I do not.

My skin feels great with it and as I have said, I have received compliments on the quality of my skin since I started doing this.

I had hormonal acne years ago but when I hit 30, my hormones settled down and I had changed my diet - less junk food, which now they say has litttle to do with acne but junk food does have more chemicals added, that I can do without.

If you change the catnip dilution from 1 level tsp to approximately 275 ml water, by making it stronger, it becomes more astringent.

I like using that dilution for both hair and skin.

In the winter, my skin no longer feels dry, and it used to feel that way.

I have never moisturized my face but I do wear a 30 SPF sunblock that has moisturizing properties, on my skin.

Even with that, my face used to feel partched in winter - no more since I use the catnip before I apply the sunblock.

I use it on my hands, the same way as on my face but in the shower, after I have applied it to my hair and that gets the same timing as my hair.

I have not bought or used hand cream in the time I have started using catnip on my hands.

podo

Walnut dye is toxic. Have a look at the research in this thread.
http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/...ead.php?t=5378

Catnip only needs to be left on the hair for about an hour, to add colour. I always rinse mine out.

But it will not stain over conditioner.

There could still be some on your hair.

I do not know what your all natural shampoo consists of, but if anything if it leaves a residue, that could prevent catnip from staining as well, IMO.

So I tried bagging my hair this evening:D I let it sit for about 20 min in the bag before rinsing well with water. It's wet now and I'm going to bed, I'll let you guys know if it makes a difference compared to just rinsing it through and then rinsing again with water.