Catnip for split ends?

As you know, my catnip tea is resting in the refrigerator until tomorrow afternoon. But I still have a few questions:

• I know you let it warm to room temperature. Is there any benefit to heating it carefully, double boiler style?
• Do you apply to scalp?
• I'm thinking of doing a vinegar rinse both before and after. Normally, I do vinegar as my final rinse, then rinse that out. Do I need to?
• Are conditioning benefits increased by leaving warm and bagged for, say a half hour, or is that mainly for color?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Raederle

As you know, my catnip tea is resting in the refrigerator until tomorrow afternoon. But I still have a few questions:

• I know you let it warm to room temperature. Is there any benefit to heating it carefully, double boiler style?
• Do you apply to scalp?
• I'm thinking of doing a vinegar rinse both before and after. Normally, I do vinegar as my final rinse, then rinse that out. Do I need to?
• Are conditioning benefits increased by leaving warm and bagged for, say a half hour, or is that mainly for color?

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Excellent questions all, Raederle - I obviously still left some things out of this version of a catnip thread - thank you.

I would not reheat it - that could affect it somehow - it is an unknown - I have never done that.

Catnip is a specific for scalp irritation - I soak in it during the process of it being on my hair and definitely my scalp.

Catnip contains acetic acid, along with many other constituents - white vinegar is acetic acid - diluted in water. The pH of catnip is appoximately 6.

I do not think that you need to do a vinegar rinse at all - see how it goes.

See "White" vinegar - it can have salt in it.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vinegar

I use, as I have said, the leaves and flowers.

Catnip leaf constituents
"Acetic acid, ......."
http://www.monroecountymi.net/Medica...rbs/catnip.htm

The conditioning benefits are definitely increased with the extra time as well as the colour - just with body heat, bagged.

It was the extra time that gave me the conditioning I needed.

The disapearance of split ends happened with less time but the full conditioning benefits for me happened with more time.

I now have less breakage than ever before. The reduction of breakage to the extent I have now - happened with more time.

So, I'm taking it that the vinegar rinse, whose purpose is to remove any mineral residue, is unnecessary?

Raederle

Catnip for me only became very slightly sticky when left in.

I wash my length each time with the lather from my scalp - not added shampoo.

Catnip does not build-up on my hair with the routine I use, even though the colour does not all wash out each time.

I have no residue problem or crunchy, dry ends.

With all of the different routines used by others, I cannot say what the results will be.

Try it without the vinegar rinse afterward, first.

You may need one before you try it, to help reduce conditioner residue or clarify if you think you need it.

I tried my catnip-in-a-teaball. It looked about the same as the prior attempt without a tea ball. I brewed it at 1 tsp catnip to 275ml of water. I heated the water and popped the catnip in (in a tea ball), then covered it and let it sit for several hours. I let it sit until I needed it, at which point it was quite cool. I got a vaguely yellowy-green liquid without much color to it. I then proceeded to mix it with henna. I decided to post the full results in a separate thread here.

The smell was still in the liquid, btw. :P

jesamyn

There is a faint odour in the liquid and sometimes when my hair is wet but not when it is dry.

No cat belonging to friends of mine and all of their cats love catnip - has ever responded to my freshly washed hair and even though I am allergic to cats - I love them and play with them - I have to be careful to wash my hands afterward and not touch my face or eyes - I get very close to them.

I have no experience with catnip and henna.

I'm guessing it's the mix of catnip and henna, and she's a weird cat. :) I also considered that it might have had something to do with the stainless steel, which is why I reported it.

jesamyn

Your cat is not weird IMO - she no doubt smelled the catnip around the plastic - some probably dripped.

According to the catnip farmer I spoke with, cats can smell catnip in something like a billionth of a particle of odour in the air.

Like I said, I have had no cat difficulties with my hair dry.

Oh, she's weird. This particular situation is just not necessarily a good indication of it. ;)

The 'some probably dripped' actually made a light bulb come on. I know that I sweat some when I sleep with the henna and my cap. That's probably what dripped out, bringing the catnip along with it. Considering that my cap was barely damp this morning, I feel confident that was the reason.

I'm not overly concerned about her wanting to get into it dry. She always wants to remove it from buns anyway. If we went from de-bunning to purring and rubbing, it would be a relief. ;)

My days off got all switched up, so today was catnip day. I took the mix out of the refrigerator this morning, since I wasn't sure when I'd get to the shampoo phase. As it turned out, the shampoo was late afternoon, so I put the catnip outside to warm up, since our house was only 60.

After shampooing, I applied to my scalp and ends, putting some in a plastic bag, and letting the hair from about shoulder down enjoy the bath. I poured the rest over my scalp, letting it drip into another bowl, and playing switcheroo. When my arms got tired, I covered my head, hoping that there was enough catnip to do some good to the scalp hair.

After about 40 minuites, I rinsed it out, and here I sit. I have to admit, it felt wonderful on my scalp, which has been mightily irritated of late. I don't feel a lot of slip to my hair, as compared to how it feels after a typical shampoo/condition cycle. Decided not to use the typical leave-in I typically use, so I could evaluate the catnip better.

So, once dry, I'll post how it feels. Hoping it hasn't altered my hair color ....

Raederle

It is lovely on the scalp isn't it?

I doubt that it has altered your colour much.

It needs more time to do that effectively and from the non slip you are getting, the catnip may not have gotten directly on to the hair shaft - any conditioner or othere residue there would prevent that from happening completely.

ETA: Any colour that you might get will wash out easily enough. It is not any where close to a permanent stain.

Well, hair is finally dry and combed out. It feels great -- not all that different from how it feels after a shampoo and conventional conditioner, just more ... substantial, I guess is the word. I would gladly use this again, if only there was an easier application process. I kept wishing it was a thicker concoction, so it would really stay on my head without so much dripping.

I might keep up with it for how wonderful my scalp feels. Perhaps I'll make a smaller batch next time and just treat my scalp. PPD ways she thinks that she sees a more golden look where it used to be more silvery, but I'm no so sure. Tomorrow's challenge photo will show it better, I guess.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by ktani

ETA: Any colour that you might get will wash out easily enough. It is not any where close to a permanent stain.

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Oh, yeah, I knew that. I was really just kidding.

Raederle

Yes, the timing is a pain.

Since you are not using it for colour - you might get away with less time - you have to see - I found the extra time increased the conditioning for me but I did it initially for the colour.

For scalp washes it would be perfect as a rinse.

Catnip keeps in the fridge for up to 7-10 days but that is pushing it.

ETA: I have never had it go bad - in over 2 years - but I do not keep it too long.

Okay, here is my issue. My scalp is really giving me grief the past week, or so. I know you've said that catnip must be rinsed out, because your hair got sticky otherwise. How about if I apply it this evening, maybe catch the drips in another bowl, and repeat a few times. Could I then just leave it alone all night, and rinse out tomorrow morning?

I'm thinking of hitting just the nape area, because that's where all the irritation is, not scalp wide. I'm not too concerned about color change there, as this is the darkest hair on my head, and, as you state, the effects are temporary anyway.

Raederle

I have spot used catnip myself in the past when I had shampoo or other product irritation problems - a good while ago now and left it on.

It can provide temporary relief.

For me - I knew the cause - my sensitivity to the product - that had to calm down on its own - but the catnip relieved the worst of it - until I recovered.

I had no problems with doing that at all.

Ah, well thanks for that, then. So, once my current batch is cooled down enough not to burn me I could use it? The aaaahhhh you hear will be me.

Raederle

Yes - absolutely.

The best part? - when it has cooled in the fridge - it will feel even better when cold.

ETA: Just make sure when you make a new batch to use this way, that you do not make it stronger - the dilution I recommeded - 1 level tsp to 275 ml water works very well on sensitive skin - stonger catnip becomes more astringent - you do not want that when dealing with irritation, IMO.

Well, this is interesting. I poured some on last night, and when I arose this morning, my hair felt great -- no sticky feeling, at all. I poured some more, cold, just on the nape, put it up for the day, and it's dry now, and feeling soft and wonderful. It's making my scalp hugely happy, the itching has really receded, and you may color me a truly happy camper.

Thanks so much for your hard work and help, ktani :flowers:.

And for you skeptics out there, give it a try.

Raederle

You are most welcome.

I am so glad to read that you are pleased.

The stickiness for me happened when I sprayed it on my ends - I have never left the rinse/treatment in my hair in quantity.

Spot treating with it never gave me a problem.

This is really interesting, thanks ktani! I think I might have to try it out, my scalp can be itchy and I would love to have stronger hair.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by ktani

The stickiness for me happened when I sprayed it on my ends - I have never left the rinse/treatment in my hair in quantity.

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Since my fine, chemically highlighted hair is somewhat prone to breakage and splits, I started to experiment with catnip last Sunday. My first use was a 1 hour treatment prior to SMT. Since then, I have been misting my length on a daily basis. I mist with about 50 mL of catnip tea, plus approximately half a teaspoon of jojoba oil and a few drops of ylang ylang EO.

ktani, I have not experienced any stickiness from misting, even when I exclude the jojoba. My hair has great body from the misting, and the jojoba makes it feel very soft and well conditioned. One week is too soon to tell if I will have the stronger hair and less breakage, but so far, so good! :D

BTW, I wash my hair 2X per week, so the catnip stays on my hair for at least 3 days at a time, misting daily.

Katja

At the time I tried the catnip as a leave-in, my hair had build-up on it from something I had used previously - I do not clarify - the stickiness was not bad but I found that leaving the catnip in did not benefit my hair. ETA: It did not hurt it either.

ktani, that's interesting. Why do you think that using catnip in this way didn't benefit your hair? Do you mean that it didn't have benefit for color, or for conditioning? Or both?

I am not interested in color, only conditioning.

Katja

My hair started to improve when I first started to use catnip - however - the build-up had to wash out - that was gradual.

I kept increasing the catnip timing in the bath/shower, which helped with the conditioning and colour.

What really made the difference for me both for colour and conditioning - was bagging my hair in the shower and increased timing.

I do not like leave-ins - I usually found them to be slightly sticky no matter what they are - maybe tacky is a better word - not sticky like honey or gross - just not the feeling I get when the catnip is rinsed out - which I prefer.

ktani, thanks for the clarification.

Just thought I'd drop by and say I've started using catnip. Only once so far, and I'm going out of town towards the end of the month, adn won't be able to continue the regiment properly there, but I'm hoping to find something hair-friendly and portable for the trip.
Just thought I'd mention that I've started on catnip though. :)

Nynaeve

Great - I look forward to reading how it works for you when you can use it continuously.

Hey, all! A few questions...

I've been NW but I have so many splits. So, if I took to doing a once a month WO, and applying catnip then, how do you think it would turn out? Not using shampoo, would it be too sticky/oily? Would using it only once a month not have the same affects?

I'm also thinking of trying cassia. If I did a monthly cassia and added catnip, might that have a chance of working? :lol: I probably shouldn't try so many things at once... :silly:

freznow

Catnip does have oil in it - I find it better to wash it out with the method I described - I do not think that it would be that great with NW - but you could give it a try.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by ktani

Nynaeve

Great - I look forward to reading how it works for you when you can use it continuously.

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K. I'll keep you people posted as I get my routine down.
Question, the amount you described earlier in the thread, that is one shower's amount, right? (The 300ml or something)

Nynaeve

The batch I prepare each time is 1 level tsp cut and sifted catnip to 275 ml of boiled water.

I do not use the full amount on my hair - I keep some aside to use on my skin.

Has anyone thought of mixing hibiscus and catnip together for a scalp treatment? Mine has been dried and flaky for several months now, despite me not actually using shampoo on my scalp (only the lengths), and I've read that hibiscus may help. But perhaps catnip and hibiscus together? Anyone up for a try? My catnip pot hasn't put up any shoots for me to try it yet....

I have a catnip plant and a catmint plant. They look different, so assume that I should make sure I use catnip?
Would it make a difference using fresh leaves?

I use the catnip for colour as well as conditioning - to get light blonde.

I use a mix of the leaves and flowers - dried - I have no access to fresh catnip - the flowers have more oils in them than the leaves.

Hibiscus might be nice to blend - I cannot say how that would work, mixed with catnip.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by ktani

Nynaeve

The batch I prepare each time is 1 level tsp cut and sifted catnip to 275 ml of boiled water.

I do not use the full amount on my hair - I keep some aside to use on my skin.

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Ahh, thanks for that, I thought I remembered you saying that I just didn't when I got in the shower :D
Especially since my solution somehow got cold waiting on my shower. :(

I keep mine in the fridge until use - then let it warm up to room temperature before I use it - I never heat it and rarely use it warm - I usually make it in advance.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by ktani

I keep mine in the fridge until use - then let it warm up to room temperature before I use it - I never heat it and rarely use it warm - I usually make it in advance.

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Thats what I did. I made it about a week in advance. Then I let it sit out for hours until it was room temp. I took it into a hot shower, but then it was cold by the time I started using it. :confused:
Not a good surprise. haha

You should see my typos before I correct them, LOL.

Nynaeve

I have used catnip that has been older than a week in the fridge but I recommend using it well before that time.

While I have never had catnip go bad on me - it still has water in the brewed tea and there is always the possibility that it could go "off".

Just a precaution.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by ktani

Nynaeve

I have used catnip that has been older than a week in the fridge but I recommend using it well before that time.

While I have never had catnip go bad on me - it still has water in the brewed tea and there is always the possibility that it could go "off".

Just a precaution.

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Kk. Thanks :)

Our shower wasn't working for a while, so I had to extend the time it was in the shower, but thanks for the precaution mention, I'll make sure to use it before it stays too long next time.