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trying Katani's suggestions only I goofed up the recipe and added 1TBSP in 11oz of water instead of 1tsp! so.. I added a pinch of paprika and cinnamon to the mix since I don't want to lose my red... other than that, that is the only difference to the mix. :)
Ok I had tried this maybe three times and could not get it right. I finally figured out what works for me. I had to use a wide mouth mason jar because I must have been losing precious good stuff during brew time. As the tea cooled it sealed the top (like canning) and kept everything sealed in. I brewed Saturday night and applied to dry hair on Sunday night. I guess my brew time was about a day. I did use 1 teaspoonful to 1 cup (roughly 300mls). I brewed 2 cups since 1 cup never seemed to be enough for me. I made 2 braids (vertically) and dipped them first. Then I coiled them into beehive buns and wrapped my head in plastic wrap, swim cap on top of that & beenie hat (ski cap/cold weather hat) on top to seal in heat. I left it on long enough to watch a funny movie and then CO washed after rinsing out the catnip tea. The results are wonderful! LOVE IT! A coworker even said my hair looked "really healthy" today without me even asking. Yippee. My hair is as soft as a bunny. I am silky, shiny and soft. Halleluja!!!!!
:happydance::happydance::happydance:
http://www.richncassi.com/LHC/6291http://www.richncassi.com/LHC/6291.jpg
I have fresh catnip growing on my balcony. How can I use it to my hair? Do I have to dry it or will it work fresh? What parts of the plant you use? Should I wait for the flowers or use the buds?
(confession: I planted catnip only to use it on my hair :) )
Katani may have better suggestions.. but the kind I am using is dried and ground/cut into pieces much like loose leaf tea. HTH
Here is the Catnip Article.Quote:
Originally Posted by deko
I use dried catnip. You have 2 choices: use it fresh, the unopened buds and leaves (fresh, it will take up more volume, cut up than dried, packed onto a teaspoon), or dried. You can use what you want when you harvest and dry some for later.
Update
I have pushed catnip brewing to 8, 9 and 10 hours now. The best of the times for me is 9. 10 hours worked fine but 9 was somehow the best so far. I am staying to between 8 and 9.
Ktani: do you mean for the split ends or just for color? I'm curious about how brewing time effects the soak :)
For me, the colour is deeper the longer catnip brews and the conditioning is better too.Quote:
Originally Posted by Cherry_Sprinkle
I've been following your method for a couple of months now and it really is working for me. I only had to use additional conditioner the second time and haven't used any since then. If my ends feel a little dry then I use a small amount of Jojoba oil. I'm still working on the colouring of the hair closest to the scalp and it does appear to be picking up more colour each time I wash my hair. The colouring in the length is working very well. I note your comments about the additional brewing time and will give this a go.Quote:
Originally Posted by ktani
I think this picture shows how the colour is being picked up in my white streaks
http://i705.photobucket.com/albums/w...small_1JPG.jpg
I am very glad that I found this thread and thank you for your continuing advice.
Yes, I can see it. I am very glad that it is working for you. And you are most welcome. I still get an imbalance in colour, if I get too enthusiastic with my shampoo use and cut the timing in my treatment time (when I an in a hurry, lol) but catnip is so forgiving, the very next time I use it I can get what I need from it.Quote:
Originally Posted by KarpatiiSiv
I just trimmed about 1.5 inches off my hair, taking off the last of the growth taper from having gone a long time between trims, a while ago.
The end of February, I cut 3 inches off my hair, which had been 2 inches from my waist, pulled down. It is now 2 inches from my waist pulled down, after the trim. My growth rate using catnip is better than it was 4 years ago but it has always been pretty good.
I followed the trim with the first thorough s&d that I have done in 4 months. I do mini s &d's periodically, just to check on things. I knew that I had a few white dots from being rushed and careless lately.
I had far fewer white dots than ever, and absolutely no split ends, so the extra brewing time did make a difference in my hair recovering from using the catnip shampoos I did for a while, that gave me a few splits, at one point. I am still not getting any breakage taper either though. My growth since the end of February was steady and fairly even. I am still amazed at what catnip can do and in a few short months, it will be 4 years exactly, since I started using it.
My hair is just about waist length. I trimmed 2 inches back in May as it hadn't been trimmed for nearly a year and the ends were looking very sad.Quote:
Originally Posted by ktani
I have always had a problem with split ends and I am still fighting with them doing mini s&ds. I am trying to be more gentle with my hair now and hoping that the Catnip will over time stop any new splits from appearing.
I've never been able to get my hair past waist length before because of splits and growth stalls so I'll be interested to see if the Catnip does improve the growth.
I am sticking with the Catnip as my hair feels and looks better than it has for many years.
Thank you.
I am so glad that using catnip has been making such a positive difference for you.Quote:
Originally Posted by KarpatiiSiv
I did not grow my hair very long because I always had a breakage taper when I tried and I could not stabilize that. It took until sometime into catnip use, to get the results I have now (I keep losing track of the exact time on that, lol. I never recorded it). Now I have the method I need and that is what I have shared. I also had a stylist who kept cutting my hair shorter than I wanted and only when I started cutting my hair myself (about a year now), did I really start growing it this long (it was stabilized for a very good while, before that). I do not have a length goal as such. I am just growing it and if a length becomes awkward for me, I will cut it back. I prefer to wear my hair down except for when doing chores. I have never had a breakage problem from wearing my hair loose, as using catnip prevents any real tangles for me. When I used to use conditioner I did have tangles, with shorter hair. My hair type is prone to that but not with catnip. My hair is fine/medium, wavy and thin.
What I have been doing recently, with the extra brewing time, is just fine tuning and improving on things even more. The biggest difference in results for me was the increased timing for the treatment way back, and bagging it. I was still brewing catnip for about 30 minutes back then and had no splits. My goal now is continuing to reduce the white dots down to 0. That is not actually realistic, lol, as the white dots for me are the result of mechanical damage. I still get careless but perfection is an interesting goal, if one stays firmly in reality and strives to achieve it, without getting too disappointed, if perfection is never really reached, IMO.
Once the hair is stabilized, in terms of not getting more breakage and splits than growth, you can trim off the bad ends and grow your hair without the problem of "losing more than you gain", in terms of what the hair looks like longer, from my experience.
It is really interesting to read how you have progressed using Catnip and improving on it as you have gone along. You've done the hard work for us and we can reap the benefits.Quote:
Originally Posted by ktani
I haven't got a length goal as such but it would be nice to see if I can actually get it to grow past my waist with it looking healthy. My older sister who trained as a hairdresser would trim my hair about once a year and she was usually quite good about the amount she trimmed off but she always went on about the amount of splits I had. She moved quite a distance away a few years ago and I didn't want to risk going to another hairdresser - I've heard to many horror stories over the years.:eek: I found Feye's method for trimming and have been using that.
I wear my hair down or half up at lot of the time. I like the feel of my hair down and its probably got something to do with the fact that when I was younger with long hair I always had to have it in braids or up some other way. However, at the moment we are having a bit of a heatwave here in the UK and its really humid so it has to go up then.
Perfection is a goal I doubt I'll ever reach but I am certainly going to try to get at least two thirds of the way there.:D
I find that s&d's help a good deal. Most of the time, I just do the minis now. It helps to remove hairs that catch on others. Most of the white dots I do have now are really hard to see without extra strong magnifying reading glasses, stronger than the ones I use for reading. lol. I am getting rid of the problems before they can become unmanageable. It is not that the hair gets that much more breakage if I do not, as much as my hair is more awkward to deal with. Sometimes I can see where the hair has broken off but those hairs to not split or continue to break. The areas where I used to have a lot of breakage have grown in quite well.Quote:
Originally Posted by KarpatiiSiv
You are well on your way, from the sound of it, to get what you want from catnip.
ktani, how often do you use the catnip?
I usually shampoo once a week, and use the catnip for an hour after the shampoo, then follow with my SMT. This has been good for me, as my hair is more moisturized then ever -in fact this routine has brought out waves I never had before! :)
But, I still gets splits. Not as many as I used to, but I can still find a couple dozen true splits and a LOT of white dots every time I look. :( I'm thinking about using another round of catnip mid-week -maybe after using a non-SLS shampoo- just to see if it helps. The shampoo I use now has SLS, but I love it so much that I haven't been willing to give it up. But, I might buy another just to use in-between.
I find that I only need to wash my hair once a week now, as opposed to every 4 or 5 days, a few years ago.Quote:
Originally Posted by DragonLady
What is in your SMT? Both aloe gel and conditioner leave residues and sometimes honey can leave it too. You shampoo may not be removing all of the residues every time, especially if you SMT, after every catnip. Try skipping the SMT. Shampoo and just catnip a few times and see how that goes. I need nothing at all, following catnip, no leave-in (I do not like leave-ins) or oil.
If catnip does not have clear access to the hair, from my experience, optimal results do not happen.
I only use a mixture of conditioner (cone-free) and honey. The aloe didn't work for me. I'll try skipping the SMT a couple of weeks and see how it goes. :) Thanks!Quote:
What is in your SMT? Both aloe gel and conditioner leave residues and sometimes honey can leave it too. You shampoo may not be removing all of the residues every time, especially if you SMT, after every catnip. Try skipping the SMT. Shampoo and just catnip a few times and see how that goes. I need nothing at all, following catnip, no leave-in (I do not like leave-ins) or oil.
You are most welcome! Good luck!Quote:
Originally Posted by DragonLady
I'm going on a hunt for catnip tomorrow. Reading through alot of the pages here has made me think it's just what my hair needs!
Hopefully my cat won't eat my hair while I sleep. :lol:
No worries. Here is the Catnip Article.Quote:
Originally Posted by Leisje
I am trying an experiment.
I do not like leave-ins, as I said. I do not like catnip left in either.
However, I used a bit too much shampoo last time and my hair got rained on a bit. I have no problem with a bit of rain but the result was that some of my canopy likes to curl over itself, when it gets very humid or wet.
So, I took some catnip tea, rubbed it between my hands and ran my hands down both sides of the length, from the ears down. Since I am due to wash my hair tomorrow and I was not worried about my hair possibly looking oily, it did each side at least twice.
Then I rinsed my hands and went back over each side, with wet hands, rinsing my hands in between doing that, a few times, the rough equivalent of "rinsing", but not as thorough.
Results: My hair does not look oily but it is softer and the curlover is gone. When I had smoothed my hair out yesterday the curlover was annoying and some hairs were catching. A mini s&d revealed no problem with white dots, except the odd one, I had missed from the other day. It is impossible to get all white dots in any s&d, even a very thorough one, IMO. I think it was 2 hairs, no big deal.
I may try this again, on clean hair, just to see if doing this can help combat the humid weather, I know I face the rest of the summer. I also plan to be more careful with the amount of shampoo I use. My shampoo is not drying but if I use too much, my hair, although very full and wavy, reacts to humidity more. The curlover irritates me.
I would call this a non leave-in, leave-in, lol.
My definition: Curlover is not frizz. It is a good few degrees less than that, and does not affect all top layers of my hair. My ends and most of my length as well as the top, were fine, no problem. It is not a halo.
I've got two cats and have had no problems so far.Quote:
Originally Posted by Leisje
Just remember to treat yours to a catnip toy so it doesn't feel left out. :kitten:
I did a catnip treatment again today. My cats were much confused about the whole thing. They would sniff the air and then meow at me accusingly. Even after I rinsed and used Suave Coconut the biggest cat stoner of the bunch was following me around. He's the one that tore apart my brother's room looking for the stash.
My hair feels soft and the individual strands seem slightly thicker. I think I need to do treatments more often, but is hard to find the time. I like to spray down my hair, soak the ends and length for fifteen minutes, spray whatever wasn't soaking again, and then bag and time for the remaining 45 mins.
Well, the non leave-in experiment failed. Too much catnip and my hair looked oily, just a bit. So I washed my hair and used too little, lol.
So much for that idea. I did use catnip in directed application on my length in the shower though. It looks great!
I poured small amounts on 3 sections several times, before pinning it up insead of just pouring it though it. Perfect!
I made a double batch of catnip tea this morning, and let it brew for 8 hours before storing the jar in the refrigerator. I have been neglecting catnip treatments for a good awhile now, and boy has my hair paid for it. I did a search & destroy today, and snipped off quite a few splits. :( Regular catnip soaks really do make a difference for me in reducing split ends (I don't need the coloring from it).
I'm soaking my freshly washed hair in catnip tea at the moment. Now I just have to keep this up once or twice a week.
I keep overdoing the shampoo, lol. No big deal but I have major volume right now, lol.Quote:
Originally Posted by chickpea
Is it unusual to not have many splits to begin with? Or maybe I am blind? I haven't S&D'd, and I have had one trim by a friend in the last year or so (maybe 10 months). When I look at the ends I really don't see splits, but my hair is very fine (like almost see through). I didn't even know what ktani meant by white dots until I started reading here! I love the softness I get from the catnip (so I will be doing this either way), but I am worried I am just not seeing the splits I need to be snipping via S&D. If I have splits then my understanding is that they travel up the hair and cause problems. Am I just paranoid?
Some people have lots of split ends, some don't - you may be one of the lucky ones! :) My hair has a lot of splits, so I'm hoping that catnip will help strengthen my hair so that it doesn't split as easily.Quote:
Originally Posted by Cassi
Maybe I am lucky *gratitude check*, but I also feel like I am not growing much right now; it is like my hair has stalled. I do see some strands that were clearly not shed from my root.....so I guess they broke off :shocked:. Maybe my hair is growing, but breaking and it just seems like it isn't growing :(? I am hoping catnip strengthens my hair, too!Quote:
Originally Posted by KaeleyAnne
update - still working!!! :D no split ends as long as i make sure i don't run out.
it's an essential in my routine now. thank you very much for pointing out about catnip. i'm convinced the postman thinks i smuggling in weird stuff (bag split once and postman had to re-bag it). :p
let the growing commence ........................
Its an addictive routine once you start. I've noticed an improvement already with my split ends. Haven't had a supply of mine split yet - if it did my postman would probably take it, he's a bit weird!:DQuote:
Originally Posted by rach
It has come to my attention that there is some confusion over what catnip can do with regard to split ends, so I have edited the Catnip Article, to be even more clear than the description, which states "Catnip, as a hair treatment/conditioner, can prevent split ends and stain hair a natural looking, light blonde colour."
At no point have I said or suggested that catnip can cure or stick existing split ends together. The best "cure" I know of for a split end is to cut it off.
From my experience, and the experiences of others, in this thread, catnip tea used as a treatment can and has prevented split ends from forming, even when there has been breakage.
That to me, is what makes catnip tea so unique. I do not know of any other product, natural or otherwise, that can prevent split ends.
This has been my experience too so far :) 2-3 times per week, when I S&D now I find very, very little splits.. but if my ends are bad the only way to fix them is a trim, but again, I have pretty good ends since finding catnip!Quote:
Originally Posted by ktani
Great! Keep going with the catnip. My hair did not become split end free overnight. It was gradual, as my hair became better conditioned with the catnip and the build-up I did have then from linden tea, washed out. That is how I was able to keep going with using catnip. My hair kept improving, slowly because I did not want to clairify out the build-up, but improving. Of course way back, I was still experimenting with dilutions, timing and method. I have shared what works best for me here. That can save time and effort for others.Quote:
Originally Posted by Cherry_Sprinkle
Catnip tea does coat the hair to a degree but again from my experience (it does not build-up), most of the tea is absorbed into the hair, when it is used following a shampoo that does not build-up. My hair does not look or feel oily after I wash and condition it. I can go a week without washing my hair and it is still not over oily. It would be better washed every 5 or 6 days but I can get away with longer.
I do not know what exactly in the tea is working so well but the oils in catnip do help prevent moisture loss. Catnip contains pantothenic acid and many other things as well, including protein.
It is in my opinion, perfectly balanced for my hair (with my current dilution), and it has been reported to work well on many hair types and textures, with different dilutions.
If that were not enough, catnip tea is amazing on my skin, is antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, does not sting my eyes and has replaced hand and body lotion for me (used rinsed off).
I cannot find any downside for it, including price. I pay a bit more than others no doubt for Hagen Catit catnip but my now over a year old container (as of February), which cost about $9 and change with tax, is still half full.
The only cautions are that some people may be allergic to it and it is not recommended to be used during pregnancy or breastfeeding. Patch test for allergies if anyone has not used it before.
I am still fighting (micro trimming and S&D) with my split ends but hope that the Catnip will prevent further splits from forming. I only need to wash my hair once a week and it is not getting particularly oily. I'm finding that my hair actual feels its best around day 4/5 which is a bit odd but that seems to be the pattern it is following since I started using Catnip.
I am also using Hagen Catnip. I tried another brand first of all and was not pleased with the colour it was producing.
It depends on what you started with in terms of residue on your hair, your shampoo, the timing of the treatment and the dilution, to get to your optimum level of results with it, IMO.Quote:
Originally Posted by KarpatiiSiv
Different shampoos work differently with catnip but once you find the right one that does not over clean or stip colour (if you are trying to stain with it), or coat the hair, it should keep getting better.
There are variables with anything used on the hair. The variables with catnip are not many. Catnip does not do well over coatings. That is the main one. Catnip does take time to be absorbed into hair and from my experience, works best bagged and timed for about an hour. Yes, it is a pain and a nuisance to have to do that each time but since I wash my hair less frequently than the twice a week I used to, and my results are so good, it is worth it to me.
I vary my catnip timings but on average I let mine sit 30mins or so, and condition like crazy after I rinse since it leaves my hair feeling dry after... but after that its very soft and I have noticed a lot less splits and very little breakage since I started! :cheese: and I am using cosmic catnip since its what my cat likes lol
If anyone has any catnip questions that I can help with, you can pm me, post a question in my profile or in this thread. All are good.
I really like the Hagen quality. I actually have another almost full Hagen container of catnip. It yields a slightly different colour. Different batches. With a natural product that is a variable too but it still conditioned my hair well. I have been using the first container more though. I was alternating them. The other one is not as old. I bought two containers because I had no idea how long one would last, lol. Over a year is pretty good and lots left in the first container.Quote:
Originally Posted by KarpatiiSiv
I've been bagging for the full hour and I haven't needed to use an coniditioner after washing. I've never washed my hair more than once each week, even longer sometimes. I'm definately learning to use less shampoo especially as I do want the colouring benefits from the catnip. I've tried about three different shampoos and ended up going back to my original which seems to work well with the catnip- Alberto Balsam Tea Tree.
I really prefer the Hagen catnip. The first lot I bought which was actually a Canadian Organic catnip imported into the UK was very finely ground and although it stated it was leaves and flowers the colour was very pale even letting it brew for 8/9 hours.