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Stagecoach
The tea is IMO amazing.
It does work for me.
I stay on the wagon, lol.
Other than shampoo - catnip tea is all that I have used on my hair, barring conditioner on top of that, when I have gone for a trim every few months but not in between trims - for over 2 years.
I have never had a problem with cats using the tea.
Thanks for the info, Ktani. Not sure if you saw my follow-up post, but my plan was, obviously, to dilute the catnip EO (as I am aware it is strong/irritating) in a carrier oil (such as camelia or jojoba) and use that for oiling my length, perhaps overnight and then washing it out in the morning.Quote:
Originally Posted by ktani
I'm aware that catnip is attrative to cats, however, my cats (I have 2) have never ever not once in the 10 years I have had them shown even the slightest interest in anything catnip-related. They are completely immune to its "power" and have never reacted to it. In fact, if anything, they avoid catnip laced toys, etc. That said, when you mention that I am likely to have "a huge cat problem" do you mean that if I use catnip EO in my hair, however greatly diluted it may be, I run the risk of having various and sundry neighborhood strays following me to my home like I am some sort of Pied Piper? Or that I may be awoken in the middle of the night being seranaded beneath my window by said random strays? :confused: Because I'd really rather avoid either scenario - people might get the wrong idea!
Truthfully, the tea sounds a lot easier to use and if it can be put in the hair and left with no rinsing, all the better. However, I imagine the tea probably does have some catnip oils in it (though probably not EOs) and that using the catnip EO would just be a stronger version of the tea ....
BUT, if I ever do try to the catnip EO, I will let you all know how it works!
MermaidGirlQuote:
Originally Posted by MermaidGirl
I actually did not see your plan. Sorry
The attraction of cats to catnip is genetic - and kittens are not usually attracted to it - cats become attracted if they are going to be - when they get older.
".... 50% of cats are affected by catnip, .... affected to differing degrees. Kittens younger than 8 weeks old aren't able to enjoy it's effects. .... show an aversion to it. The response to catnip .... to be inherited as an autosomal gene. It's not just domesticated cats .... effects of catnip, many .... wild species also enjoy it. Cats can smell 1 part in a billion in the air. "
http://www.cat-world.com.au/Catnip.htm
No, I do not think that you will become the Pied Cat Piper of your neighbourhood - as long as you wash out the oil, lol but you might become very cat popular.
Just don't go visiting others with cats while the oil is in your hair, IMO.
Thank you ktani! I love using the catnip tea on my hair. It has really brought a lot of shine! And while it has been awhile since I have split ends, I have some breakage; which I hope the catnip tea will help with. Will report back later on that progress.
I just wanted to give this a thumbs up and share my results! I'm a happy girl right now. :cheese:
Anyways, are you the originator of the catnip rinse? I am curious how someone came up with the idea of catnip???? Or some of the crazy things I have heard of people putting on their hair.
I am definitely going to give this a try.
I am ROFLMAO at the picture in my head of MermaidGirl being like the crazy cat lady in the Simpsons, with cats all around her house, picking kittens out of her hair and throwing them at random passers-by. LOL!
I LOOOOOVE kitties so its OK with me if I become cat popular. However, if I ever decide to use the oil, I will be sure to wash it out before I go visit my best friend - she has 3 cats that LOVE catnip and one in particular doesn't leave me alone as it is and climbs all over me (and this cat has got to weigh 30 pounds if he weighs an ounce - he's huge!), so I cannot imagine how he'd be if I had catnip oil in my hair!Quote:
Originally Posted by ktani
That might actually come in handy at work! :D One of the attorneys I work for is just a horrible person, and we know that cats can sense evil, so perhaps having a few kittens stowed away in my hair and who would be willing to hiss and claw at him might make it so he'd not come near me?!Quote:
Originally Posted by Mitzy
Thanks for the info ktani...hope to buy it soon...Quote:
Originally Posted by ktani
I want to know how frequent I should use it to cover the gray ;)
Sissilonghair
You are most welcome.
While the catnip colour does not all wash out when I shampoo, because I use catnip to both colour and condition - I apply it each time I wash my hair after shampooing both my scalp and length.
I squeeze the shampoo lather from my scalp through the length - I do not apply separate shampoo to the length.
I tried the catnip rinse last night (left on for about an hour or more and then rinsed with water) and it seemed to increase the curl/wave in my hair. Unfortunately when I woke up that meant it was sticking up in all directions and would not go back down (can't wait till I have some length and weight so this doesn't happen!) . Not sure about anything else, no tinting to the couple of grey hairs I have though there seemed to be a light yellow cast to the little fine hairs around my forehead, and the texture and shine is about the same as always. Might try it again, but seem to have better results personally with chamomile (& I like the smell better too).
oh and cat was indifferent, but she's hit & miss when it comes to the nip
Since I joined this forum I am CO my hair and I love it.Can I use catnip without changing my routine or do I need to shampoo ?? I CO every other day ,but I don't know if I can use catnip so frequent on my hair.I would be so happy , if I can have a good cover of the gray:eyebrows:
Sissilonghair
From my experience - catnip does not stain over conditioner.
At the time I tried using very little conditioner - still - gradually - the grey started showing through untill my streaks came back.
It just did not work.
Hi catnippers!
I'm just wondering if it's advisable to use catnip on highlighted hair? I mean, would it alter the colour of the highlights? I want the shine, but not the colour!
darl in 1
I cannot speak for the conditioning effects of catnip over conditioner - but - since for me it does not stain over conditioner - if you use it over conditioned hi-lights - it should not stain.
And if it somehow does - a light yellow - it washes out fairly easily - it is temporary.
Thank Ktani! I might give it a go then. I just need to remember where I put the catnip.......
Minor hijack:
Darl in1, I LOVE the domino avatar! What are those -- brownies with candies? Cute! :D
I agree. I don't even like chocolate normally (except when mixed with something, like peanut butter. yummy) and that made me hungry. Super cute.Quote:
Originally Posted by Wavelength
I'm back in town, and as such, I can now begin the routine again. I used shampoo for the first time in several years this past week after swimming (allergic to chlorine so I try to get it out as best I can) and my hair was severely unhappy, can't wait to start up the catnip again. ;)
Ths sounds interesting.
Has anyone with chemicaly dyed hair tried this? I am considering trying this treatment, but am wondering if there are any issues with it possibly stripping or changing the colour of dyed hair.
Well I have noticed a great difference, my hair has less splits plus I can spread shampooing out to just once a week. I have never been able to go this long, but since diluting my shampoo with the strained catnip, then rinsing with more catnip. I only put a teeny bit of conditioner on the ends but I am very impressed with the results so far.
Catnip is available quite cheaply from e bay.
Hmmm, I bet it is, and I usually buy things from ebay all the time, but there is a store not far from my house that sells organic catnip in plastic bags, it has a funny brand name, like Snazzy Kat or something... I can't remember. I'm going to start using that, cause it's fairly inexpensive.Quote:
Originally Posted by jojo
Does anyone else think this won't work so well if you have cats in the house? I'm now picturing waking up with my cats chomping on my hair.
Thanks!:D They are chocolate cake with chocolate frosting and decorated with strawberry shoelaces across the middle and smarties as the spots! They were yummy!Quote:
Originally Posted by Wavelength
ETA: the strawberry shoelaces are a type of candy tht look like shoe laces!
It depends on how you use it, mainly. When I'm cookin it up, the at does get a bit excited if she is in the room, but sh doesn't attack my hair (and she loves catnip).Quote:
Originally Posted by Pegasus Marsters
Yep, we have shoelaces and Smarties here too. Cool! :DQuote:
Originally Posted by darl_in1
I tried this twice so far after reading this. I brew the tea, add some honey (it actually tastes pretty good haha) and put my hair in a ponytail ontop of my head since I have layers, and dip the ends of the ponytail and soak it for a few minutes.
It actually makes a big difference. I have porous hair so when I go a few days without washing the ends get really dry, but I don't want to wash my hair more than I have to. This works really well in between, making my ends really shiny and soft, and it doesn't seem to add greasyness for me so It doesn't increase the frequency of my washes.
Wow, I'm constantly amazed at the difference this stuff makes in my hair! I haven't used any the past few weeks, but now that I've used it again I can tell such a difference!
Sorry to be contrary, but I followed the directions that were posted about infusing the catnip and I couldn't tell any difference. My hair smelled like grass and I thought it was a little more tangled then usual, other then that no change.
I have noticed less splits since I started sleeping on silk pillowcases.
emeraldjoy
Catnip was not an instant fix for my hair in the beginning.
I had build-up on my hair from a previous herbal treatment I was using and I do not clarify.
I did notice that my hair was better with catnip though.
Gradually, as the build-up washed out and I experimented with bagged timing, my hair improved.
Now with the maximum bagged timing, my hair does not tangle wet or dry - the splits and breakage decreased quite a while ago with my catnip use.
It will be different for everyone, depending on their routine.
I agree with Ktani. Not only just in that it might not work for everyone, but that it takes time and you may have buildup form something else. I do hope it works for you if you decide to keep trying. :)Quote:
Originally Posted by emeraldjoy
I made a tea with catnip, senna and fenugreek and left it on my hair overnight covered by a plastic bag. I got to tired to rinse it out and just fell asleep. I think it made my ends feel nice and soft. It was a little coated feeling, maybe too much fenugreek. But I loved the smell!
I'm thinking that once a week seems like a good frequency. Does that sound reasonable?
Senna and fungreek? Interesting... and I don't have either. :(Quote:
Originally Posted by julya
I would think once a week would be fine, but keep in mind if you are doing this for coloring, and you wash more often than once a week, it might not work out as well as you hope.
I'm not interested in the color, besides I think my hair is too dark for it to show up. I will try the once a week timing for now. Oh, and I found the senna and fenugreek at the health food store in the bulk herbs section.
:kitten:Well here I set with catnip tea on my head. I did an infusion per ktani's instructions. I have my hair sopping wet with catniptea with showercap on wrapped in a towel. I will post results later. I plan on letting it soak for at least 30 minutes to an hour. Wish me luck!
how did it go coppercurls?
We have no such section in my local health food store, it's tiny. :(Quote:
Originally Posted by julya
How did it go?Quote:
Originally Posted by coppercurls
Okey dokey here are my results from my first ever catnip tea soak:
I was pretty impressed! When I took my hair out of the shower cap, I could run a wide tooth comb through it without in conditioner! :disbeliefWooHoo! So Me being me, I started thinking "Do I really need to rinse this out?" 15 minutes later the answer was an obvious "Yess!" As my hair started to dry it was feeling really tangly dry. So I rinsed out the catnip w/water & did an SMT with Suave Toasted Vanilla. I added a few drops of tangerine EO. OMG, that stuff smelled wonderful! I left this on for about 45 minutes & rinsed. Hair was shiny, easy to detangle! WooHoo again! I didn't use any gel and had really good curls formation. I think it would have been better w/ gel, but I wanted to see what the catnip did. I think I will def be adding this to my routine. The curl formation alone was worth it! I also think my shine went up a notch too. You know how we curlies are always searching for shine! Maybe with a couple of months use I can tell about split ends decreasing.
:thumbsup:
Quote:
Originally Posted by coppercurls
YAY!!! I'm so glad it worked for you. Maybe next time, if you leave it in a tiny bit shorter of a time, you won't have to use as much product in your SMT, you think?
Yay for curl definition and shine!!! :cheese:
That what I am thinking too.:pQuote:
Originally Posted by Nynaeve
I tried my catnip tea this morning with 1 T. of Molassas added two the 2 cups of water. I'm hoping it will help with the conditioning and enhance my redish tones.
Ok. I just had a "stupid hair moment." I have been making the tea with tap water.... I have very hard water, so I didn't see as much difference as when I switched to distilled water. WOW. I am amazed! If I weren't such a conditioner groupie I might not have used it. I didn't need to. :cheese:
I thought that I would also pass along how I brew the stuff too, just in case anyone wants to know. I put the water in my coffee maker and the leaves in the pot and I run the water through and brew it. It was less hassle for me to do it this way.
Glad to know such a small change worked out so well and made such a big difference. :)Quote:
Originally Posted by forgetmenotak
Hmmm, how does one become un-addicted to conditioner.... I must find out for you if I can. ;)