Results 1 to 7 of 7

Thread: Catnip + Henna

  1. #1
    Member jesamyn's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2008
    Location
    Portland, OR, US
    Age
    51
    Posts
    429
    Length
    shldr/bsl/tb
    Type
    2b/2c/F/M/ii

    Default Catnip + Henna

    Since catnip seems to be considered conditioning and is acidic, I decided to brew some to use for my henna liquid. 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 dumped about 25-30 g of henna into a bowl and started adding catnip juice. Since I intended to leave it on overnight, I didn't wait for dye release and slapped it on immediately. For those who don't care for the smell of henna, I've discovered that catnip overrides the smell, or at least it does in my nose. If you can't normally smell catnip, I have no idea if this would work for you.

    I covered the mud with a plastic processing cap and my black knit cap that I usually use when henna'ing. At 3am, I awoke to my older cat purring happily and rubbing all over my cap. (My younger tabby doesn't react nearly as much to catnip normally.) She's a small cat and sleeps on my pillow regularly, so it was just waking up to her all over my head that was a change. I'm guessing at that point my body heat had spread the aroma of the catnip. We came to a mutual agreement that she could sleep against my head and stop rubbing on me.

    When I rinsed the henna out this morning, I was a little disappointed. I was hoping that the conditioning effect of catnip that I'd read about would mean a smooth rinse. It was actually not any smoother than usual, and not as smooth as I get with some vinegar and mostly water. When all was said and done, my hair was actually quite dry, like it was when I used coffee as my henna liquid. It's not as bad as lemon juice, and a little coconut oil is fixing it right up. (Normally I cannot use coconut oil in my hair...makes it too greasy and lank, even in tiny amounts.) Dye intensity and uptake were no different than usual.

    My hair does still smell faintly of henna and catnip.
    Last edited by jesamyn; April 7th, 2008 at 01:21 PM.

  2. #2
    Member bigeyedgirl829's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2009
    Location
    Nor Cali
    Age
    40
    Posts
    68
    Length
    BSL/WL/TB

    Default Re: Catnip + Henna

    Has anyone else tried this when the same results? Have you noticed split ends or have they lessened?

  3. #3
    Member chrissy-b's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2007
    Location
    lalalala
    Posts
    1,793
    Length
    buzz/ear/apl
    Type
    1c/F/ii

    Default Re: Catnip + Henna

    I've tried this but my result has been a much smoother application and rinse, more so when I use catnip with cassia than with henna, but I can still tell the difference. I haven't noticed a difference in splits, but I only use catnip with henna about once every six to eight weeks, and I've only done this type of application about three times so far.
    "Equations are the devil's sentences!" ~ Stephen Colbert

  4. #4
    Account Closed by Member Request
    Join Date
    Feb 2005
    Location
    In the Realm of Innovative Hair Care Methods
    Posts
    19,474

    Default Re: Catnip + Henna

    Henna contains resin. If the purpose was to have the catnip condition to help prevent split ends, catnip cannot get through coatings like resin to be absorbed into the hair. Catnip does not do that well with anything that coats the hair.

    Some catnip may have been absorbed by the hair but coatings trump (beats) catnip evey time, from every post I have seen, when catnip is used with or over one.

    Henna resin washes out between use, so catnip can be used over henna as less resin remains but whether enough or all resin washes out before the next henna is applied is the question.

    When I had mucilage build-up on my hair and I started to use catnip 4 years ago, my hair progressively got better as the build-up washed out and my hair became split end free when all of the build-up was gone.
    Last edited by ktani; May 8th, 2009 at 03:40 PM. Reason: spelling

  5. #5
    A redhead brunette Heidi_234's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2008
    Location
    Oblivionville
    Posts
    3,647
    Length
    21"/39"/44"
    Type
    2c/3a/M/ii/iii

    Default Re: Catnip + Henna

    Quote Originally Posted by ktani View Post
    Henna contains resin. If the purpose was to have the catnip condition to help prevent split ends, catnip cannot get through coatings like resin to be absorbed into the hair. Catnip does not do that well with anything that coats the hair.

    Some catnip may have been absorbed by the hair but coatings trump catnip evey time, from every post I have seen, when catnip is used with or over one.
    ktani, when the choice is between not-so-soft tap water, chamomile tea, and catnip, I think catnip is a good bet. Even if the henna might prevent it from condition properly, it's a better choice in any case. Cool chamomile tea is shown to aid in yielding more intense color results than just water, so catnip might do the same.

    Soft hair that is nice to sit on - now I'm bragging!

  6. #6
    Account Closed by Member Request
    Join Date
    Feb 2005
    Location
    In the Realm of Innovative Hair Care Methods
    Posts
    19,474

    Default Re: Catnip + Henna

    Quote Originally Posted by Heidi_234 View Post
    ktani, when the choice is between not-so-soft tap water, chamomile tea, and catnip, I think catnip is a good bet. Even if the henna might prevent it from condition properly, it's a better choice in any case. Cool chamomile tea is shown to aid in yielding more intense color results than just water, so catnip might do the same.
    I agree. It is a matter of what someone wants or expects the catnip to do. I elaborated further on that, while you were posting.

  7. #7
    Member dolcevita's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2008
    Location
    Canada
    Posts
    181
    Length
    18/23.5/TB
    Type
    2c/F/i

    Default Re: Catnip + Henna

    I actually noticed my split ends drastically reduced after my first henna/indigo! All I mixed in was a bit of ACV.

    For personal reasons, my username was recently changed.
    Please PM me if you don't recognize me in your friends list!

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •