Catnip for split ends?

[ktani]

Thank you for these links. I have had a difficult time in convincing my best friend that my individual hairs are weak (and different than hers). She is able to grow long and strong hair with no babying or care whatsoever and claims that all these things that we do here at LHC are just hogwash. I used to have better hair but do suffer from hypothyrodism and think that's my main problem. I also apparently suffer from this "Trichorrhexis nodosa" !

I've only been able to do one catnip soak but have another in the fridge which I hope to do tomorrow. My hair did feel great after the first soak, and I have full faith this will be one of the greatest things I can do to strengthen my hair from this point on - thanks to all those who have gone before me! Thanks again

You are most welcome! I was just editing for clarification and adjusting text while you were posting and I added this.

"When I was recently briefly, experimenting with catnip "shampoos", and then a catnip treatment, and the treatment was not being absorbed into my hair as well as following conventional shampoo, I was just starting to see split ends again and my hair was knotting. Since going back to my regular routine, of conventional shampoo followed by the catnip treatment, I have not seen any split ends. I think the difference is a matter of dryness. Catnip as a treatment, bagged and timed, keeps my hair balanced with moisture and protein and breakage does not result in my ends getting frayed and split."

I do not know if you saw this, but genetics plays more of a role in hair strength, than most people realize. I posted this in the peroxide thread because the topic there is conventional lightening and colouring chemicals, and preventing as much damage as possible when doing those processes.

[KarpatiiSiv]

There is a difference between white dots and split ends but a white dot can result in a split end. Mine do not since my catnip use has improved, from a good while back. I know my white dots are from mechanical damage. I have found hairs with more than one white dot on them, from the hairs catching, and my not having done an s&d in a while.

When I was recently briefly, experimenting with catnip "shampoos", and then a catnip treatment, and the treatment was not being absorbed into my hair as well as following conventional shampoo, I was just starting to see split ends again and my hair was knotting. Since going back to my regular routine, of conventional shampoo followed by the catnip treatment, I have not seen any split ends. I think the difference is a matter of dryness. Catnip as a treatment, bagged and timed, keeps my hair balanced with moisture and protein and breakage does not result in my ends getting more frayed and split.

A white dot is actually breakage that can but not always, result in a split end. I still get a few white dots but they do not result in split ends (I have found them between long times between s&ds and they have not resulted in split ends) and I used to get split ends, with no white dots on them.

"Hair disordersSymptoms of hair shaft disorders are split ends and hair that is dry, brittle, and coarse, as well as skin and other abnormalities."

"Trichorrhexis nodosa is a defect in the hair shaft characterized by thickening or weak points (nodes) that cause the hair to break off easily.... The hair actually grows but is broken before it can become long. .... the defect often appears at the ends of the hair shaft with splitting of the ends, thinning and whitish discoloration. .... This condition is self-limiting. Improvements in grooming techniques and in environmental conditions will correct the abnormality."

"Definition of Trichorrhexis nodosa:
Trichorrhexis nodosa is a problem in which thickened or weak points (nodes) along the hair shaft cause your hair to break off easily. .... Causes, incidence, and risk factors: Your genes may play a role in whether or not you develop trichorrhexis nodosa. Certain things you do to your hair -- such as blow-drying, over-brushing, perming, or excessive chemical use -- appear to trigger the condition. In some cases, trichorrhexis nodosa may be caused be an underlying disorder such as hypothyroidism, argininosuccinicaciduria, Menkes' kinky hair syndrome, Netherton syndrome ...."

Very interesting link. I'm sure my problem was Trichorrhexis nodosa as my hair would break very easily and I believe that the breakage certainly contributed to my splitends. I am sure that is why I have not been able to grow my hair past waist length before. I also brushed my hair twice each day. I washed my hair once each week and used a hairdryer only on a low heat setting. I stopped brushing as soon as I joined LHC and have put the hairdryer away. I've been doing catnip rinses now for 3 months and rinses combined with other changes have certainly made a difference. I'm noticing far less breakage, my hair feels better and its growing.

[ktani]

Very interesting link. I'm sure my problem was Trichorrhexis nodosa as my hair would break very easily and I believe that the breakage certainly contributed to my splitends. I am sure that is why I have not been able to grow my hair past waist length before. I also brushed my hair twice each day. I washed my hair once each week and used a hairdryer only on a low heat setting. I stopped brushing as soon as I joined LHC and have put the hairdryer away. I've been doing catnip rinses now for 3 months and rinses combined with other changes have certainly made a difference. I'm noticing far less breakage, my hair feels better and its growing.

Fantastic! I took out the word more before frayed, because my white dots just stay as they are or the hair breaks but fraying implies split ends, and with my regular routine I do not get split ends. Wording is a delicate thing, lol and I do not want to be misleading. I have finally after many years, been able to grow decent looking hair long, with catnip use.

[ktani]

This is so cool!

The many names of hair of hair breakage, from The Trichological Society, in Britain.

Split ends has its own name, Trichoptilosis but it/they can also be the result of Trichorrhexis Nodosa (white dots). And the difference is dryness. I thought so. And my breakage is from mechanical damage, as I thought too, knowing my limited routine (conventional shampoo and catnip tea, no leave-ins, no added oils). I wear my hair down and loose over 98% of the time (it is 2 inches from my waist, pulled down).

My white dots no doubt do look frayed under a microscope but I had no problem finding split ends quite a long while ago now in general, or a little while ago, during my brief experimenting with catnip as a shampoo. I wear 3.25 magnifying glasses to do an s&d, lol. I had not found split ends prior to that, in a very long time, nor have I found any, since I went back to my regular catnip routine, even though I still get a few white dots. The difference I believe, is that catnip moisturizes and strengthens my hair, when used a certain way (bagged and timed for 1 hour). I have proven that to myself. Naysayers please note: to "myself".

[ktani]

I added the last post above, to the Catnip Article, as well as this post, and this one.

[Canarygirl]

Ktani,

I would like to experience the benefits of catnip but bagging my wet hair for an hour is out of the question; that would never fit into my lifestyle. Do you think I could get some benefit from adding catnip extract to my cone-free leave in conditioner? I found catnip extract at my health food store.

[ktani]

Ktani,

I would like to experience the benefits of catnip but bagging my wet hair for an hour is out of the question; that would never fit into my lifestyle. Do you think I could get some benefit from adding catnip extract to my cone-free leave in conditioner? I found catnip extract at my health food store.

You can try it and it may help but optimal results? No, IMO. I do not think it will do much of anything at all used that way and it depends on what is in the extract. Some contain alcohol. Catnip does not play well with conditioner in any case, for the best results, from my experience but you may get something good out of it. It may add more slip but it will not be absorbed into the hair as an addition to a leave-in. Most leave-ins contain film formers of some kind. I never found catnip all that helpful as a leave-in on its own.

[ktani]

When I first experimented with catnip, I just applied it after shampooing and left it on for the duration of my shower (having washed my hair first). That did produce results but I still had breakage and split ends. I also had a lot of build-up on my hair at the time.

I kept experimenting, trying catnip as a leave-in too, following using it as a conditioner in the shower.

Over the course of all of my experimentation I have observed that catnip needs 3 things for optimal results for me.

1. Direct access to the hair (no build-up or coatings on the hair)

2. Bagging (body heat helps it get absorbed into the hair as much as it can be)

3. Timing (approximately 1 hour bagged and timed)

Once hair has been fully saturated with catnip and rinsed off (like with a catnip shampoo), its own oils prevent more catnip applied after that, from being fully absorbed into hair.

Catnip applied as a leave-in on freshly washed hair would not have the advantage of body heat to help absorption, like bagging.

I noticed right away when I first tried bagging the treatment that body heat was a missing element that improved results for me.

The dilution also helped but that is more personal as some people have more or less sensitive or dry scalp and hair than others but my dilution (1 level tsp to just under 300 ml of boiled water or about 10 oz), seems to work well for others, as reported here.

[AuntyClaus]

Ktani, I do have a question: if I use green tea as a wash or rinse prior to applying the catnip, will it interfere with the catnip absorption?

Excuse me if this has been asked before. I've read the entire thread, but most of it was awhile ago, and I wasn't interested in using green tea then, so if it was mentioned, it didn't stay in my head.

[Shiva]

OMG! I just read all 168 pages of this thread.... it took me 4 days to do so but, I think it was most worth it.

First of all, Kudos to Ktani for all the excellent guidance and all the others who experimented and posted thier successes and failures.

I did my first catnip treatment yesterday and as skeptical as I was I was VERY impressed with the results. I steeped my catnip for 8 hours, strained it and then refridged it because I had no plans on washing my hair that day. The next day I took the concoction out of the 'fridge to warm up a bit (that ended up being about 4 or maybe even 5 hours) and then I hopped in the shower, shampooed my hair with AO Honeysuckle Rose shampoo, rinsed, and then squeezed the excess water out of my hair and dunked my length in the catnip several times then I bagged my head and went about my other showerly duties. I only had the stuff on my head maybe for 5 - 10 minutes then I rinsed. I didn't use any conditioner or leave-in conditioner afterwards.

Well.... my hair detangled easy and as it dried it was SOOOO soft. Even the next day it was still the same (usually my ends get dry the next day, but not this time).

One thing I want to point out, tho, is I just had a major trim so most all my splits have been cut off already (you can see my album for what happened to my hair and what it was like pre-trim if anyone is interested). I really want to see if the catnip can keep me free of splits and breakage.