Catnip for split ends?

**Cherry_Sprinkle** · October 17th, 2009, 04:01 PM

I just wanted to update.. I went to the salon today for my touch up and she asked me if I wanted to trim and I said not if I don't need to.. so she checked her charts and said I haven't had a single trim from her since April and that my ends looked thin but that they were not damaged, split, or broken so if she didn't trim this time she would recommend it next time just because of their thinness.

She then went on to ask me about my hair care routine and told me she had never seen someone's hair hold red so well (its all henna and no sulfates there!) and that she couldn't believe I was a curly girl with no damage, breakage, or splits at the ends and I haven't had a full trim since April!! Catnip works.. my stylist will even agree!

**ktani** · October 17th, 2009, 04:04 PM

Originally Posted by Cherry_Sprinkle

I just wanted to update.. I went to the salon today for my touch up and she asked me if I wanted to trim and I said not if I don't need to.. so she checked her charts and said I haven't had a single trim from her since April and that my ends looked thin but that they were not damaged, split, or broken so if she didn't trim this time she would recommend it next time just because of their thinness.

She then went on to ask me about my hair care routine and told me she had never seen someone's hair hold red so well (its all henna and no sulfates there!) and that she couldn't believe I was a curly girl with no damage, breakage, or splits at the ends and I haven't had a full trim since April!! Catnip works.. my stylist will even agree!

Fantastic! I do not doubt it in the least. My only taper for a loooong time has been a growth one, not a breakage one. Catnip can do wonders.

**PrincessFurball** · October 17th, 2009, 06:23 PM

Originally Posted by ktani

30 minutes is what I used for a long time and what I used that prevented split ends for me to begin with. I only started to use longer brews in the past while.

Would you say that a longer brew results in better conditioning?

Originally Posted by Cherry_Sprinkle

I just wanted to update.. I went to the salon today for my touch up and she asked me if I wanted to trim and I said not if I don't need to.. so she checked her charts and said I haven't had a single trim from her since April and that my ends looked thin but that they were not damaged, split, or broken so if she didn't trim this time she would recommend it next time just because of their thinness.

She then went on to ask me about my hair care routine and told me she had never seen someone's hair hold red so well (its all henna and no sulfates there!) and that she couldn't believe I was a curly girl with no damage, breakage, or splits at the ends and I haven't had a full trim since April!! Catnip works.. my stylist will even agree!

That's great! I'm even more excited about embarking on my catnip journey, now!

**ktani** · October 17th, 2009, 06:36 PM

Originally Posted by PrincessFurball

Would you say that a longer brew results in better conditioning?

It can. That is what I am working out. I can also be problematic. I am trying to regain the perfect balance for me. I overshot the goal, lol. I got too much moisture and the result was knotting. I am in the process of starting from 4 hours and not going to 7, which still caused a problem.

**Cherry_Sprinkle** · October 17th, 2009, 06:47 PM

I have upped my brew to a stronger strength. I am now using a tablespoon to 1 teacup full of water, steeping till cool, then straining, then putting into just washed hair and letting sit for as long as I can stand, rinse, follow up with conditioner -- some people wont need an additional conditioner but I find my hair needs one

**ktani** · October 17th, 2009, 06:53 PM

Originally Posted by Cherry_Sprinkle

I have upped my brew to a stronger strength. I am now using a tablespoon to 1 teacup full of water, steeping till cool, then straining, then putting into just washed hair and letting sit for as long as I can stand, rinse, follow up with conditioner -- some people wont need an additional conditioner but I find my hair needs one

That is about 3 times as strong as the dilution I use and it would be way too astringent for me. Making catnip stronger makes it more astringent. While it is still not drying like other herbs can be I have found it to be much more moisturizing at the weaker dilution I use now, 1 level teaspoon to just under 300 ml of boiled water (about 10 oz). I started out with a heaping teaspoon to 250 ml of boiled water.

**Darkhorse1** · October 17th, 2009, 10:14 PM

Just wanted to mention that amoung my searches for catnip, I noticed it recommends you store it in the fridge--this may be only for cat usage, but figured I'd pass it along. I don't keep mine in the fridge and my kitties seem to be happy with it, so I'm not sure if the stuff from the pet store vs fresh may need to be refrigorated? Just thought I'd share that with you.

**ktani** · October 17th, 2009, 10:18 PM

Originally Posted by Darkhorse1

Just wanted to mention that amoung my searches for catnip, I noticed it recommends you store it in the fridge--this may be only for cat usage, but figured I'd pass it along. I don't keep mine in the fridge and my kitties seem to be happy with it, so I'm not sure if the stuff from the pet store vs fresh may need to be refrigorated? Just thought I'd share that with you.

It can be frozen too although I have never done that. Once the tea is made it needs to be kept refridgerated just like any cosmetic made with water and no preservatives.

The catnip farmer/supplier (wholesale) I spoke with by phone and email, told me it is just fine to keep catnip in a cool cupboard. It is most susceptible to light but also heat and moisture. I have always kept mine in a cupboard and never had any problems with it at all. I keep it in the container in comes in. It is specifically designed to keep it fresh (it is plastic but the quality of it is what matters).

I have read different views on how to keep herbs from glass to no glass to paper bags to no paper bags. I just keep mine the way it was sold and shipped. My current catnip is over a year old, in the same container I bought it in and it works perfectly.

**Cherry_Sprinkle** · October 17th, 2009, 11:09 PM

Originally Posted by ktani

That is about 3 times as strong as the dilution I use and it would be way too astringent for me. Making catnip stronger makes it more astringent. While it is still not drying like other herbs can be I have found it to be much more moisturizing at the weaker dilution I use now, 1 level teaspoon to just under 300 ml of boiled water (about 10 oz). I started out with a heaping teaspoon to 250 ml of boiled water.

I didn't really see any results or as note worthy as upping the amount used, I was still seeing splits and breakage, however now I have next to none. I am still using cosmic brand, do you think its the brand difference?

**ktani** · October 18th, 2009, 06:14 AM

Originally Posted by Cherry_Sprinkle

I didn't really see any results or as note worthy as upping the amount used, I was still seeing splits and breakage, however now I have next to none. I am still using cosmic brand, do you think its the brand difference?

Possibly. The bottom line is that you are happy with your results now. If that dilution works for you then that is the one you should stay with.

I had the same results with different brands in terms of no splits. I get better conditioning and colour though with the pet store catnip I use at the same dilution.

My hair is most fine. It may be a difference in our hair too.