Using Henna Resource Ideas
- The Natural Henna Body Art Bottle
- Hair Color Formula Mixtures
- Improving Henna Coloring
- Basic Henna Application Tips
- Extra Henna Application Tips
- Application Tips In Brief
Mehndi
Natural Henna Body Art Bottle
|
|
|
|
| Very convenient and ready to use 1fl.
oz. bottle of henna. The plastic tip allows the artist
to draw evenly. The quantity of henna is enough to
draw 25 average size tattoos. Professionally mixed
using our unique recipe includes: fine henna powder,
lemon juice, & Eucalyptus Oil. Henna tattoos last
2 weeks on average. |
|
|
|
Hair
Color Powder Formula Ideas
|
|
|
|
|
In
mixing henna for use on hair, there are many
options.
|
-
Cinnamon,
for enhancing brown tones and leaving your hair
smelling like spice cake.
-
Coffee,
for darkening & neutralizing gray.
-
Black
tea, for deepening the color.
-
Jojoba,
Walnut, Olive, Amla oil for conditioning.
-
Rosemary
oil for conditioning and stimulating hair
growth.
-
Beet
juice, for dark purple and reds.
-
Red
wine for red tones.
-
Cloves
for dark reds & spice cake hair.
-
Chamomile
& Turmenic for golden highlights (with
neutral henna only)
|
|
|
|
How
to improve Henna colouring
|
|
|
|
The original henna powder can be mixed with other natural
substances which can enhance henna's natural colouring. Substances
that have been used are; lemon juice, tea leaves/bags, natural oils
such as eucalyptus oil, and certain spices. Re-application of henna
will also produce a more richer and lasting stain. Henna should be
soaked for at least two hours prior to application for best results.
Henna should be left on for as long as possible to bring out its
rich colour, as a minimum, at least one hour.
|
|
|
Basic
Henna Application tips
|
|
|
|
- Traditionally a stick is
used to apply mehndi and now many use an application tube-
we suggest a toothpick as the best tool!
- Apply enough mendhi so that there is some depth to your
lines, your mix should be as described above, and not just a
thin application
- It is recommended that you have a henna design or picture
available while you are applying the mendhi so that you have
a pattern to follow
- Let your design dry for 1/2 hour to 45 minutes without
stressing the area too much with bending or use (i.e. if you
applied it to your hand do not make a fist...)
- At this time mix a small amount of lemon juice and sugar
and apply to the area with a cotton ball to set
- Let stand as long as you can - some people will leave it
overnight for the best effect!
|
|
|
Extra
Henna Application tips
 Before Henna application ensure surface is clean and dry, free of
oils, lotions.
Henna will stain, therefore care should be taken that clothing etc
are covered/out of the way.
After application, surface maybe wrapped in cotton rag if need be.
Protect surface from harsh detergents, soaps, chlorine etc. Here are
some extra tips for henna application some of which may be used and
some that may need not be used.
Once the paste is applied to your skin treat
the area gently as it is fragile and has a tendency to flake off. To
prevent the paste from drying out and flaking off apply a solution of 3
parts lemon juice and 1 part sugar with a cotton swab. Apply this
solution as often as you like or whenever the paste appears dry. This
creates a protective glaze and helps to retain the moisture in the paste
as well as act as an adhesive between the skin and paste.
The Wrap
Carefully wrap the area in tissue securing it
firmly with tape then wrap this with plastic wrap. Yes, you will look
like a mummy but this is a sure fire way to keep the paste in tact and
prevent staining of carpet, bedding and clothing. The wrap keeps the
area warm and creates slight perspiration on the skin to remoisten the
paste. Remember to keep the body warm by sitting near a fire or holding
a heating pad to the area, heat makes a better stain.
Relax
Leave the paste on your skin for as long as
possible. The longer the paste is in contact with your body the more dye
is able to saturate into the skin. 6-12 hours will leave a nice, deep
stain, but, the longer the better. I find it’s best to just wrap up
and sleep with the paste on. Be careful not to shift the wrappings, this
will dislodge the paste and smear the design.
Steam
If you want an extra dark stain, just before you
are ready to remove the paste hold the area over steam for 20 minutes
and then cut off the wraps. A steam producing humidifier works well or
hold the area over a pot of boiling water or tea kettle.
Scrape
Now you are ready to remove the paste. Scrape it
off using the side of an iron knife, the iron helps to oxidize the
henna. If this makes you nervous use the side of a spoon or a credit
card. To remove any stubborn residue use a natural oil (olive oil works
well), do not use water, it can ruin the stain.
Watch
Watch your new mehndi change from yellow-orange to
a deeper reddish-brown (depending on your skin) over the next 48 hours.
The dye will oxidize, becoming darker and richer in color. You should
avoid contact with water as much as possible during this period.
The Rub
Rub your mehndi with natural oil before bathing or
swimming to protect it from water and give it a quick rub of natural oil
in the mornings. These simple steps protect your design and help it to
look its best. Avoid excess rubbing of the area. Keep in mind that
frequent washing, soaps, petroleum products (sunscreen and baby oil),
and the rubbing of clothing and shoes on the design will cause it to
fade more quickly. Shaving removes layers of skin so you may want to
shave around your mehndi
Tips
in Brief
|
|
|
|
| When applying on hair, mix henna powder
with hair oil if you need conditioning but not color. |
| Mix similar amount of lemon juice and
sugar (e.g. 1 spoon ea. of juice and sugar) and apply
it on the henna designs on the skin to get better
color. |
| When Henna is dry, try peeling it with
the help of plastic or butter knife instead of washing
it. The color will be deeper |
| Avoid contact with water or wetness for
an hour or more to get better coloring |
|
|
|
|
