Henna?

Henna is a plant found in dry arid regions such as India, Pakistan, Egypt, and Morocco. The leaves of the plant are dried, ground into a powder, then sifted to extract twigs or pieces that would clog the fine tip of a cone.

For thousands of years women have decorated their skin with this all natural body art. The powder is mixed into a paste. The ingredients of the paste can vary, just as the ingredients in a cookie recipe can vary. However, just like bakers need flour and baking soda and sugar, every good henna recipe has its essentials.

 

mixing the paste

 

Henna powder can be mixed with lemon juice for the simplest recipe. Other variations can include using honey, dark tea, wine, sugar, and essential oils such as tea tree, eucalyptus, cajeput, lavender, clove bud, geranium bourbon, and so on.

I make my paste by hand. I use fresh all natural henna powder, tea or water, molasses, and essential oils. Please let me know if you have a sensitivity to any of the above listed oils, and I will gladly make a batch for you without. I myself am sensitive to tea tree, and do not include it in recipes, as I am frequently wearing my own henna paste.

Caring For Your Henna
1. Leave paste on 6-8 hours, or wrapped overnight for best results.
2. Scrape paste off, do *not* wash it off.
3. Henna stain will be orange in color at first, deeping to reds and browns over 24 hours.
4. Avoid getting the area wet for 6 to 12 hours while final color develops.
5. Oil skin with olive oil, or vegetable based oils, to protect it before showering.
6. Moisturize. Avoid friction, exfolitation, and alpha hydroxy products on area.

Henna looks different on everyone due to body chemistry, temperature, and location of
design. Hands and feet stain darkest, while chest, upper arms, and back stain lightest.
With good care, your henna design can last 1-3 weeks.