Derived from a South Asian tradition, henna (henna or henna) uses a paste made from the powdered leaves of the henna plant to create temporary "tattoos". Traditional henna is drawn in intricate patterns on the hands and feet, but modern henna is applied in all kinds of designs and on any part of the body. To get maximum results, it's better to make your own henna paste and apply the design correctly, then when you're done, take a few steps to make the henna last longer.
Step
Part 1 of 3: Making Henna Paste
Step 1. Purchase the necessary materials
Gather all the necessary ingredients-including the henna powder-before making the paste as it must be done in one sitting. You will need:
- henna powder
- Strongly brewed herbal tea water
- Lemon juice
- Eucalyptus oil
- Squeeze bottle
- Pointed bottle tips in various sizes
- Pen needle
- cotton pen
- cotton ball
- Sugar
- Olive oil
- You can buy henna powder at cosmetic stores or online marketplaces.
- Check out our other tutorials for information on how to choose the right henna powder.
Step 2. Strain the henna powder
Using a fine sieve, strain cup (60 grams) of henna powder into a bowl. The sieve will remove any roughness and give the henna powder a smooth consistency-which will be important later. If the henna powder you bought is already fine, still strain it, just in case you missed any flakes or rough parts.
- Store the remaining henna powder in the freezer to keep it fresh for future application.
- Check again the color of the henna powder. The color should be greenish brown. If it looks very brown, the henna is probably too old.
Step 3. Pour lemon juice into a bowl of henna powder
Toss cup (60 ml) of lemon juice over the henna powder until it has a thinner consistency than toothpaste. If the henna is too thick, pour it in and stir in more lemon juice. If the mixture becomes too runny, add more henna powder.
The consistency of the mixture should be soft enough to pass through the tiny holes at the end of the squeeze bottle when you want to use it to draw certain lines
Step 4. Add the sugar and eucalyptus oil to the mixture
Both are important ingredients that are useful for providing a smooth texture when henna dries, as well as keeping the skin moisturized during application. Pour teaspoon of sugar and 3-5 drops of eucalyptus oil into the mixture, then check the consistency one more time. Add the required ingredients, if necessary.
Step 5. Add the heavily brewed herbal tea water to the mixture
While keeping an eye on the consistency, add 2-3 tablespoons (40 ml) of concentrated herbal tea, a little at a time. The brewed tea will add tannins to the mixture and prevent the skin from peeling or cracking. After repeated practice to make a henna mixture, you can add other ingredients to it. Fragrance ingredients, acids, and tannins will make the henna paste better.
Also consider adding coffee water because the acid content in it is good for henna, or rose powder to add fragrance and make the henna mixture more unique
Step 6. Cover the paste and let it rest for 24 hours
Cover the paste with plastic wrap to keep the air sealed inside and let the henna mixture sit for 24 hours at room temperature. Henna will thicken more during this process. After letting it sit, make sure the consistency is not too runny.
Step 7. Put the henna mixture in a squeeze bottle
Pour the henna into a small ziplock bag, then press it all the way into one corner of the bag. Open the squeeze bottle cap. Cut off the corners of the plastic bag and put the mixture in a squeeze bottle. Close the bottle again.
If there is henna paste left, just put it in another squeeze bottle and freeze it for later use
Part 2 of 3: Making a Henna “Tattoo”
Step 1. Practice on paper first
Since henna will last about 1 to 2 weeks, it is better to develop a technique and practice before applying this paste on one's skin. Develop your own style and design on paper, as well as practice pressing the squeeze bottle properly.
For classic and modern henna pattern ideas, head to sites like Pinterest for inspiration
Step 2. Wash the area to be drawn
Wash the area that will be the canvas for the henna with soap and water. Cleaning the oil and dust from the area will make the henna color stick firmly.
Apply a little eucalyptus oil on the skin to moisturize it before applying the henna
Step 3. Apply henna on hands or feet
For a darker, deeper color, apply henna to your hands, wrists, feet, or ankles.
- The color of henna will appear more intense on thicker skin. So, the color of henna on these body parts will be more concentrated.
- Areas such as the face, neck, or chest will not stain well because the skin on these parts of the body is thin.
Step 4. Apply henna
Bring the tip of the squeeze bottle just above the skin and squeeze the henna slowly to form the designed design. If something goes wrong, clean it immediately using a cotton ball or cotton ball, if necessary. The key to removing henna is to remove the paste from the skin as soon as possible with a cotton swab.
- For smoother lines, strain the henna paste as gently as possible.
- Consider using different squeeze bottle ends with different hole sizes to create different line thicknesses.
- For those who are new to applying henna or beginner henna artists, consider using pattern prints for a good design. Use a search engine to find different pattern ideas on the internet.
- After enough practice, making your own unique designs will become a fun hobby as a form of expression to share with the people you tattoo with henna.
Part 3 of 3: Caring for a Henna "Tattoo"
Step 1. Allow the henna paste to dry for 2 to 3 hours
Before doing anything else, let the henna paste dry completely before touching. Depending on the weather you're in-whether it's hot or cold-the drying time will vary. The dried pasta will harden and begin to crack.
Step 2. Cover the henna
After drying, it is time to wrap the tattoo. If henna is drawn on the hand, cover it with latex gloves. If henna is applied to the wrists or feet, just wrap it in a tissue, then with plastic to protect it from the elements that will make the henna wet. Wrap for 6-12 hours, depending on how thick you want the color to be.
- If the weather is hot, or henna is applied in the dry season, you don't need to wrap it. The natural climate will prevent the tattoo from peeling off.
- Wrap tissue paper and plastic around hands/feet loosely and in a thick layer to retain moisture inside.
Step 3. Peel the henna off the skin
Wait as long as possible before the henna paste is peeled off the skin because the longer the paste sticks, the darker the color of the tattoo. For best results, use olive oil and gently rub the paste over the top of the skin. Drop olive oil on a cotton ball. The tattoo will continue to darken for the next 10-12 hours.
- Do not clean the henna paste with water. Water will remove the color and should be avoided for 24 hours after the henna is applied.
- Don't swim with a henna tattoo. Water as well as chlorine and other chemicals in swimming pools will damage the tattoo.
Step 4. Clean the henna tattoo if necessary
Since henna only lasts 1 to 2 weeks after application, you may want to wash it off early. If so, there are several ways to effectively clean a henna tattoo:
- Dip the tattooed skin in warm water and rub the henna until it fades. This method will take time and hard work. Try using an antibacterial soap while scrubbing it.
- Swim. Chlorine and water will remove the henna color effectively.
- Soak the tattooed skin in salt water for 20-30 minutes. The salt will help remove the henna color.
