For thousands of years people around the world have used henna (henna), a hair and skin dye made from the leaves of the henna plant (also known as henna, mehndi or lawsonia inermis). Henna, sometimes used in desert climates for its medicinal properties, is often used on hair and skin for decorative purposes such as at weddings. Making your own henna at home, either from ready-made powder or from fresh leaves is very easy and requires only a few ingredients.
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Method 1 of 2: Making Henna from Powder
Step 1. Know about the types of henna powder
There are many different types of henna powder sold in the market. You need the most natural, freshest powder available to get the most intense color possible.
- Henna only gives a red color to the skin or hair. The powder sold as "black henna" or "blonde henna" has been mixed with other chemicals. You should avoid this type of henna.
- Fresh henna powder smells like hay or freshly cut spinach. Colors range from green to khaki. The rule of thumb: the lighter the color, the fresher the powder.
- Henna powder that is not very fresh will result in the final color of your henna being less sharp. Such powders are usually brown in color and have a faint or completely odorless aroma.
Step 2. Purchase henna powder
Before you can make henna paste for home use, you must purchase henna powder. Buying these powders from trusted sellers both online and in stores is the best way to guarantee you get the most natural and freshest powder possible.
- You can buy henna powder online at well-known henna providers including Mehandi and Temptu Marketing.
- You can also buy henna powder at specialty stores. Again, it's a good idea to choose a reputable henna provider, such as a major importer or import goods store, or even someone who runs a henna makeup business.
- Avoid buying henna at the grocery or health food store. Stores like these often sell old powders that are not the purest form of henna.
Step 3. Gather tools and materials
Once you've purchased quality henna powder, you'll need to gather some additional ingredients, including a bowl and tamarind, to make a paste that you'll use.
- You'll need the following materials and tools to get started: a bowl, preferably plastic so it doesn't react with the henna; spoon or spatula for stirring; an acidic solution such as lemon juice; apple cider vinegar; sugar; and essential oils such as lavender or tea tree.
- Store henna powder in a dry, airtight container in a place that is not too warm. Henna is sensitive to light and heat, so this will ensure that the henna powder stays as fresh as possible.
Step 4. Mix the henna powder into a paste the day before you plan to use it
To make a henna paste to use on your hair or body, mix the henna powder with the other ingredients together.
It will take about a day for the henna paste to develop its color. Waiting for a day will ensure you get the lightest color possible
Step 5. Put the henna powder in a bowl
Pour the henna powder into a small plastic or glass bowl.
- Start by pouring a small amount of henna, between 20 to 100 grams.
- 20 grams of powder will make about 89 ml of paste.
- Using a plastic or glass bowl is best. This is because bowls made of other materials such as metal or wood will react with the henna.
Step 6. Mix 60 ml of tamarind liquid with 20 grams of henna to form a soft paste
Mixing the henna powder with an acidic liquid such as lemon juice or apple cider vinegar until the texture is smooth ensures that the henna powder will bring out the color very effectively.
- If you are using more than 20 grams of henna powder, adjust the amount of tamarind you use. For example, you have to mix 300 ml of acidic liquid with 100 grams of henna powder.
- You can use any acidic liquid, including lemon juice, lime juice, orange or grapefruit flavoring, or even apple cider vinegar. Even so, lemon juice is the most recommended acidic liquid.
- Avoid using neutral liquids such as water or other types of liquids including coffee or tea. These liquids will not bring out the most intense color of the henna.
- If you're using fresh fruit juice, don't forget to strain the pulp so it doesn't get into the henna paste mixture.
- Make sure this mixture is soft. If you notice that the mixture is lumpy or that there is still a bit of dry powder, add a little more tamarind until you reach a creamy, yogurt-like consistency.
Step 7. Add 1.5 teaspoons of sugar to the henna mixture
A little sugar in the henna mixture can help it adhere better to the skin and lock in moisture.
- If you start making a mixture with more than 20 grams of henna powder, you will need to adjust how many teaspoons of sugar you use for the mixture. For example if you use 100 grams of henna powder, increase the sugar to 7.5 teaspoons.
- As well as helping to soften the henna mixture, the sugar also helps the paste from drying out quickly because the sugar attracts moisture.
Step 8. Add 1.5 teaspoons of essential oil to the henna mixture
Using essential oils in the mixture will not only help you get the most intense color possible, it will also make it smell great.
- You can use a variety of different essential oils for the mixture, including lavender, eucalyptus or tea tree.
- Avoid using essential oils such as mustard or clove as they can harm you.
Step 9. Make sure your henna paste dough is soft
Once you've added all the ingredients, knead the entire dough again to make sure the mixture is as smooth as possible.
- Cover with plastic wrap and let sit for 24 hours. Once the henna mixture is smooth, covering and letting it sit for about a day will ensure it produces the best color possible.
- Place the plastic wrap directly over the surface of the paste to ensure there are no air pockets. This will also prevent the henna paste from drying out too quickly.
- Leave the bowl in a warm and dry place. The temperature should be in the range of 24 to 30 degrees Celsius.
- If you are using a transparent bowl, you will notice that the henna mixture is slowly starting to give off its color. This should look like a dark band in the mixture.
Step 10. Use your henna mix
After about a day or so, the henna mixture has taken off its color and is ready to be used on both your hair and body.
- If you want to use henna paste for mehndi or make body art with henna, Rupal Pinto's website at https://www.rupalpinto.com/mehndi/four.html#powder is an excellent resource.
- If you want to use henna paste to color your hair, the Tabouli Bowl blog https://thetaboulibowl.wordpress.com/2013/10/02/how-to-make-and-use-henna-hair-dye/ is an excellent resource.
Method 2 of 2: Making Henna from Leaves
Step 1. Collect or buy fresh or dried henna leaves
If you want to make your own henna using leaves from the plant, collect or purchase fresh or dried henna leaves. This step is also a great way to ensure that the henna you are using is very natural and produces the best possible color.
- Henna plants are also called lawsonia inermis or mehendi plants.
- if you don't have henna to pick leaves at home, you can buy one from a plant shop or trusted online shops like Green Field Exports or Herbs India.
Step 2. Dry the fresh henna leaves in the sun
If you are using fresh leaves to make henna, you will need to dry them in the sun first so they can be ground into a powder.
The henna leaves are dry when they are crunchy like potato chips
Step 3. Separate the stalks and stems from the dried henna leaves
By removing all the stems and stalks, you guarantee the henna will produce its purest and strongest color.
Step 4. Make the leaves into a fine powder using a blender or mixer
To turn the dried leaves into henna, you must first make them into powder by crushing them using a blender or mixer.
Grind and grind the leaves to a fine powder. This will ensure that your henna is not fibrous and will help the final result of the henna paste become soft
Step 5. Store in a dry airtight container in a cool place until you are ready to use it
Do not let the henna powder come into contact with any liquid until you are ready to use it. You should also keep them as fresh as possible by storing them in an airtight container in a cooler, darker place.
Step 6. Make the henna powder into a paste to use by following the steps mentioned above
In order to use the powder you have made, you must first make it into a paste by following the method of making henna from powder.
Step 7. Use your henna mix
After about a day, the henna mixture has taken off its color and is ready to be used either on your body or on your hair.
- If you want to use henna paste for mehndi or make body art with henna, Rupal Pinto's website at https://www.rupalpinto.com/mehndi/four.html#powder is an excellent resource.
- If you want to use the paste to color your hair, the Tabouli Bowl blog https://thetaboulibowl.wordpress.com/2013/10/02/how-to-make-and-use-henna-hair-dye/ is an excellent resource.
