Get your materials
First up, buy some fresh henna powder – it should be a brownish green colour. If it’s completely brown this means it has aged and won’t leave a very intense stain on the skin. You’ll also need stiff freezer bags and sticky tape to make the application cone.
Mix up the ingredients
Take 2 tbsp of henna powder and put it in a bowl with 1 tbsp sugar. Warm ¼ cup of lemon juice and add it slowly to the mixture, making sure to stir out any lumps. Leave to sit for two hours, then add a few drops of essential oils. Lavender oil is best if you have sensitive skin. Leave it to sit somewhere warm and dark for eight to 12 hours. Different powders take different amounts of time to develop, so experiment with the powder you’ve bought, or ask the store owner how long they recommend.
Make your application cone
You’re aiming to use something that looks like a pipe for icing a cake. Cut a large square from your freezer bag and roll it into a cone shape, fastening with sticky tape to stop it unwrapping. Make the opening at the point as small as possible to allow for delicate designs. Stuff the paste into the cone and pack it down tightly, then twist the plastic once and fasten with an elastic band.
Unleash your artistic side
Go nuts. Swirls, flowers, symbols, leaves, stars, draw whatever you like on yourself and your friends. If it’s your first time, practice your techniques on paper first, as any mistakes on your skin will stay there for up to three weeks. For inspiration, check out one of the hundreds of blogs about henna designs online.
Wait for the paste to dry
It will take about 45 minutes for the paste to dry, and it’s best to sit by a heating device if you have access to one. The paste will be rock hard and come off easily when it’s ready. Don’t get the area wet for as long as possible. Twenty-four hours is the recommended time, although that’s obviously a very long time to go without a shower! Aim for 12 and you should still have a smudge-free long-lasting henna design.
The next few weeks…
The colour will fade slowly over the next couple of weeks, although the time taken varies enormously depending on the soaps you use, the amount of time spent in direct sunlight and how strong the henna paste was to start with. Word of warning – if you don’t like your designs, there’s no way of shifting that dye straight away, you just have to wait it out. However, antibacterial soap and exfoliating scrubs can make it fade more quickly.
If you’re interested in professional henna tuition, contact Heritage for Henna, which runs training courses and tutorials. For details, visit www.heritageforhenna.com.
