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Henna - The
Ancient Art of Body Decoration
There is way too much information and history about Henna for me to be
able to include it all here. So, I have decided to just include the basics.
More information can be found at the library and, of course, on the web.
Purchase kits and premixed tubes on my Shopping
page.
Did you know?...
...In India, women are not
permitted to do housework as long as there is one single line of Henna visible.
...Men can have Henna too! Most women
see a man with Henna as bold, sexy, erotic and masculine.
Henna Fun
Have a Henna Party. Invite all your friends
over and Henna each other. This is a great time to sit and chat with each other.
Kids love Henna! Have you ever seen a
child's face light up when they get one of those stick on temporary tattoos?
They get the same look with Henna. Tell them that it will last for three weeks
and that they don't have to worry about it rubbing off and watch their eyes
sparkle. Older children can even do it themselves. Have a Henna Slumber Party.
Be sure to check if it's okay with the other children's parents first and keep
an eye on them.
What is Henna? - Henna
is an all natural product produced from the leaves of the Mehandi plant. It's
is used for decorating all parts of the body. Natural Henna creates a reddish
- brown colour that will vary from tan to deep auburn depending on the plant.
Coloured Henna containing vegetable dyes are also available in many colours.
Henna vs. Tattooing -
If you have a tattoo (the "real" kind with ink and needle), you know
that they can be painful. Henna is completely painless and, I find, very relaxing
to do. The designs that you can make are endless. And best of all, it's only
temporary.
How long will it last?
- The average time for a Henna design to remain on the skin is about two to
three weeks. This will vary depending on the body chemistry of the person (they
only last about a week on me) and the length of time that the paste is left
on the skin.
How To
- Henna can be very simple. There are a lot of different ways to do it
and it can get confusing if you read too much information from different sources.
Here I have outlined the easiest way I have found.
If you have a tube of premixed paste, you can continue to step
1 below.
Making paste from powder
Pour some Henna powder into a glass or ceramic bowl. Using a plastic or wooden
spoon, slowly mix in warm water until a paste forms. For a deeper colour, use
hot black tea or coffee instead of water. Add about a teaspoon of Mehandi (or
Eucalyptus or Clove) oil (optional). Mix thoroughly. There are no exact measurements
to this. As long as it's pastey, it will work. Let the paste sit for AT LEAST
eight (8) hours. Twenty-four (24) hours is best. It needs this time to develop
the colour. I like to do Henna in the evening, so I make my paste before I go
to bed the night before. Fill a cone with the paste. Continue on with #1.
Applying the paste
1. Thoroughly wash and dry the area to be tattooed.
2. (Optional) Condition the skin with Mehandi Oil
on a cotton ball. Eucalyptus and Clove Oils work well too.
3. Draw your design with the paste using steady,
gentle pressure on the cone or tube. Be creative and don't be afraid to make
a mistake. There are no mistakes in artwork. If you are using a stencil, fill
in all the holes being careful not to get any paste underneath the stencil.
4. Let it completely dry. It will take about an
hour. Carefully remove the stencil if you used one. If you have the time, let
the paste sit on the skin as long as possible.
5. GENTLY scrape off the dry paste. If it doesn't
want to come off easily, it may not be dry. Let it set a little longer and try
again. If it is dry and still doesn't want to come off, use a popsicle stick
(or something like that) to scrape it off.
6. (Optional) Apply some oil once again. This helps
the skin to absorb the colour.
7. THAT'S IT!!! You're all done. Try to avoid getting
your new design wet for about 24 hours. I know that's hard to do, but water
(and DEFINITELY soaps) can lighten the colour and shorten the length of time
it will last.
Your beautiful new decoration may appear light at first, but
usually darkens over the next several days. It should last about two to three
weeks and then you get to do another one.
Cautions
Although allergic reactions to Henna
are VERY VERY rare, you may want to test a small spot a few days before you
do your design. This is especially important with coloured Henna which contains
vegetable dyes.
Keep Henna away from eyes. If it does
get into eyes, rinse immediately with cool water. Consult a doctor if irritation
occurs.
Henna is for external use only.
Henna will stain skin and fabrics. Use
care to avoid contact with surfaces not intended to be decorated.
Helpful Hints
Be creative - there are no rules
Use a toothpick for details and for removing
small mistakes
Store unused paste in an airtight container
for up to two months in the freezer or 3 to 4 days in the refrigerator.
Cones can be messy and difficult to make
- try a small squeeze bottle available at craft stores (usually in the fabric
paint section). Experiment with different size tips for different effects.
If your in a pinch, you can use a plastic
sandwich bag. Put the paste in one of the corners of the bag and snip off the
tip. Twist and fold the top of the bag over and wrap a rubber-band around it
and you're ready to go.
Mixing hot coffee or black tea with your
powder instead of water will produce a deeper, darker colour.
Adding a few drops of Mehandi, Eucalyptus
or Clove oil to the paste will darken the colour and help the design to stay
longer. There is also a premixed Henna solution that contains all kinds of good
stuff to aid in the colour available.
Using a cotton ball, rub some Mehandi,
Eucalyptus or Clove oil into the skin before applying the paste and after you
have removed the dry paste to help develop the colour.
Play with colour - there are some very
vivid coloured Henna pastes available. They are mixed with vegetable dyes so
test for allergic reactions prior to doing a large design.
Although the colour will generally be
darker and last longer on the hands and feet, Henna designs can be placed anywhere
on the body.
Thinking about getting a real tattoo
but not sure if you'd be happy with it? Do it in Henna first! That way, if you
decide that it's not for you, you're not stuck with it the rest of your life.
Do
you have any information about or experiences with Henna that you would like
to share with me? me! All input is appreciated.
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