How to Henna Wood

Henna dye is used for body art.

Henna powder is extracted from a plant and used as a dye, stain or paint. It is commonly used as body art or hair dye and usually makes a red or brown color. Wood takes henna dye at a very slow rate but once the stain is set, it can only be removed by sanding. Henna stained wood has a dark, rich color. Paint the henna on in shapes or patterns to give the wood a unique design.

Things You'll Need

• Sandpaper
• Cloth
• Kettle
• Tea bag
• Lemon
• Ceramic bowl
• Mixing spoon
• Paintbrush
• Varnish

Instructions

1. Sand the wood finish so it is completely smooth with little to no cracks or holes. Wash the surface to remove the dust and let it dry completely. Wipe the wood surface with rubbing alcohol once it is dry to remove any oils or remaining residue and prepare it for staining.

2. Add two black tea bags, 2 tsp. ground coffee, 1 tsp. ground cloves, 15 whole cloves, 3/4 pint of water and 2 tsp. Tamarind paste to a pot. Bring it to a boil and simmer it for 1 hour. Strain it through cheesecloth, reserving the liquid, and let it cool enough to handle.

3. Sift the henna powder and put it in a bowl. Add two drops Eucalyptus oil. Slowly add some of the boiled tea mixture to the bowl, stirring constantly, until you have a paste that resembles the consistency of toothpaste. Cover the mixture and leave it overnight in a warm location.

4. Paint the henna onto the wood using a small paintbrush and steady hand. Let the henna sit undisturbed on the wood. The henna needs to sit for at least one week, preferably more. The longer it sits on the wood, the darker it gets. You can even leave it on for several months if desired.

5. Wash the henna gently off the wood. The henna will be caked on and quite dry. Moisten it and gently brush it off. Do not scrape it or you can damage the wood.

6. Seal the wood with a clear varnish or spray-on wood sealant.

Tips & Warnings

• Add the henna mixture to a syringe if you want to paint it on in a design instead of staining the entire wood piece.

• Use a chemical stripper to remove any previous stains or sealers from the wood.

• Henna will stain any porous surface, so do not let it touch anything you don't want dyed.

References

• "Henna Magic: Crafting Charms & Rituals With Sacred Body Art"; Philippa Faulks; November 2010
• "Medicinal Plants"; Anil Kumar; 2010
• "A Weaver's Garden: Growing Plants for Natural Dyes and Fibers"; Rita Buchanan; May 1999
• Mercer University: Basic Tips While Preparing Henna
• Mercer University: Preparation of Henna
• University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension; Wood Finishes -- Stains, Sealers and Fillers; Linda R. Adler; August 1995

Resources

• The Henna Page: Henna -- Lawsonia Inermis
• Lowes: Refinishing Furniture