How to Make Henna

Henna art is used for religious ceremonies, such as weddings, and to create temporary tattoos. Henna designs are very flowing and don't require a pattern or stencil unless the artist wishes to use one. Creating henna art is a relaxing and creative experience, but one you must allot a decent amount of time to create. Making henna paste is fairly easy and there is no set recipe for the best henna. It requires a few ingredients and some trial and error to figure out just how much of each ingredient is needed to create the look you desire. Read on to learn how to make henna.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Henna powder
• Strong coffee
• Lemons
• A sieve or tea strainer
• Spoon
• Bowl

How to Make Henna

1. Sift the henna powder into a bowl. You want the finest henna possible, as lumps will clog the end of your decorating applicator and make it hard to create detailed designs.

2. Strain the juice from a lemon into the sifted henna powder. You want to use one full lemon's juice, as the more acidic your mixture, the darker it will stain the skin. The consistency of the paste should be thick, about the same as a cookie dough.

3. Add hot, strong coffee to the mixture. You only need to add enough to make the mixture have the consistency of brownie batter. The stronger the coffee, the darker it will make your mixture, and the darker it will appear on the skin.

4. Stir the paste until it is very smooth. Do this while the coffee is still hot, as a warmer mixture will reach a homogenous consistency faster than a colder mixture.

5. Cover the mixture with saran wrap and set aside for 12 to 24 hours to allow the dye to develop. The longer it sits, the darker the dye will be. However, if the dye is allowed to sit longer than two or three days it will start to diminish in color and will not dye the skin as well.

Tips & Warnings

• The more acidic your mixture, the darker the henna will dye the skin.
• Some henna kits come with powder that you only need to add water to, while others are in paste form, and are ready to use when you receive them. Make sure to read directions on the packaging before using any henna product.
• Be vary careful when ordering "Black Henna" as some of these are mixed with chemicals found in hair dye and can be very dangerous when applied to the skin. Black Henna may cause allergic reactions and skin deformities. However, the Jagua skin color is all natural and safe, so if you are looking for a temporary black tattoo, only use Jagua.

Resources

• Henna designs
• Source for Henna kits and Jagua