How to Get a Henna Tattoo

By eHow Fashion, Style & Personal Care Editor

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Depending on where you live, you may be able to find a henna tattoo artist who specializes in applying these natural and temporary body decorations. If you have the flair and flexibility or are unable to find a nearby henna tattoo specialist, you might want to try your hand at applying the natural products on your own hands or other body parts.

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Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately challenging

Things You’ll Need:

Cotton Swabs
Rubbing Alcohol
Henna Tattoo/ Piercing Locations

Step1

Learn the different names for henna tattooing, some of which are mehndi, mehandi and mendhi.

Step2

Find out exactly what ingredients are in the henna mixture before you put it (or let someone else put it) on your skin.

Step3

Conduct a skin test with the exact henna mixture that will be used for your tattoo, leaving it on as long as you would an actual tattoo.

Step4

Wait a couple of days to observe your skin's reaction to the mixture before decorating your body with henna.

Step5

Paint patterns on your body with the mixture unless it was irritated by the test.

Step6

Leave the mixture on longer for darker patterns.

Step7

Brush off the dried henna. The pattern will darken over the next few days and last for a couple of weeks.

Tips & Warnings

Using pure henna powder and other natural products, such as lemon and sugar, in the tattoo mixture may prevent or limit skin irritation.
Use rubbing alcohol and cotton balls to cleanse your skin of any natural oil-based products like lotion. The henna will not adhere to oily skin.
Pure henna powder is green, and a pure henna mixture will color the skin shades of red, brown and orange.
Studying the history of mehndi can help you appreciate the beauty and significance of this body art form and inspire you to adorn yourself with safe products and sensual designs.
Avoid getting henna on your clothes or other items that you do not want to stain.
Harsh chemicals, which may burn your skin, are sometimes added to a henna mixture or applied directly to the skin to create different colors or make the tattoo last longer.

Comments

HennaCaravan said

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on 2/24/2008 Be sure to use fresh body art quality henna, therapeutic essential oils, not aromatherapy grade, clean your skin well, strain your lemon juice , leave the henna on 4-6 hours, avoid water for 24 hours, and you should have good results.
These tips will help you achieve great henna

HennaCaravan said

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HennaCaravan said

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on 2/24/2008 Use fresh henna powder from a reputable supplier, strain your lemon juice, clean your skin, leave the henna on for 4-6 hours, avoid water for 24 hours, and use high quality essential therapeutic oils, not aromatherapy grade oils for best results.
Flavia,henna caravan

Sandika said

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on 9/29/2007 To wrap for overnight wearing of paste (to insure a darker, longer lasting design), I use paper surgical tape (1"-wide) wrapped well. Works great and is much better than a non-porous wrap which can make you sweat and smear the paste... something you don't want to do after all that hard work! :o)

Anonymous said

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on 8/8/2006 Try lavender or cajeput essential oil instead for your terp. Use sugar or honey in the henna paste itself to get it to stick onto the skin longer. Definitely lemon/sugar seal it to make it stick to skin as long as possible. If caffeine doesn't bother you, try mixing paste with black tea or coffee. Never, ever let anyone put black henna on you -- anything with PPD chemicals mixed in is bad news. Try different applicators: hand rolled mylar cones or j-bottles or icing bags. Before showers or going swimming or hot tubbing, protect your henna stain with tiger balm, olive oil, almond oil or Vaseline -- but avoid baby oils and hand lotions. Try mixing your pastes with different powders: henna from Yemen will be different from Pakistan, etc. Mix, match, play!

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