How to Formulate Henna Powder

Other natural powders, such as Indigo, are used with henna to get dye colors other than red or orange.

People have used henna for centuries as a natural, non-chemical, way to dye their skin (for tattoos) and hair. Henna powder comes from ground up leaves from the henna plant. The henna plant is found in the Middle East, South Asia and North Africa. Other natural ingredients are added to the henna powder to make a paste and release the dye. Once the dye is released, the henna paste is applied to the skin to draw henna tattoos or on the hair to give it a reddish tint.

Things You'll Need

• Henna leaves
• Lemon juice or vinegar
• Pestle and mortar
• Plastic wrap
• Plastic or glass bowl

Instructions

1. Remove the twigs and debris from the henna leaves.

2. Grind the henna leaves with a pestle and mortar until it is a fine powder. Pour the powder in a shifter and sift any leftover twigs and large chunks. Transfer the powder to large bowl.

3. Pour in lemon juice or vinegar and stir until the paste has the consistency of yogurt.

4. Cover the bowl firmly with plastic wrap. If the bowl has a secure top to it, use it to cover the bowl. Let the bowl sit in a warm area until the dye releases. Some henna powders takes up to 24 hours to releases the dye. You will see a reddish film on top of the green powder when the dye has been released.

5. Stir up the henna paste to combine the dye on top with the rest of the paste before applying it to your skin or hair. This makes all of the paste a dyeing agent along with giving you the other natural benefits of using henna.

6. Add boiling hot water to loosen up the paste some, if it stiff. Some people chooses to add olive or other oils, as well as black tea or more lemon juice to the mixture instead of water. Oils helps the henna paste to moisturize your hair, if you are using it for natural hair care. Black and other types of tea darken the color properties for the henna dye.

Tips & Warnings

• Henna has other benefits besides its dyeing properties. It also is used to add strength, shine and health to damaged and chemically-treated hair.

References

• Henna Info.com: The Color of Henna/Black Henna
• Henna Info.com: The Henna Paste/Recipe
• Henna Caravan: How to Mix Henna Paste