Good paste/color/design: based on recent experiences
Posted by Kenzi on September 18, 1999 at 03:15:46:
I have been researching and experimenting and asking questions
endlessly about everything to do with henna. How to make the paste,
how to get dark designs, how to apply it etc. I have spent the past
few months doing all sorts of variations and have come to some
conclusions which are as follows:
1. liquid: lemon juice - nothing but - works best. None of the other
combinations gave any greater degree of darkness. Warming up the
lemon juice seemed to help. I tried Loretta Roome's recipe with
mustard seed, fenugreek etc. Not any darker than with lemon juice. I
tried coffee and it just kept me up all night (and if you think about
it, when did coffee ever leave a stain on your skin? Clothes, yes,
but skin?) If you have good henna, using lemon juice or vinegar
should be enough. I vote for spending your money on good henna,
instead of on replenishing your tea, coffee and spice reserves!
2. mixing: to get the best, most lump-free paste, I use a morter and
pestle. I have a little marble one which is the pefect size to make
enough paste to fill 2-3 jacquard bottles. The light grinding of the
morter and pestle is enough to get rid of those pesky lumps. I was
using a bowl and spoon but I couldn't get rid of those little lumps
(they seemed to be caused by inadequate mixing of the lemon and henna
powder). Again, a really good henna that is well sifted will help
eliminate lumps. Start with a few teaspoons of powder and add a few
drops of lemon juice, mix well, and add more lemon juice a little at
a time, mixing each time, getting the mixture smooth before you add
more liquid.
3. Dark and Long: I'm talking about henna! Heat does it. That's
what a lot of you are saying, and I have to agree wholeheartedly. I
keep a little candle handy and use it to warm the area where I have
done the henna design. A hair dryer is too intense, even on low, and
tends to make the henna crack and flake off. I heat the area over a
candle for about a half-hour, then I put on the lemon-sugar mixture,
heat it some more, reapply the lemon-sugar, reheat, etc. Then when
the henna seems to have dried and set, then I cover it with cotton,
toilet paper, whatever. Last night I covered my hand with a plastic
glove while I slept and it really helped keep my hands warm and made
the henna DARK!
That's it for my personal experimentation and experiences. Hope this
helps anyone who is having problems. Feel free to email me with
questions or contact me here in the forum. Happy Henna-ing!