New Skin vs. lemon/sugar water (lots more)

Posted by Amy on November 22, 1999 at 07:04:27:

In Reply to: Re: out of the dark ages posted by Catherine Cartwright Jones on November 22, 1999 at 02:14:57:

Sorry, I'm *very* new to this, but I'm curious: it seems that lemon
or sugar water will act as a fixative to hold your design in place,
like a non-bee-attractant "New Skin" :) Is this true, and if not,
what is the purpose of lemon/sugar water? And then where does the
lemon or lime juice come in?

What I have so far gleaned as the best way to make henna goo:
1. Sift the powder in a tea-ball or piece of muslin.
2. Boil water. Some people seem to advocate boiling dried limes in
the water, to make it darker. Does this work? Or do you simply add
some lime juice to it?
3. Add the cooled water to the powder until it's a toothpaste-like
consistency. Some sites say to use a glass bowl, not a ceramic one -
why?
4. Put it in a homemade plastic tube, a la cake decorating tubes, or
just use a paintbrush, and have a go at your skin
5. As you apply more of the design, already-done sections will start
to dry and crack, so you should moisten it.... is this where you use
the lemon/sugar water? How long do you keep moistening? And why do
some people use eucalyptus or mehlabiya (or camphor *grin*) instead
of this?
6. the eternal question: let it fall off, or scrape it off?
7. anything else I've missed?

A BIG thank you to anyone who is patient & kind enough to edify this
newbie :)

Follow-ups:

• Re: New Skin vs. lemon/sugar water (lots more) Catherine Cartwright Jones 14:23:28 11/22/99 (3)
  • Re: New Skin vs. lemon/sugar Natasha Papousek 15:46:35 11/22/99 (2)
    • BIG thank yous to Catherine and Natasha :) Amy 00:44:45 11/23/99 (1)
      • Re: BIG thank yous to Catherine and Natasha :) Amy C 16:56:06 11/23/99 (0)