Attention all Henna Artist... I have been doing some extensive henna experimenting, You will be surprised of my results. A long Rant...

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Posted by Michelle Rossfeld on May 26, 2001 at 17:31:54:

I have experimented with so many henna powders, oils and anything
that can release the henna.

If you would like to see a picture of my results, below is my link.

This is what I have came up with, but first let me tell you who has
the best henna powder, or should I say, who has the darkest stain,
the fresh powder, and the longevity, It would have to be Navaids
Henna powder.

I have put henna, almost on every part of my body and Navaid's was
the winner.

His powder was amazing, I loved it. It did everything I wanted it to
do, and More.

Yes, I know we all have heard the stories about Him, but he has
actually has been a good guy, no problems, and wonderful henna at a
wonderful price, Cant Beat that.So you should check him out, ask for
a free sample, and watch what amazing henna paste you get.

So on with the results, Oh and by the way, I cannot mention who's
henna powder I tested against Navaids, that wouldnt be right. But I
did get permission from Navaid to write this rant.

Henna definitely has to be fresh and sifted.
Lemon juice is the best releaser for henna.
Lime juice is second to lemon juice for releasing henna. I tried
vinegar, it released the henna but there wasn't any difference in the
color of the stain. Red wine was the same.

A lot of henna powders have green dyes in them, Catherine explained
to me how to test for green dye and the results were so surprising. I
couldn't believe it, so many had green dye in them. Some of them I
have used in the past, without knowing there was green dye in them.
Also, Henna that has green dye in it, does not stain as well as the
non fresh henna does. Because there are ways to get a good stain out
of non fresh henna.

So make sure you test your henna before, you use it.

Essential Oils,
Camphor, (that is in Carmex not the oil,) definitely makes a
difference, but really not to much in the paste, more so after the
paste comes off. Rubbing the Carmex on the henna stain right after
the paste comes of really, truly makes it darker.

I only seen a little difference with Cloves, and Eucalyptus, but more
so with Eucalyptus. Cloves gave me a little redness, but it went away.

By the way, I tried several different Eucalyptus oils, and they
seemed to be the same.
Not sure why, I have not got that far yet.

Tea Tree oil: Yes, it really does make a difference, with color and
longevity.
But it sure stinks, I don't think I could do henna all day, and smell
that, but I am sure there is another essential oil out there that can
counter react that smell.

Length of time for the paste to sit before I used it.

4 hours, was just enough time for most henna powder to sit. The
temperature were different. I waited 4 hours at 48 degrees and the
paste was ready. Remember I live in Michigan. I also waited 4 hours
at 78 degrees (checking it often) and the paste was also ready to
use. So I guess it all depends on were you live.
There were also a couple that fired off quickly.
So check your paste often, because it could fire off quick, and
therefore you don't get as good of a henna stain.

Refridgerating your paste after you use it for the day, really helps.
Or just storing it there for a couple of days, before you use it. But
be aware the stain is also not as dark. Also, I pack my henna paste
in a cooler before I use it for festivals, because the heat really
tears it apart. I mean it makes the paste kinda liquidly, so I keep
it in the cooler, and then warm it up with my hands before I apply it.

Heat: yes Catherine is right, heat will make a difference, and you
don't need much. All the henna powders I tried were darker when I put
it over a candle for an hour. An hour, can you imagine if I did it
longer. Not saying I haven't, but with these experiments I just did
it for an hour.

Wrapping: personally, I don't like to wrap, there is always that
chance it will mess up.
But I did try, there were a lot of mess up's for me. For some reason
I just couldn't get it the way Catherine does. But there was only a
slight difference in color for me. But of course if you want it
darker, then wrap it, but then again I still get the same results not
wrapping it.
I guess its a personal opinion.

I love Lemon, it can do everything, Somewhere down the line someone
told me to use lemon to clean up the area before you put the henna
paste on, and I'll tell ya, it does wonders.

Without the skin cleaned, only a little difference on myself, but if
a person has gob's of lotion or oily skin, cleaning is the way to go.
So use lemon juice. I have to buy it anyways, so it saves me money
and another trip.

Alcohol did the same thing, but I don't like the smell.

Well these were just the basics, and only my opinion. If you would
like to see a picture of my results, below is my link.

Thank you,

Michelle Rossfeld

Exotic Expressions

Henna Color Chart

Follow Ups

Results: Experiment and Brands? Sondarya 06:11:01 5/29/2001 (0)
Yeah,navaid´s is the bEST,but nobody believed me! Erfan 16:44:18 5/28/2001 (1)
- Re: Yeah,navaid´s is the bEST,but nobody believed me! Doug 03:12:48 5/29/2001 (0)
henna experimenting, You will be surprised of my results. A long Rant... Erfan 16:40:27 5/28/2001 (0)
Answers to some of your questions....Joe, Ann, Dawn R, and everyone else Michelle Rossfeld 21:25:34 5/27/2001 (6)
- Michelle, how do you test for dye? jessica 22:04:28 5/27/2001 (5)
  - well said Anne 01:27:22 5/29/2001 (0)
  - Re: Michelle, how do you test for dye?.........Zimra has pretty much summed it up..... Michelle rossfeld 13:51:18 5/28/2001 (0)
  - Re: Michelle, how do you test for dye? Zimra 05:45:26 5/28/2001 (2)
    - No dye here! Matthew 16:05:23 5/28/2001 (1)
      - Re: No dye here! MyST 01:46:44 5/31/2001 (0)
Re: Attention all Henna Artist... I have been doing some extensive henna experimenting, You will be surprised of my results. A long Rant... Anne 15:09:20 5/27/2001 (0)
Questions and a tip Dawn R 12:52:39 5/27/2001 (0)
100% safe Black Henna??????? Joe B 05:44:24 5/27/2001 (4)
- Re: 100% safe Black Henna??????? Talia 01:07:06 5/28/2001 (1)
  - Re: 100% safe Black Henna??????? Joe B 04:11:51 5/28/2001 (0)
- Re: 100% safe Black Henna??????? Denise 13:49:40 5/27/2001 (0)
- Re: 100% safe Black Henna??????? Dawn R 13:25:15 5/27/2001 (0)
two questions Darlahood 00:39:31 5/27/2001 (0)

Post Followup

Name:
E-Mail:
Subject:
: I have experimented with so many henna powders, oils and anything : that can release the henna. : : If you would like to see a picture of my results, below is my link. : : This is what I have came up with, but first let me tell you who has : the best henna powder, or should I say, who has the darkest stain, : the fresh powder, and the longevity, It would have to be Navaids : Henna powder. : : I have put henna, almost on every part of my body and Navaid's was : the winner. : : His powder was amazing, I loved it. It did everything I wanted it to : do, and More. : : Yes, I know we all have heard the stories about Him, but he has : actually has been a good guy, no problems, and wonderful henna at a : wonderful price, Cant Beat that.So you should check him out, ask for : a free sample, and watch what amazing henna paste you get. : : So on with the results, Oh and by the way, I cannot mention who's : henna powder I tested against Navaids, that wouldnt be right. But I : did get permission from Navaid to write this rant. : : Henna definitely has to be fresh and sifted. : Lemon juice is the best releaser for henna. : Lime juice is second to lemon juice for releasing henna. I tried : vinegar, it released the henna but there wasn't any difference in the : color of the stain. Red wine was the same. : : A lot of henna powders have green dyes in them, Catherine explained : to me how to test for green dye and the results were so surprising. I : couldn't believe it, so many had green dye in them. Some of them I : have used in the past, without knowing there was green dye in them. : Also, Henna that has green dye in it, does not stain as well as the : non fresh henna does. Because there are ways to get a good stain out : of non fresh henna. : : So make sure you test your henna before, you use it. : : Essential Oils, : Camphor, (that is in Carmex not the oil,) definitely makes a : difference, but really not to much in the paste, more so after the : paste comes off. Rubbing the Carmex on the henna stain right after : the paste comes of really, truly makes it darker. : : I only seen a little difference with Cloves, and Eucalyptus, but more : so with Eucalyptus. Cloves gave me a little redness, but it went away. : : By the way, I tried several different Eucalyptus oils, and they : seemed to be the same. : Not sure why, I have not got that far yet. : : Tea Tree oil: Yes, it really does make a difference, with color and : longevity. : But it sure stinks, I don't think I could do henna all day, and smell : that, but I am sure there is another essential oil out there that can : counter react that smell. : : Length of time for the paste to sit before I used it. : : 4 hours, was just enough time for most henna powder to sit. The : temperature were different. I waited 4 hours at 48 degrees and the : paste was ready. Remember I live in Michigan. I also waited 4 hours : at 78 degrees (checking it often) and the paste was also ready to : use. So I guess it all depends on were you live. : There were also a couple that fired off quickly. : So check your paste often, because it could fire off quick, and : therefore you don't get as good of a henna stain. : : Refridgerating your paste after you use it for the day, really helps. : Or just storing it there for a couple of days, before you use it. But : be aware the stain is also not as dark. Also, I pack my henna paste : in a cooler before I use it for festivals, because the heat really : tears it apart. I mean it makes the paste kinda liquidly, so I keep : it in the cooler, and then warm it up with my hands before I apply it. : : Heat: yes Catherine is right, heat will make a difference, and you : don't need much. All the henna powders I tried were darker when I put : it over a candle for an hour. An hour, can you imagine if I did it : longer. Not saying I haven't, but with these experiments I just did : it for an hour. : : Wrapping: personally, I don't like to wrap, there is always that : chance it will mess up. : But I did try, there were a lot of mess up's for me. For some reason : I just couldn't get it the way Catherine does. But there was only a : slight difference in color for me. But of course if you want it : darker, then wrap it, but then again I still get the same results not : wrapping it. : I guess its a personal opinion. : : I love Lemon, it can do everything, Somewhere down the line someone : told me to use lemon to clean up the area before you put the henna : paste on, and I'll tell ya, it does wonders. : : Without the skin cleaned, only a little difference on myself, but if : a person has gob's of lotion or oily skin, cleaning is the way to go. : So use lemon juice. I have to buy it anyways, so it saves me money : and another trip. : : Alcohol did the same thing, but I don't like the smell. : : Well these were just the basics, and only my opinion. If you would : like to see a picture of my results, below is my link. : : Thank you, : : Michelle Rossfeld : : Exotic Expressions
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