Before and After

[ Follow Ups ] [ Post Followup ] [ The Henna Page Forum ] [ FAQ ]

Posted by Darlahood on July 21, 2001 at 01:05:25:

In reply to: Care Sheet posted by ~*Kalila*~ on July 20, 2001 at 17:47:32:

Before your henna appointment:

There are a few steps to prepare the skin for the application of
henna. In the days before you are to experience mehndi, moisturize
the area you would like painted twice a day with lotion or oil. Henna
works best on skin that is well hydrated. Remember that henna applied
to the hands or feet will be the most rich in color, but the back,
neck, shoulders, and arms may be decorated also.

On the day you are to be hennaed do not apply lotion, sunblock, or
any product that would make the henna unable to penetrate your skin.
Wash and exfoliate the area where you would like the henna placed
before the mehndi process begins. Skin should be clean and dry.

To further ensure the longevity of your mehndi, get your regular
manicure or pedicure BEFORE your henna appointment as the products
used during these procedures will zap your henna and not make it last
as long!

Henna and Mehndi Aftercare:

After the henna paste is applied, it will begin to dry within a few
minutes. Please be aware that your design needs to dry and set for
several hours in order for the henna to adequately stain the skin, so
try not to fidgit too much and smudge the design!

When the henna is sufficiently dry (around 15 minutes or so) the
henna artist will apply a light coat of lemon-sugar solution. The
lemon will oxidize with the henna to make it darker while the sugar
helps the henna paste to stay onto your skin. The longer the henna
stays on the darker the design. If you have been instructed to apply
your own lemon-sugar due to time or location restraints, lightly dab
the soaked cotton ball onto the design a few times every ten minutes
or so. Two or three coats is all you need.

Leave the henna paste on as long as you can, preferably overnight. It
is natural for the henna to crack as it dries; some of it may even
fall off, that's okay. When you are ready, scrape or pick away the
dried henna with a butterknife or your fingernail. Don't use water to
remove the henna! If the henna is obstinate, try massaging a little
olive oil over the design to remove any bits of the paste that may
remain. It is a good idea to apply a small amount of olive oil, or
any vegetable based oil, over the design to warm and hydrate the
skin. The extra warmth will also help the henna to darken.

Sometimes designs take a day or two to reach their darkest color. To
help this process along, it's a good idea not to get the area wet.
The tangerine color you see when the henna paste is first flaked away
will turn to a reddish-brown in the course of a day. Continue to
moisturize the mehndi as this will preserve its longevity, and stay
away from harsh detergents and heavily chlorinated water. Protect
your henna by applying a little petroleum jelly to the design before
you bathe or wearing gloves when you do dishes.

Henna fades away, that's part of its magic, but you can always get
more!

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: Before your henna appointment: : : There are a few steps to prepare the skin for the application of : henna. In the days before you are to experience mehndi, moisturize : the area you would like painted twice a day with lotion or oil. Henna : works best on skin that is well hydrated. Remember that henna applied : to the hands or feet will be the most rich in color, but the back, : neck, shoulders, and arms may be decorated also. : : On the day you are to be hennaed do not apply lotion, sunblock, or : any product that would make the henna unable to penetrate your skin. : Wash and exfoliate the area where you would like the henna placed : before the mehndi process begins. Skin should be clean and dry. : : To further ensure the longevity of your mehndi, get your regular : manicure or pedicure BEFORE your henna appointment as the products : used during these procedures will zap your henna and not make it last : as long! : : Henna and Mehndi Aftercare: : : After the henna paste is applied, it will begin to dry within a few : minutes. Please be aware that your design needs to dry and set for : several hours in order for the henna to adequately stain the skin, so : try not to fidgit too much and smudge the design! : : When the henna is sufficiently dry (around 15 minutes or so) the : henna artist will apply a light coat of lemon-sugar solution. The : lemon will oxidize with the henna to make it darker while the sugar : helps the henna paste to stay onto your skin. The longer the henna : stays on the darker the design. If you have been instructed to apply : your own lemon-sugar due to time or location restraints, lightly dab : the soaked cotton ball onto the design a few times every ten minutes : or so. Two or three coats is all you need. : : Leave the henna paste on as long as you can, preferably overnight. It : is natural for the henna to crack as it dries; some of it may even : fall off, that's okay. When you are ready, scrape or pick away the : dried henna with a butterknife or your fingernail. Don't use water to : remove the henna! If the henna is obstinate, try massaging a little : olive oil over the design to remove any bits of the paste that may : remain. It is a good idea to apply a small amount of olive oil, or : any vegetable based oil, over the design to warm and hydrate the : skin. The extra warmth will also help the henna to darken. : : Sometimes designs take a day or two to reach their darkest color. To : help this process along, it's a good idea not to get the area wet. : The tangerine color you see when the henna paste is first flaked away : will turn to a reddish-brown in the course of a day. Continue to : moisturize the mehndi as this will preserve its longevity, and stay : away from harsh detergents and heavily chlorinated water. Protect : your henna by applying a little petroleum jelly to the design before : you bathe or wearing gloves when you do dishes. : : Henna fades away, that's part of its magic, but you can always get : more!
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