Re: Novice need help with henna!
Posted by Maureen on September 28, 2001 at 08:16:03:
In reply to: Novice need help with henna! posted by Diana on September 28, 2001 at 05:11:05:
Hi Diana,I will try to help you if I can. Sounds like you picked up
information about the ingredients and some of the supplies and
tools. I will share with you my ingredients, recipe and how I use
the supplies and tools that I use.
My recipe is pretty basic...lemon, sugar and henna powder. To help
darken the stains I add cajeput. In a plastic bowl I mix about two
table spoons of henna powder with about 3 tablespoons of lemon juice
(to start) and 2 teaspoons of sugar. I stir this up with a wooden
popsicle-like stick adding lemon juice little by little until it is
like biscuit mix. I continue to add lemon juice until the paste is
like a thick pancake mix. Cover the bowl and let it sit for 12 to 24
hours to let the dye release from the henna powder. Because the
weather is getting colder, people are finding ways to try to keep the
covered bowl in a place that is warm (80 degrees or so). I cover my
bowl with plastic wrap and then sometimes cover it with a towel.
After the sitting period is over, remove the cover and stir in
approximately 15 to 20 drops of cajeput, ravensara or tea tree oil.
Stir this with the wooden spoon. You want your paste to be the
consistency of stirred yogurt. If you need to thin the paste a bit,
add a bit more sugar and stir again. Let this sit another 8 to 12
hours. Then transfer the paste into a plastic baggie. Squeeze the
air out of the bag and seal it. Then using your thumb and forefinger
squeeze and rub the paste within the bag to smooth out any remaining
lumps or clogs and to mix the paste well. Since you are new to this
I would recommend that you start out using a plastic applicator
bottle with an applicator tip to apply the henna. Even if you choose
to learn to use a plastic cone, you will have to now transfer the
paste to the cone or plastic applicator bottle. Make sure the top of
the baggie is sealed securely...push the paste over to one bottom
corner of the bag...fold the bag into a triangle...pinch with your
thumb and forefinger the tip of the bag where the paste has
accumulated just enough to push the paste back a bit from the tip.
Take your scissors and snip a small part of the corner off. Stick
the snipped corner into your applicator bottle and squeeze the
plastic bag forcing the paste out of the bag into the applicator
bottle. You might have to stop squeezing a couple of times to pound
the bottom of the plastic bottle on the table to make the paste drop
to the bottom of the bottle. Squeeze until your bottle is filled up
(leaving just enough room to push in the applicator tip). If you
have paste left in the plastic baggie, fill another bottle. Put the
applicator tip on the applicator bottle and you are now ready to
apply your henna paste. Sometimes the applicator tip that comes with
the applicator bottle won't allow you to make fine lines. You can
purchase small metal tips to attach to the applicator tip that comes
with the applicator bottle. These metal tips are available in 3 to 4
sizes that produce different size lines.
You can have toothpicks on hand to help you straighten out your lines
and clean up little places the henna paste has dropped accidentally.
When the paste is almost dry you will want to put a seal over the
paste. I use lemon juice and sugar as a sealant. I apply the
sealant on top of the henna paste with a Q-tip dipped in the lemon
juice and sugar mix. I do this one or two times allowing the design
to begin to dry prior to applying the second seal. When it is just
about dry the design is wrapped in toilet paper. I wrap toilet paper
around the design about 3 to 4 times. Then wrap again with plastic
wrap like saran wrap. I might follow this up by putting my hand with
the design on it into a sock or put a sock on the foot that has the
design on. Leave this on overnight or about 8 hours. Then remove
the wrapping and scrape off the paste. I use a nonridged butter
knife to scrape off the paste. Next I put cooking oil over the
design and may or may not then steam the area over a pot of water
that has boiled. Don't burn yourself. You can steam without
burning. The steaming can help to darken your stain. A good stain
can range from pumpkin orange to deep bright orange immediately upon
paste removal. Do not apply water or wash the newly hennaed area for
24 hours. You will see your stain darken over the next 2 to three
days.
Having said all of that, you should know that none of that will be
helpful if you have bad henna powder. Bad powder is usually old
stale powder. Your chances of getting stale powder is pretty high
when going to some of the local stores to buy it. You will get your
freshes henna powder from people here on the forum. Not a
plug...just the truth. These are the people using it and importing
it regularly. Look on the "Where" page to find a list of suppliers
and/or email me at reneeskiln@aol.com and I will tell you what I have
available to sell. But stale henna powder will only frustrate you.
Lots of people have lots of different recipes they use that works for
them. I have a number of sealants I use. Catherine has an entire
section on her website that explains the Sirius Mixes. That is where
you can go to really understand about the cajeput, ravensara and tea
tree I mentioned above.
I think I have given you the details you will need to get started.
You will take henna and develop your own recipes and style once you
get down the basics. I know others will give you their recipes and
advice as well. We like to share our stuff here. Good luck and let
us know about your progress.
Maureen
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