Introduction to EasyHenna.com
I was so lost when I first started using henna!  I had no one to ask for help and spent way too much time and money making mistakes.  I love doing henna, and I get so many questions about my henna tattoos that I thought I'd share!  EasyHenna.com is to help you bypass making the same mistakes I made!  Creating henna tattoos is fun and easy, no matter what your background.  You don't have to be Indian or Arabian to use henna.  Heck, Gwen Stephani and Madonna use it, so you can too!

If you have any questions, ideas, suggestions, or pictures, please send them along.  I'll add them in as I develop this site.

Let's start with some basics. 
Henna is a natural plant (a bush) that when ground very fine and made into a paste stains your skin, leaving a temporary tattoo. Henna used in this artistic form is called mehndi, though most people still refer to the art of mehndi as simply, henna.

Henna has been around for thousands of years in Africa, the Middle East, and the Indian sub-continent.  Originally used in the desert to help cool the body, henna became an important part of the culture.  From coming-of-age rights to wedding ceremonies, henna is simply a part of life for much of the world.

There are many factors that will effect the color and longevity of your henna tattoo.  Some of these factors are; the henna itself, the henna additives (never use henna that has chemical additives, especially PPD, also known as black henna), your body chemistry, how oily or dry your skin is, the part of the body you henna, how well you prepare your skin, how long you leave the henna on your skin, and whether you seal your henna design or not.  Sounds complicated doesn't it?  It doesn't have to be, because I am going to give you all the answers that I can, in easy-to-understand terms.

If you are brand new to henna, I recommend using pre-made paste.  I know many professional henna artists feel that you should always mix your own fresh paste, but in my experience pre-mixed paste works just fine, is easier to use, and doesn't make as big of a mess (especially for beginners).  Make sure you are using natural henna without any chemical additives.  Only use henna that lists the ingredients.

Henna takes best on the palms of the hand and the soles of the feet, because these are the driest areas of your body with nice thick skin.  Though the color will be darkest in these areas, it tends to fade quickly too as they are exposed to so much more than other parts of the body.  I suggest starting off with a henna design on the hand.  Henna both sides of the hand so that you can see the difference in color and in how long the design lasts on two different types of skin.

Prepare Your Work Area
Make sure you have a comfortable place to sit and gather all your henna items together. 
Be sure to include...

• plenty of paper towels
• a damp washcloth (that will get stained)
• toothpicks (great for removing mistakes for feathering your design)
• Q-Tips

 ...in addition to your henna products.  Don't wear nice clothes.  Remember henna is a stain and will stain your clothes, the couch, the rug, or anything else it gets on.

Prepare Your Henna
I have found a few simple things will help you get the most from your pre-mixed henna paste.  First make sure it is completely mixed.  During shipping the henna will sometimes separate, resulting in too thick henna, watery henna, and/or a poor stain.  It is very important to knead your cone or tube completely re-mixing the henna. 

I also like to add a bit of lavender oil and lemon juice to my henna.  I just learned a new trick that I love!  Add a touch of table sugar to your henna and mix it in.  It will make your henna very silky and will allow it to stay moist longer.

Tip:  Knead your henna well, than transfer it to a Jacquard applicator bottle (Jody from Beachcombers introduced me to this, and it is a life-saver!).  This little "magic bottle" as I call it, makes applying henna a breeze.  The trick is to keep it filled.  If it starts to become empty, you will have to squeeze to hard and your hand will cramp.  Here is a full set of applicator bottles that they offer. 
Update!!!!! Check out these new Moroccan applicator bottles with stainless steel tips!  Oh my gosh, they are even better than the Jac bottles!  The henna just slides right through the tip and they are super easy to use.  The tips switch out even easier than the Jac bottle tips, AND they offer both 1/2 oz bottles & 1 oz bottles.  Thanks again, Jody!  They are my new favorite applicators.

Prepare Your Hand
Wash in hot soapy water.  Do not use a lotion based soap, use something that will strip the oil from your hand. I find that dish soap works very well.  After you have dried your hand clean it with rubbing alcohol or astringent (Sea Breeze, Which Hazel), this will really help your color to take.

Apply Your Henna Paste
Create your henna design.  Instructions should be included with your henna paste.  Thicker lines in your design will leave longer-lasting darker color.  Thin delicate designs will leave lighter color and will fade more quickly, so you may want to start off with nice thick heavy designs.  The more delicate designs dry too fast, and the color doesn't get a chance to penetrate very far into the skin.

After applying your henna tattoo design you can just let it dry and flake it off and be finished, or if you want better color that lasts longer, you can seal your design.  If you let it dry and flake it off, leave the henna on for as long as possible.  Try for at least 2 hours.  After you flake off the dried henna, DO NOT WASH OR WET your hand.  Apply mehndi oil over the complete design.  Your henna tattoo color will darken over the next day or two. Here are some tips for helping your henna tattoo last longer.

Seal Your Henna Tattoo Design
This is the only way to get really good dark color.  There are many different ways to seal your henna, but they all do basically the same thing.  They protect your henna and keep it moist longer so that the henna dye has a chance to seep into the skin and leave a deeper stain.  All sealant methods should be done when the henna is set (dry to the touch) but before it is completely dry and flaking off.

Lemon and Sugar Sealant
This is my favorite.  It is easy and cheap (just don't use it outside because it attracts insects - don't ask how I know!).  Mix equal parts lemon juice and sugar together.  The easiest way is to heat it on the stovetop and then let it cool down.  Very carefully apply the cooled mixture over your henna design (a Q-Tip or a cotton ball work well).  Be very careful that you don't disturb the henna tattoo and that your mixture is not too watery as it will make the design run.

 

Now you have to apply heat.  Use a blow dryer to dry the sealant completely.  To darken the color further, use a candle or a blow dryer and apply as much heat as you can stand for as long as you can stand for about 2 hours in intervals of about 20-30 minutes apart.  It's amazing how much darker this can make your henna tattoo.

 

When you are ready, gently scrap off the dried henna using your finger nail or a butter knife.  Very gently rub off the sugar lemon mixture using henna oil or olive oil.  Apply a layer of mehndi oil.  Avoid washing your hand for as long as possible.

 

Liquid Latex Sealant
This is more expensive and requires a trip to the store, but it doesn't attract bugs if you are outside. Some people are allergic to latex, so those people should not use this method.  Carefully apply liquid latex to your henna with a Q-Tip or brush.  Blow dry it until completely dry.

 

When you are ready, peel the liquid latex off (it may rip out some hair) and add mehndi oil over your design.

There are many other sealant methods, but these are the ones I've used.  After you have sealed your henna you can put lightweight cotton gloves (or old socks) on to protect the seal and allow you to go about your day.  You can also sleep with these on (make sure they are not so heavy that you sweat).

You can expect a henna tattoo that has not been sealed to last between 5-10 days.  A henna tattoo that has been sealed should last 1-3 weeks.  Of course the time that it lasts will depend on how you care for your tattoo and your body chemistry.

Now some tips to protect your new henna tattoo and make it last as long as possible.

• Avoid cleaning chemicals and chlorine. Use rubber gloves when cleaning and if you swim, expect your henna tattoo to fade.
• Apply mehndi oil over your henna tattoo before getting it wet or bathing.
• Don't exfoliate the area and don't use exfoliating soaps or lotions.
• NEW TIP!  If you swim, spray your tattoo with spray bandage sealer.  This can really help your henna tattoo last!

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