Yeah...like I said....

Use fresh henna.  This is the result of using henna that was very old.  I let it set for 30 minutes before knocking off part of it to see.  It is clearly weakened with age.

Dragonflies from Old Henna

I always suggest using your henna paste within a few weeks of making it.  But today, I ran across a really old batch of henna paste.  I'm guessing it is at least a year old.  So I'm trying it out to see if it is still effective.

Basic Instructions

I thought I'd start this blog out with some basic instructions on how to apply a henna temporary tattoo.  I realize this is just the basics, so I plan on taking each step and expanding on it later.

Think of this as home cooking though.  Recipes can vary from person to person.  For now, this should get you started.


Step One:  Make a Strong Tea.  It is best to make your tea the night before you plan to create your henna design.  If you run out of time, it will still work if you make it even just a few hours beforehand.  You want to make a strong tea.  I’ve included some tea bags to get you started.  With 2 tea bags use 1.5 cup of water, and boil it until it‘s about half that amount.

There are some variations you can make in your brew when you feel like experimenting.  Some possibilities are:  cloves, dried lemons, cardamom, turmeric, instant coffee, or beet juice.

Let your brew cool overnight, or at least a couple hours.

Step Two: Make the Henna Paste.  Strain your tea if you’ve added any spices, and remove your tea bags.  Add the juice of one lemon and, if you are lucky enough to have some espresso handy, throw in a shot of that too.  Warm up the tea, but don’t boil it this time.  Warm paste makes better tattoos.

Now you add the henna powder.  For 2/3 cup - 1 cup of water, add ½ cup henna powder.  Add the powder slowly and stir as you go.  Continue adding henna until it looks as thick as hot fudge or cake frosting,   Then continue stirring until you’ve worked out all the lumps.

Add 2 teaspoons of eucalyptus oil.  This is equivalent to 2 drams, which is the amount included in the Beginner Kit, or the amount of ½ the bottle in the Deluxe Kit.  If the oil makes the paste too runny, add a little more powder.

Step Three: Warm Rest.  Let your paste rest for at least a couple hours in a warm place.  Do not refrigerate!  If you can stand it, let the paste rest 5-6 hours.  Stir occasionally.  If you store it in the cone or the bottle, it might get a little runny again.  Just add more powder to thicken.

Step Four: Make Sugary Lemon Juice.  Just before you begin your henna tattoo prepare your sugary lemon juice.  Use about ½ lemon per 2 teaspoons of sugar.  Be sure to strain out any lemon pulp or seeds.  If you’re using concentrated lemon juice from the store, use about 1 teaspoon juice with 1 teaspoon sugar.

Step Five: Prepare the Skin.  Before you apply the henna tattoo, you need to prepare the skin.  Wash it thoroughly to remove any lotions or oils.  If it is an especially hairy location, you might want to shave it.

Step Six: Fill your Applicator.  The Beginner’s Kit includes a few cone-shaped plastic bags.  The Deluxe Kit includes cones and a squeeze bottle,  so you have a choice.

If you are using the cone bags, fill the bag about 2/3 full and follow the diagram for folding the bag.  If you prefer, you can also just tie off the top with a rubber band or string.  You just want to be sure that you have it sealed tight so that the paste doesn’t leak out the top when  you squeeze the bag. Once your bag is filled, snip off a teeny, tiny bit of the tip.  The smaller, the better.  You can always snip off more later if you need to.  This will be your drawing tip for applying the henna to your skin.

If you are using the squeeze bottle, you can fill it nearly to the top.  I like to use a Ziploc bag to fill the bottle.  I spoon my paste into the Ziploc bag, seal it, and snip off one corner of the bag.  Using the snipped corner, I squeeze the paste into the bottle.  Add the applicator tip to the bottle and you’re ready to go.

Step Seven: Get Creative.  Now it’s time to create your temporary tattoo.  Whether you use the plastic cone or a squeeze bottle, the idea is to lay the paste onto the skin.  Try not to touch the tip of the applicator to the skin.  The henna should flow smoothly and be firm enough to just set on the surface of the skin.  It shouldn’t spread or lay flat - that would be too runny.

After-Care:  As soon as the henna dries, dab on the sugary lemon juice gently with a cotton ball.  Do not saturate or it will cause your henna to bleed & run.  Try not to push so hard that it flattens your design.  Apply the sugary lemon again after the first coat dries.  Continue applying coats of sugary lemon several more times.  

Finally, leave the henna on the skin for as long as possible.  The longer it is left, the darker the color you will get, and the longer it will last.  Leave for at least 2-3 hours, if possible. 

To remove, scrape off or use a cotton ball and olive oil.  Avoid getting wet as much as possible.