How to Make Henna Paste and Apply to Skin

Henna is a great way to create designs on your skin without the permanent effects of a tattoo. Through this tutorial I will teach you how to make your own henna paste in a fun, easy way. After the henna is made, you can use your own creativity to create absolutely any design you can think of!

Step 1: What You Will Need

What You Will Need

• Fresh henna powder (I found this at a local Indian grocery store)
• Lemon juice
• Sugar
• Essential oils (I used tea tree)
• Non-metal mixing bowl and spoon
• Plastic wrap
• ZipLock bag
• Decorating tip
• Rubbing alcohol
• Olive oil
• Mild soap
• Gloves for handling henna
• Tape
• Scissors

Step 2: Measure Out 1/4 Cup of Sifted Henna Powder Into a Bowl

• Buy henna with a greenish-brown tint
o Too brown=old henna and won’t leave a good stain
o Too green=may have added dye to make it look fresh when it really isn’t
• Store leftover powder in the freezer to stay fresh
• Vary the amount of henna you make to the size of your design
• Sift henna to get rid of chunks that could clog the applicator tip

Step 3: Add Â¼ Cup of Lemon Juice While Stirring

If needed add additional lemon juice until the consistency is between toothpaste and pudding
• If substance appears too thick after adding lemon juice, Slowly add additional lemon juice to avoid getting too runny
• Smash all lumps beginning to form while stirring

Step 4: Stir in 1 Â½ Tsp. of Sugar and 1 Â½ Tsp. of Essential Oil

• Use oils that contain terpinols (I used tea tree)
• After adding in oil and sugar the texture should be silky

Step 5: Cover Henna With Plastic Wrap

Rest for 24 hours at room temperature to draw the dye out of the henna
-The henna should appear similar to the last step
-Possibly will appear a little thicker

Step 6: Once the Henna Has Set, Scoop Out the Dye Into Your Applicator

a. I washed out a tip from an old decorating gel tube,
b. cut the corner of a Ziploc bag,
c. and placed the tube into the bag
d. Tape the bag around the tube to secure
e. Spoon out henna into the applicator
Either use henna immediately, or freeze until use

Step 7: Wash Skin With Soap and Water

• If skin is oily, apply additional rubbing alcohol

Step 8: Position Your Tip Over Skin

• Use proper protection when using henna: it will stain skin and clothes

Step 9: 3. Create Your Design!

Hands and feet stain darker
a. Websites to view design options
i. http://slodive.com/inspiration/henna-tattoo-designs/
ii. http://pinterest.com/ladybird66/henna-tattoo-designs/
b. Apply pressure gently until you get a feel of how fast the henna will come out
c. Clip the tip back if it does not come out well enough
d. I would recommend staying away from central body parts that don’t stain as easily

Step 10: Let Design Dry

• Cracking of the henna is a good thing

Step 11: Wrap Your Design With Plastic Wrap

Keep covered for at least 10 hours

Step 12: Add Olive Oil to Design After Unwrapping

Step 13: Remove Excess Flakes With a Mild Soap and Water

• Gently blot design when removing the excess flakes after it has dried so you don’t shorten the life of the design
• The design will turn from a lighter orange shade into a reddish/brown shade within 12 hours of removing flakes

YOUR DESIGN IS COMPLETE!