Originating from an Asian tradition, henna is composed of a paste obtained from the leaves of the henna plant reduced to powder and used to make a temporary tattoo. The traditional tattoo is designed with delicate motifs on the feet and hands, while the modern version involves the application of various designs on the whole body. To get the most out of your henna tattoo it is best to create the paste at home, make the design correctly and finally preserve it once finished.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Making the Henna Paste
Step 1. Purchase the necessary ingredients
Get everything you need before making the paste, including the powdered henna, as it needs to be done in one go. You will need:
- Henna powder
- Strong tea
- Lemon juice
- Eucalyptus oil
- Bottle with spout
- Different size nozzles
- hairpin
- Cotton sticks
- Cotton balls
- Sugar
- Olive oil
- You can buy henna powder in drugstores, herbalists, or you can find the ready-made preparation on Amazon.
- Be well informed to choose the correct henna powder.
Step 2. Sieve the henna
Using a thin sieve, sieve 60 g of henna powder into a bowl. This will remove any coarse-grained material from the dust and give it a fine texture that will be useful later on. If the henna is already fine-grained, sift it through a colander anyway, in case you missed any sticks or other rough residue.
- Store any excess henna powder in the freezer to keep it fresh for the next tattoo.
- Check the color of the powder. It should be brown-green - if it is too brown, it may be old.
Step 3. Add the lemon to the bowl
Mix 60 ml of lemon juice with the powder until the paste is slightly more liquid than the consistency of the toothpaste. If it still feels too thick, add more lemon juice to the solution; if it is too liquid, add more henna powder already sieved.
The mixture should be fine enough to pass through the thin spout of the bottle, yet dense enough to make clear lines
Step 4. Add sugar and eucalyptus oil to the mixture
These are important ingredients in the process, as they give the solution a silky texture during drying and keep the skin hydrated during application. Add half a teaspoon of sugar and 3-5 drops of eucalyptus essential oil, then check the consistency again and add more as needed.
Step 5. Add some strong tea to the mixture
Checking the consistency, slowly pour in 40 ml of strong tea: it will enrich the solution with tannins and prevent the skin from peeling or cracking. After you have gained some practice in making pasta, you can try adding other ingredients: anything that can provide a good fragrance, acids or tannins will help to improve it.
Consider adding a little coffee for its acidic qualities or some ground rose petals for their scent, so as to make your pasta unique
Step 6. Cover the dough and let it rest for 24 hours
Cover it with a sheet of cling film to protect it from the air and let it sit at room temperature for 24 hours. During this time the compound may become slightly denser; make sure it is not too liquid when the set time expires.
Step 7. Pour the mixture into a bottle with a spout
Transfer it to a plastic bag with an adhesive closure, pressing it all the way to one corner. Remove the nozzle from the bottle, cut the corner of the plastic bag and squeeze the mixture into the container, then put the nozzle back in place.
If you have some pasta left over, you can squeeze it into another bottle and place it in the freezer for later use
Part 2 of 3: Creating the Henna Tattoo
Step 1. Practice on paper first
Since the henna will last 1-2 weeks, it is best to develop a technique and practice before applying the paste to the skin. Develop your style and decorations on paper and practice using the bottle.
For some ideas on how to do a traditional or modern henna tattoo, visit some websites, such as Pinterest
Step 2. Wash the area you plan to get the tattoo on
Clean it thoroughly with soap and water: removing the sebum and dirt will allow the henna to set on the skin in the correct way.
Apply a few drops of eucalyptus oil to the skin to moisten it before getting the tattoo
Step 3. Apply the tattoo to the person's feet or hands
If you want to get a darker and more noticeable effect, areas such as the hands, wrists, feet or ankles are more suitable.
- Henna is darker where the skin is thicker, so it will be more noticeable in these areas of the body.
- On areas such as the face, neck or chest it will not have the same effect, as the skin is thinner in those areas.
Step 4. Apply the tattoo
Keeping the spout of the bottle positioned exactly over the skin, slowly apply the mixture following the pattern of your choice and quickly erase the line with a Q-tip or cotton swab if necessary. The secret to erasing the stroke is to remove the paste as quickly as possible.
- To draw finer lines, finely sift the henna paste.
- Consider using different size nozzles to make lines of different thickness.
- If this is your first time getting a henna tattoo or you are still inexperienced, consider using a stencil to make sure you get the perfect design. Use your favorite search engine to search for some stencil ideas online.
- After some practice, making your own original tattoos will become an enjoyable pastime and art form to share with the people you design them for.
Part 3 of 3: Caring for the Tattoo
Step 1. Let the tattoo dry for 2-3 hours
Do not touch it before the pasta has dried completely: the waiting time will vary according to the outside temperature, depending on whether it is hot or cold. You should notice that the paste solidifies and begins to crack.
Step 2. Cover the tattoo
Once it has dried, it's time to seal it properly. If it is on your hand, cover it with a latex glove; if it is on the wrist or ankle, wrap it with a paper towel and then with cling film to keep it moist and protect it from the elements. Leave it covered for 6-12 hours, depending on how dark you want it to darken.
- If you are in a hot climate or it is summer, it is not necessary to cover it: the surrounding temperature will prevent it from peeling.
- Wrap the paper handkerchief and cling film in soft, thick layers to preserve the moisture inside.
Step 3. Remove the henna paste from the body
Try to wait as long as possible before removing it: the longer it stays in contact with the body, the darker the imprint of the tattoo will be. For best results, use olive oil to gently remove it by applying it to a cotton ball. The tattoo will then continue to darken for the next 10-12 hours.
- Do not remove the henna paste with water, otherwise you will erase the tattoo - you should avoid getting it wet for the next 24 hours.
- Avoid swimming in the pool while you have the tattoo: water, chlorine and other chemicals present in the water could damage it.
Step 4. If necessary, remove the tattoo
A henna tattoo lasts 1-2 weeks after application, but you may want to remove it sooner. In this case there are several ways to do this:
- Dip your hand in warm water and rub it gently until it begins to disappear; it may take some time and effort. Try using antibacterial soap by scrubbing between soaks.
- Go for a swim. Chlorine and water will effectively remove the tattoo.
- Dip your hand in salted water for 20-30 minutes: the salt will help disperse the henna.
