PLEASE ALWAYS APPLY A PATCH TEST TO ENSURE YOU ARE NOT ALLERGIC TO ANY INGREDIENTS IN NATURAL HENNA PASTE.

STORING YOUR HENNA CONES

If you have purchased a henna cone please ensure you store the cone in the freezer. The henna cone will perish if left out especially in warm environments. When you would like to use the cone leave it to thaw on a counter top for 30-50 minutes and then you are good to go! All henna cones can be used within 6 months of purchase however freshly brought henna cones will provide the best stains.

ABOUT HENNA

Henna is a plant originating from India which leaves are then crushed to create a fine powder. This powder is turned into a paste which then dyes the top layer of skin a dark brown maroon shade, providing a temporary stain to the skin. No one really knows where henna skin adornment originated from however it can be seen dated back to Ancient Egypt, where some say Cleopatra used henna to adorn her body. Many religions and cultures use henna to adorn their skin for special occasions such as brides on their wedding days or simply to just show a form of femininity. 

HENNA AFTERCARE

After care is key with any natural henna stain as the better the aftercare the better the results of the stain on the skin. Poor aftercare can lead to poor stain results so read this section throughly to achieve the best stains possible. 

Natural henna stains the skin dark brown and lasts between 1-2weeks (the longer you leave the paste on the more time it has to stain the top layer of skin thoroughly). To ensure you get the most out of your henna design please keep the henna paste on for as long as possible. I would recommend a minimum of 8 hours however for brides please leave the stain on for a minimum of 12 hours. Some can leave the henna paste on for 24 hours and achieve rich maroon black shades, however I ensure I source the best possible ingreidents which means even having the henna paste on for a few minutes can leave a stain. Henna needs heat to ensure a darker stain result so keep the area as warm as possible especially for the first 24-48 hours.

To allow the paste to sit on your skin for longer you can add a small amount of warm lemon (or rose water if you have sensitivities) and sugar paste mixture to completely dried henna alternatively I do have this sealant available for purchase on my online store. This sugar sealant is pre-made with perfect ratio for ensuring your henna will stick to your skin for longer to help give the henna paste more time to stain the skin. You can wrap the area with a breathable medical tape such as mefix or hypafix tape, however please be careful to not put it in areas of the skin that sweat easily as this can cause the henna to smudge easily. I personally skip the step of covering my henna paste as I beleive the stain appears better and more richer when only sugar sealant is applied. Covering with mefix tape is a personal preference.

Please do not use cling film or plastic bags as this will smudge the stain as the hand can get sweaty inside cling film or a plastic bag.

Lastly please do not remove the henna when it crumbles as this is a common misconception that henna will stain straight after it crumbles and usually only applies to henna that contains chemicals or toxins that allow a faster stain. Natural Henna needs to sit on the skin for enough time to receive a rich dark stain.

When removing your henna paste avoid removing it with water and instead scrape it off. You can scrape it off with the edge of a business card or the handle of a spoon. If there are any stubborn areas which need to be removed use some coconut oil or an oil of your choice and remove it with a tissue paper or towel. When removed avoid water as much as possible, 24 hours after removal. If water can not be avoided please use gloves or apply a thin layer of aftercare balm or natural oil to protect your henna design. Please keep your skin hydrated by drinking lots of water and moisturising. This will help the longevity of the henna stain because as soon as your skin renews and flakes the design will slowly disappear. If you will be doing any activities which lead to perspiration please apply a deodorant on the design prior to carrying out those activities.

Your stain will first appear a vibrant pumpkin orange but don't worry this will not be the final stain. The henna stain will slowly develop to a dark brown and will reach its full potential after 3 days of the application day or 48 hours after henna paste removal.

Please avoid scrubbing the area or swimming pools etc as this can reduce the longevity of the henna stain and can result in a patchy henna design stain.

If you have any more questions on your natural henna aftercare please don't hesitate to ask me. 

WHAT AFFECTS YOUR STAIN RESULTS

Henna stains differently on everyone as not everyone is the same. On very rare occasions some may not receive a stain at all, however this is very rare, and not something I have personally experienced but have read on. There are so many different factors to think of to reach the best possible stain results but here are a few things which can affect your Henna stain result:

Different skin shades can effect the outcome of the shade of henna, some may have a more maroon red shade and others may have a warm deep brown shade.

Chemistry and Lifestyle, things such as medication or certain illnesses can have an affect on the stain result (give off a lighter stain result).

Several activities such as scrubbing the skin, swimming and saunas can decrease the longevity of the stain.

Stains located in certain regions of the body such as the torso, legs, and arms last longest, however stains on thicker skin such as the feet and hands stain the darkest.