Henna Mehndi - Natural dye for body art Part 3

 How to Apply Henna?

As we all know it is always good to begin with the basics. You can create your own free hand intricate designs with a little bit of practice. Soon you can mix and match these simple patterns to create a variety of complex designs. Learning basics of mehndi is just like learning to write the alphabet. Keep practicing each design several times till you get it perfectly If you take a little time to learn your fundamentals your mehndi design flow will easily look great!

Look at the simple designs that are given below. Practice these simple shapes like teardrops, dots and swirl on a paper with a marker or with the henna cone; this will help build your ‘muscle memory’.

Trace over your marker lines with henna paste on the paper until you’re comfortable with the flow of the henna and the pressure required. Try to remember the pressure that is required to create each of these designs.

Here are some advanced designs. Try these if you think you are ready!

Why to seal henna applying the designs?

In 20 - 30 minutes the mehndi paste will lose its shine and will become dry. Once it’s dried, the design should be sealed with medical tapes.

This ‘bandage’ prevents the mehndi paste from smearing or flaking off, and protects bedcovers and clothing from becoming stained.

Otherwise, a mixture of sugar and lemon juice can be used to seal the mehndi paste which will help it to adhere to the skin.

Ensure to seal any firm areas like wrists, hand, legs and feet with medical tape. Put two inch strips of tape slightly overlapping each other across the pattern gently.

Slide a nylon or sock on the wraps to hold the bandage in place. The tape will help to prevent cracking off too quickly.

Finally remove the paste after 6 to 12 hours. Keep the paste on the skin as long as possible for best results. Sleeping the paste on is advisable for deep stains.

Remove the paste gently by moistening the skin with vegetable oil or lemon juice. DO NOT USE WATER to remove the mehndi as it will ruin the stain and will not allow the color from darkening. Try to avoid water for the first 24 hours for best results.

Enjoy the mehndi which will stay for about 7-10 days!