Taking Care of Your Henna

KEEP IT ON

Henna will dry to a dark brown/black. Thicker areas of henna take longer to dry.  Once your henna is dried, it should be sealed.  I use a blend of lemon juice & sugar to seal designs, and keep them fresh and durable. 

Taping designs works well for overnight wear.  If you choose to wear your henna overnight, make sure your henna is absolutely dry.  Protect the design by covering it with a breathable tape (Micropore, MeFix). Toilet paper & tape works great in a pinch.  Wearing henna on your hands or feet? Wear socks to protect covered designs to keep them warm & keep flakes of henna off your sheets.  

 KEEP IT WARM

 Leave paste on a minimum of 4-6 hours and stay warm.   Wear your henna as long as possible to allow time for the henna to stain the skin.  Cold?  I often use a small heating pad to warm hands, or wear spa socks to help stay protected.  

REMOVING THE PASTE

To remove paste, gently rub away dried henna with a dry paper towel or cloth.  Do not scrub or scrape.  Use olive oil or a dab of lemon juice to remove stubborn dried paste.  Once the paste is removed, keep the design dry a minimum of 12 hours for best results. You will see an intense orange color that will darken over 24 to 48 hours to a deep red/brown.

KEEP IT DRY

Avoid water (shower, pool etc.) for 12 hours after brushing off the henna.  Cover designs with oil based products before swimming or showering to extend the life of your henna. 

KEEP IT MOISTURIZED

Natural moisturizers work best to prevent exfoliation such as coconut oil,  shea butter, or olive oil.   Avoid products containing bleaching agents,  UV protectants and alcohol.