Mixing your own henna paste is very easy and it only requires 4 basic ingredients to get start with. Refer to my previous blog on why we use these ingredients.
What you need ?
- Bowl (Glass bowl preferred as plastic & steel bowl may give reaction from the Essential oil and Lemon)
- Spatula (For bigger batches you may use a hand mixer to aid in mixing.)
- Cling wrap
- 100 Grams Henna Powder
- 40 Gram Sugar
- 30ml Essential oil
- Lemon Juice/Water to consistency
How to mix your henna paste.
- In a bowl add the dry ingredients (henna powder and sugar) and mix well
- Then add in the essential oil and water to consistency.
- Mix the ingredients until it form a thick (mash potato) paste.
- Cover the bowl with lid or cling wrap.
- Leave it for dye release for 4 hours or more (lemon juice longer time- best overnight)
- Mix it to dissolve all lumps and add more liquid if needed to desired consistency. Paste is ready.
Note – to know if your henna is ready simple scoop the layer on top and see the difference in colour. You may also place a tissue on the cling wrap with a heavier object on top and see how the tissue turns orange when the dye release.
Quantity of sugar I use varies on the humidity 30grams to 40grams. To get a good stain the ratio of henna powder and sugar have to be right. The use of right powder and essential oil also contributes. In colder places its advised to keep the henna paste longer for dye release.
Often people think its hard to mix your own natural henna paste, henna takes lots of time to release dye and its a hassle. This will then lead them to getting store brought cones (shelf stored cones) which is never 100% natural and contains chemical to preserve the shelf life. Natural henna needs to be stored in freezer when not used unlike chemical filled cones.
Storing Henna Paste
- Refrigerate immediately and use within a week for best stain results.
- Freeze henna for up to 3 months.
- Continuous thawing and re-freezing of cones will diminish the quality of henna. Therefore is best to not refreeze again your henna cones.
Why get the store or factory made cones filled with chemicals when you can actually mix it yourself and be sure 100% of the ingredients used. As time goes by you will learn how to master your own henna paste with the right consistency. Practice!
ALWAYS CHOOSE THE RIGHT CHOICE !
Harin Hennagraphy 