Application:

Henna is a fun, relaxing experience. Designs are applied using a freshly mixed paste. The paste is applied in a wet form, typically with a cone that looks very much like those used for frosting cakes. When the paste is applied, the dye molecules from the henna soak into the top layers of skin and stain the skin cells.

The longer the henna is in place the darker the stain can become. I recommend keeping the henna in contact with the skin as long as possible to encourage a deeper penetration of the dye molecules. Once the design has been applied and dried, a lemon/sugar sealant may be used to help keep the henna in contact with your skin.

When you are ready to remove your paste, simply use a flat surface, such as a fingernail or plastic card, to scrape off the paste. Any remaining paste can be removed with lemon juice or olive oil on a cotton ball (avoid water).

That's it! Application complete! No needles, no pain! Only a lovely stain that you will wear and enjoy for weeks to come. 

After Care:

So now that you have your lovely henna design here's what you need to know to keep it looking a deep rich color for as long as possible.

A typical design will look a pale orange upon paste removal and darken over the first 48 hours with proper care. Colors range from orange-brown to deep burgandy or nearly black, depending on the location of placement, the duration the paste was left in contact with the skin, and your care of the design during the oxidation process which creates the darkening image.

First of all, avoid water on the design as water interrupts the oxidization and darkening process of your henna stain. This isn't as hard as it sounds. Applying coco butter or oil to repel water makes showering easy and repels water. You should, however, avoid swimming pools and hot-tubs as the chlorine will bleach out the stain.