My process- very image heavy

I promised someone, I believe Psalmbook, that I would post up photos of my process. Most of this I learned from a Yemeni woman named Rafiqua who had grown up with henna culture, and Catherine Cartwright Jones in a workshop about 13 years ago.

Ingredients and supplies:






Step one: Simmer on low herb of choice in lemon juice (this is Earl Grey Tea). I usually do this until the liquid turns brownish and steam is coming from it, about 10 minutes. I was taught against using metal (aluminum) and non-stick pans, so I used glass or coated ones like this. When it's done, I just turn off the burner and let it sit on the stove and cool to tepid/room temp.


Step Two: While that's simmering, I mix the henna and sugar. I start with a ratio of 2pts henna to 1pt sugar and add more sugar later to the paste if needed. I took the photo to show this but before I add the liquid I mix this up to remove any sugar clumps and to mix it all through.


Step Tres: Prepping the materials. I stick the baggie in the cup, folding the top edge of the baggie around the mouth of the cup. Then I put the toe of stocking into the baggie, also folding the top around the edges of the cup. I secure them both in place with a rubber band.



Quad Step: Once the liquid has cooled, gets strained into a clean jar. Then I add it in a 3:2:1 ratio (3pts liquid to the 2 henna and 1 sugar). I mix this and check the consistency. If it's too thick, I add more liquid in smaller bits. It kinda forms a pudding ball in the middle of the ceramic bowl I mix in. This is also when I pull my spatula out to test for stringiness. If it the henna clumps, falls or doesn't "pull" then I add a bit more sugar to get the stringy elasticity I want.




Step V: The sifting. The paste then gets put into the stocking in the cup. Once all in there I remove the rubber band and hold the top of the stocking. I grab the baggie in my other hand and pull the stocking, using the thumb and forefinger of the hand holding the baggie to press the henna through the stocking. It acts like a fine sifter and captures any clumps that might clog later, releasing it into the baggie which also makes filling bottles so much easier!
The stocking can be rinsed/washed in the sink and reused many times.





Finishing up. The henna is in the baggie and all is right with the world. I add about 10-20 drops of terp oil to the bag and squish it around to mix it up. The henna slides down the side instead of sticking...that's when you know it's mixed. Then, I leave the henna in the baggie. I wrap a strip of paper towel around it like a burrito and let it sit. The stains will start to seep through the baggie and into the paper towel giving the paper towel a slight orange tint (that doesn't show up in photos btw), this is a no fail way of telling when your henna is ready. I snip the corner off the baggie and squeeze the henna in a cake decorators bottle. I find this is the easiest way to fill and refill my jaquard bottles, and because I can cap it off nicely, I can just stick the bottle in the fridge or freezer and use when needed.





I've never had this process fail and, outside of cooling time, it takes me about 10-15 minutes.
I've found that an exact recipe is never really exact because it will change based on weather conditions.

Hope you enjoyed!

Thank you! I love earl gray, so I even have the tea to work with!!! I'll have to give this a try.

Oh and what ever you do...remember you are making henna!

I made brownies one day, then made henna and got some on my finger. I didn't even think about it and I licked it off like I would brownie batter...OMG so gross!!! lol

LOL! I was impressed that you made it while wearing a white shirt & didn't get any on it!

Funny, my hub mentioned my wearing white too! lol

I have this process streamlined where I don't even get it on my hands and I don't wear gloves (as you can see). That baggie trick is completely awesome for staying clean!!!

I had one henna 'splosion once but I've been sworn to secrecy by the gov't lest I give away secret to the anomalous creatures that came from it. I can say it involved a 12 year old running through the kitchen and my cat. Sad times...but funny.

The tannens in the tea (I've known some who use coffee too) make it a bit richer in color earlier, not as bright orange and the initial paste isn't as green. Both I find are good for festival work when people don't want to leave it on as long as it truly needs to develop fully. It's not necessary and doesn't make a huge difference but I like it.
It smells nice too

Clove oil can be used as a terp as well, plus they have tannens in them, so by using cloves I can kill two birds with one stone. I'm just waiting for my new supply of cloves to arrive. As you can see by my bag, it's my favorite of the two...but I love the smell of cloves.

Hopefully the baggie will help you too!

I know this is an old thread, but how did the tea get incorporated? Did I miss that step?

You mix the tea water with the henna. Be very careful with clove oil or cloves in your mix as a lot of people react badly to it.

Thanks for mentioning that Amy! I use a clove bud only if any clove at all simply to ensure that I don't end up with the contact dermititis reactions that can happen. It's a pretty heavy irritant.

I"M SOOOOo excited about starting Henna!! I can't wait to get this weekend over and order some (as long as I can pay the rent!) But I think this will be a big addition to my business, and seems like something I'd rather do than facepaint, although I won't STOP doing facepainting! Love it!

Yay Darlene! I face paint, glitter tattoo, airbrush, design real tattoos, am a certified piercer and am working on learning to tattoo permanent designs. There is absolutely no reason why you should stop face painting. I say dive in, the water is fine!

To answer your question about the tea- I make a "tea" out of lemon juice, clove buds and earl grey tea. That's the weird concoction pictured in the pan. When that cools I strain off the tea and clove buds and that is the liquid I use to mix into my henna.

I've used cloves for over 10 years and not had a single reaction, and I have tonnes of repeat customers through the tattoo shops, schools, universities and festivals. In fact, I've seen/had more reactions to other things being used. I know a henna artist who puts lavender in hers and she made the news for sending a pregnant woman into an asthmatic attack. I also post the ingredients (not proportions, just a list) in our booth so people know it's all natural and in case of allergies. I'm a huge stickler on that stuff (won't use natural bristle brushes when I paint either) on allergies because my mom is allergic to nearly everything.

I am glad to hear you are safe about it. Is clove bud different from cloves and clove oil?

Generally lavender is thought to be the safest but I find the sent too hard to handle. Thankfully bellies are not my general clientele.

Lynnie, Kim, is there an equivalent to this forum that you'd recommend for henna?

Julie- http://forums.hennapage.com/ I'm not on it and just tend to look but it is a good one.

Amy, lavender and rose/geranium both can trigger asthma in non-pregnant women as well because it is strong. They are also a powerful allergy triggers.
Cloves/Clove buds are the same thing. They can be picked up at any grocery store spice area. They are dried so using them is very different than using clove oil. I get mine by the bag full from the Atlantic Spice Company (same with my tea and other spices lol).