Tender Loving Care for your Henna
You've been hennaed! Just before you go out to celebrate your body as a living piece of Art there are a few tips to help your henna last longer. . .

For best results, the henna should be left on the skin for 12 to 20 hours, the longer the better and the darker! Heat will aid the absorption of the henna into your skin. . . you don't want to cause excess perspiration, but a heating pad, light, or a hot cup of tea placed near the design will greatly enhance the color.

When ready to remove the paste, unwrap and discard the bandage (if you have been bandaged). Most of the henna paste will come off with the bandage. . . to remove the remaining paste gently rub the area with an edible oil (olive, safflower, ect. . . ) or Vitamin E oil. This helps loosen the paste and the lemon sugar fixative as well as boost the color.

Once the paste is removed keep the design out of water for the next 24 hours. Initially the color of the stain may be faint. . . don't worry, it will darken over the next 24 hours. Tiger Balm (a sports rub sold in health food stores) enhances and protects the henna design, and can be applied at any time after removing the paste.

How long does it last?
Your design should last from several days to weeks depending on how long the paste is left on the skin, which area of the body is chosen for application, and how much that area is exposed to water, chemicals, and exfoliation. The darkest designs will be where the body temperature is at its highest and the skin its thickest (ie: palms of the hand and soles of the feet).

What is it?
The Henna plant (Lawsonia Inermis) is a shrub that grows in hot climates and can be found in most Middle Eastern countries. The leaves of the plant are dried and crushed into a fine powder. This powder is mixed with tea leaves, oils, spices and citric juice to make the paste.

A 'tidbit' of history
Mehndi (the art of applying henna) is a ritual that exists from early Egyptian days. Mehndi, traditionally practiced exclusively by women, is an ancient cosmetic and healing art most commonly associated with romantic love and the ritual of marriage. The art form varies from region to region, and the designs and meanings are different in each culture.