Best & Simplest Henna Recipe?

I was wondering what your best recipe & mix is? I ordered some henna supplies last year & the oil smelled like gasoline & was so gross that I put the whole project & idea aside. I love the little kits you can get at craft stores, but it's not very cost effective.

The craft store kits usually suck. Stain is not good and doesn't last long.

What kind of oil did you get? I get a cajeput based, and it does have a strong smell to it......but I've gotten used to it and have grown quite fond of it! Most of my days are spent catering to others and driving a school bus. But when I break out the henna, the smell immediately puts me into a relaxed mood. Because I'm finally getting to do something that I want to do, whether I'm hennaing someone else or myself.

Best recipe mix I've found is the KISS method:

1/4 cup henna powder
1/4 cup lemon juice ( I use the bottled stuff)
1/2 teaspoon of sugar
1 & 1/2 teaspoon oil

mix, let "cook" for 24 hours in warm (75 - 80) spot.


Easy peasy!!

Thank you! I liked the eucalyptus smell of the craft store stuff & so I bought some of the oil today. I don't know what the other stuff was. Everything was written in Arabic & it came in a roll on bottle like you'd use for lip gloss. It smells just like gasoline. I'm not using it.

I just mixed up my 1st henna from scratch, so in 24 hours my daughters & I are having a henna party!

Sweet!! Can't wait to see what you produce!!

You going to do the challenge?? I'm contemplating doing it on my own foot, but not sure if I would be able to get it done! Otherwise I have to wait until Monday when I have someone else to attack!

Yes, I did the challange. Totally blew the one on myself, but did ok on my daughter. I'm out of practice:-)

Please, only buy your henna from a source you can trust for safety and quality.
If the oils smell like gasoline, something is wrong with it. Some shady places actually put things like turpentine in there henna, and sell turpentine in their kits instead of real essential oils because it is cheap.
A good cajeput oil smells very clean and fresh.

Yeah, I ditched the nasty stuff & used eucalyptus. I now have henna on both feet. I'm taking orders from friends. They see it & want it.

I've been away from this site for too long! lol I feel like I'm running to catch up!

My recipe is a bit more complicated but when I'm done, I don't have to dab anything with lemon juice and I don't worry about allergens (eucalyptus, rose or lavender oils can trigger allergic or asthmatic reactions...I learned the hard way), and it smells divine.

Ingredients:

Lemon Juice
Table sugar
Jamila (Yemen) or Rajasthani Henna bought from Hennapages.com
Cloves
Tea Tree Oil

Materials:
small mixing bowl (not plastic... it will stain)
small coffee mug
rubber band
sandwich baggie
knee high or ankle high nylons from the dollar store (trust me!)
spoon, I have a dedicated spatula, something to mix it with

Mixing the paste:
First I make a tincture by simmering the lemon juice and a few teaspoons of cloves together. Makes the house smell wonderful. When the liquid has a brownish tinge to it, it's done.
Leave this to cool to room temperature.

I use a 1/2-1-2 ratio

If I use:

1 tablespoon of henna powder then I used
1/2 tablespoon of sugar (to start)

I mix this well in a bowl, and then I add in two tablespoons tepid lemon-clove tincture to it, stirring as I go.

By using the ration method, it's easier to adjust it for whatever amount you need. I've been using it for...13 years now and it's no fail.

Consistency will depend on weather as much as material. You need it to be like toothpaste, where if you lift the spatula there will be strands of it pulling from the bowl. If you don't have this, add more sugar. It's the glucose in it that give the henna the elasticity.
If it's too gloppy, add a bit more of the liquid to smooth it out.

Ok....

Sometimes your paste can get lumps in it and it will clog the device, so I always strain my paste.

Put the sandwich bag in the coffee mug and fold the open top of the sandwich bag over the lip of the mug.
Put the toe of the pantyhose/nylons into the baggie and fold the top of the hose/nylon over the edges of the cup. Essentially, you'll be looking into the toe of the nylon.
Use the rubber band around the lip of the mug to secure it all.
Scrape your henna paste into the hose/nylon.
Remove the rubber band.
Close and grab the top of the hose/nylon in one hand and lift it and the bag out of the mug in the other.
Squeeze the top of the bag around the nylon and pull the nylon from the bag.

This squeezes the henna paste through the nylon material and into the baggie, removing all clumps and making the paste super smooth and lovely.
PLUS the paste ends up in a baggie which makes it super easy to seal up for storage.

I add my terp oil (tea tree) to the henna baggie about 6 hours before an event. This helps to release the stain faster, which is why you don't want to do it too far in advance.

Once your paste is made you can: refridgerate it for a week (I've had some last two) or freeze it for a month (I've heard longer but I've not tried it) just be sure to warm it to room temp before you use it. Henna stains release best with heat, so when I am in a cold or air conditioned place, I use a hair dryer for better staining results.

I should probably post up pics of my process shouldn't I? I have to make henna tomorrow, so maybe I'll take pics

Hope this makes sense! lol

Be careful about using clove (make sure the concentration is low, and it is mixed very well), as it is a common skin irritant.

I don't use clove oil, which is what is often the irritant (as are many essential oils actually). I use real cloves and have for 13+ years, never with an issue an anyone.

I did forget to mention that if I don't use Tea Tree, I use cajeput. Tea Tree is easier to find and less expensive however, as well as being used in skin care most often.

Pics or a video would be wonderful! Thank you. I used the recipe above & it did pretty well, but I definitely do not want to cause any allergic reactions.