Show and tell

WOW those are impressive.

I really love these....I need to try some henna. It looks so difficult though.

Thanks for the link on the school kit dixieddl! I've been trying to find a good beginners resource and that sounds perfect... I just ordered my kit. Hopefully soon I'll be able to post some pics too.

Wow! I wish my henna was that good! but I've only been doing it every once in a while for a year. Guess I've got a lot more practiace to do.

Hi everyone! New to the forum but not new to henna! If you liked Dixie's design, you can find the pattern here on my free patterns page:free henna patterns

Great job of it Dixie! And keep trying! You absolutely can henna both hands. Here is my 'color of henna' that I use as a display. They are both my own hands done by me...just a matter of practice makes perfect.

Wow! The thought of trying to henna left handed!
Do you plan out a design or is it all free flowing & letting the design choose itself?

Most of the time I just chill infront of the TV and time when to do my henna so it shows fresh for my bigger weddings or events. They just mostly happen. Then if I really like what I did, I photograph it for safekeeping or sharing and then will actually re-create the designs for my books. In this thread Dixiedd actually mentioned the beginner kit from CCJ at Mehendi.com and I actually did some of the patterns that are in the pattern booklet. It really is a great product but just getting some henna and some of the free books can do wonders for skill building! And yes, believe it or not, you ABSOLUTELY will be able to do both hands with practice.

Love that photo Mehndi Masala!! It's a great way to show what the henna will look like in a few days! Never thought of that!

I've got to start practicing on my right hand, so I can actually sport both hands decorated! I'd love that.

Totally doable!! I do it often.....mostly it just takes a bit of dedication to practicing and a bit of patience. The big thing to remember too is that it definately takes longer to do the non-dominant hand so to keep the effect impressive, keep it simpler in design. Both hands will look 'equally' complex to most eyes, and it they don't, you simply let them know that the non-dom hand is a great example of 'simple henna' and the other hand is of a more bridal or intricate style.

Well because this is the 'Show and tell' henna thread, I had to show and tell! I'm so excited that my latest book came out through Henna Caravan!! Now that I am into FP, I'm going to see how it translates into color! I was not thinking color when I started this book so this could be fun!!! Here a henna from it....more in my gallery or on my facebook site!




I just had to share!!!!!

wow!!!

Kim I'm so getting your book when I get my next pocket money (we're saving for a new car so I'm having to learn delayed gratification. Boo) Anyway I was checking out your site today - it's mind blowing! No wonder you picked up face painting so easily! With the sparkly ones are they just glitter on top of wet henna? I'm so inspired to do more henna now! I got in a real rut and then found face painting so its been on the back burner a bit. And I'll be trying to do my right hand! Even my old boss who is a henna guru rarely ever did hers and not with that amount of finesse. Wow!

Thanks guys! Well depends on what you mean by 'the sparkly ones'. The ones where the paste is removed and you see color and sparkle is the zardosi. The ones with henna on that are sparkly, it is the glitter we all use poofed on top of wet henna! REAL crowd pleaser when you do that!

I've done henna patterns for many publications and I've actually done 4 books....2 are henna patterns with a touch of western influence, and 2 are 'theme' books for henna artists but the sugar skull book also found an audience with tattooists. My first theme book was Mehndi de los Muertos, which was a book of sugar skulls for day of the dead. This book that I just did is (as you can tell) Steampunk themed! It's called,"Gears and Roses, A Steampunk Adventure"! I'm super stoked! It's been selling really well and it's only day one!! I'm thinking the two theme books may lend themselves to color so I can't wait to have a body to give them a shot!!!

Thank you too for the vote of confidence on the face painting! I teach henna all over (going to be teaching in Rhode Island and in California this year) and I see how much new people and not so new people learn at a conference. The skill curve for attendees skyrockets after these meets, so I figure the same happens at FP conventions and I am having absolute fits about wanting to attend one!!! Need to bump up the skill level!!

I feel like a damn tool for starting this and then not coming back until now. Life and all that jazz. Gah!

Anyway, ya'll have done some awesome stuff (whether or not you know it!).

Here's a belly henna I did. The baby was a riot. She kicked every time I placed henna on the belly...no matter where!!! lol Everything is very symbolic for women's health, easy birth, feminine strength and the baby's name. She was born 6 days after I put it on the mama.

Wow you guys are so good! I just tried Henna (on paper) this week and I found it harder than I thought it would be.!! Here I can find already mixed Henna and transferred it to a plastic bottle and metal tip...
I see your posts are dated since June...any new stuff? I want to see!!! PS How do you sleep with the Henna? and how come you live it for so long, I heard you only need to leave it until it falls off.. Dixieddl, I was told, if you want to keep the Henna dark and lasting, put some Vaseline on it or lemon or Olive oil (after it dries and falls off I mean).

I don't post new hennas here really but you can hit my facebook site below to see some of the latest. I really post mostly bridal if it's different than what I've already posted or some modern contemporary if it's something I've not tried before. So here is a 'one of each' (ok..not quite, but a variety pack) Here is one I did for St.Patricks day. I liked it because it was freehand with no guides..just 'winged it' and was happy that there are no 'breaks'. You can follow it from left shoulder to wrist with no errors. That was a happy moment!
Knotwork:



This little gal I did at a recent henna conference:
Fantasy:


People seem to really want me to do fairies alot right now. Whatever they want is fine by me!

Here is a bridal...we cut it close on this one....she got darker the next day.
Bridal:


Special request - religious:
!

Inanimate object - Drum skin:


For aftercare, it depends on the client, temperature and situation. Sometimes I 'treat 'em and street 'em', other times it's a shot of lemon sugar, and for brides I hypafix. For a HUGE variety of reliable info, go here to the aftercare:
http://www.hennapage.com/henna/how/wrap.html

On my site I have some helpful hints condensed:
http://www.winnipeghenna.com/hennaFAQaftercare.html

Hope that helps!

Gorgeous !!! I can't wait to get that good!! wow!! I loved the bride one!! your flowers are perfect! love your work! bravo!

OH thank you Mehndi Masala for the Henna Site!! Great tips!! will make happy clients!! I never saw anyone use that method here and they do Henna All the time!!! Qatari ladies do it a lot for weddings..!!!

Good luck and happy hennaing!! Hope you have alot of fun and practice really pays off! If you ever get to a henna conference, you would be suprised how your skill set expands expadentially(sp)!

Don't forget to post here to show us how you are doing!!!!

Tried a "nightmare before xmas" character on my son today !!! very messy work!!! came out ok!

The darkest spots are henna. The colored spots are Reel Creations stains. I don't have an after as I did this at the tattoo parlor as a test for a design for someone.



A not-so-great photo of a design I did based on a piece of French furniture.



This is day 7 on my leg, hibiscus in henna with the purple-ish being in the Reel Creations stain.



Something more traditional mixed with negative spacing.

I like the last one..on the arm!!

Thank you! I was very bored one night and doodled until my hub told me to stop or I'd doodle all over the house! lol

Makingfaces wrote:Wow you guys are so good! I just tried Henna (on paper) this week and I found it harder than I thought it would be.!! Here I can find already mixed Henna and transferred it to a plastic bottle and metal tip...
I see your posts are dated since June...any new stuff? I want to see!!! PS How do you sleep with the Henna? and how come you live it for so long, I heard you only need to leave it until it falls off.. Dixieddl, I was told, if you want to keep the Henna dark and lasting, put some Vaseline on it or lemon or Olive oil (after it dries and falls off I mean).

Wow...lots of questions! Sorry I missed this.

Let's see-

How do I sleep with henna?
If I have only a hand design I have these cotton gloves that I "borrowed" from work. If it's more, I just make sure it's dry, wrap it in toilet paper and go to sleep. For feet I have an old pair of socks and the toilet paper for my legs. It's not comfy but it gets the job done.

How come I leave it on so long?
Because I can. Mine doesn't flake off easily because of the recipe I use so I will leave it on just to avoid picking if off. lol Also, I've seen henna dry out and flake off in an hour, which doesn't allow it enough time to really go deep. So for me it's a combination of lazy and assurance.
I also sleep in mine because henna does best in heat. What's warmer than a nice cozy bed?

Getting the stain to last after the paste falls off?
The acid in lemon juice can be very drying, which is the opposite of what you want not to mention that it's sticky when it dries. You don't want that sticky on your skin.
To keep it on longer you need to hydrate that skin and keep it from exfoliating. Oils- baby, almond, olive, etc. all work well. I also oil up before I go swimming to make sure that the chlorine doesn't dry out the design (I swim every day at our local aquatic center). I also do that before I get in a shower. Don't use exfoliants or washcloths/scrubbies over the area. When a design is on my leg I shave with hair conditioner instead of soap...actually, I do that in summer anyway- it's excellent for the skin. You don't want moisturizers with a lot of perfumes, dyes or chemicals because those are actually drying agents so ones like Eucerin, Cetaphil, etc. are really wonderful. I have a truncated version of these directions on my care cards and I've had people come to my booth weeks later with their designs still on them.

Welcome to Henna! With time and practice you'll be wowing us, I just know it!

Thank you for all the tips...I'll keep trying...