Henna Lovers, and Mehndi Mamas!

[lilylove]

I remember there was a tribe, but it seems to be closed now. So I thought I would start a new one

I've been playing with henna lately. I have a lot to learn, but I'm really having fun!



I have a few questions too

[Pumpkincat]

those are very lovely! I have played with it a bit as well. I have no pictures tho

[rainbowmoon]

mehndi mamas!

There used to be a big HUGE mehndi mamas thread but I can't find it! So I'm starting a new one!

I am just a newbie (only done it once or twice before years ago..) What supplies are essential? Kits you recommend? I am going to shop for supplies soon! I would also love to chat about designs, mehndi experiences,etc. here! TIA!

[rainbowmoon]

Bumping!

I would also like to know if it's possible to use the mehndi ink in a way that would be washable. (For the sake of practicing designs as a beginner)

[lunamegn]

Hi! I've been doing henna off and on for around 9 years.

My "kit" is one or two jacquard .05mm tips, henna powder, cotton pads, sometimes sugar and lemon. Lately I've been using baby wipes to wipe off the skin before I apply the paste and then a little eucalyptus oil.

I've been working more on my recipe for making the paste.

It's really fun, I love apply henna to people and just chatting people up. I do have little photo books with pictures and designs and I have people go through and pic one they like and I use that as a starting point for a design and go from there. Each one is different and unique. I love it! It's like a meditative experience for me.

Here's a few of my designs.

http://lh3.ggpht.com/_MauDQQbjLWA/Sq...w/s512/745.JPG

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_MauDQQbjLWA/Sq...enna%20015.JPG

http://lh3.ggpht.com/_MauDQQbjLWA/Sq...enna%20002.JPG

[lilylove]

Yay!!

I've been playing with henna for a couple years and just started doing it for profit at a small farmer's market, and through private appointments.
Here's my flickr set

Essential items would be good quality henna powder, (most henna found in stores is poor quality, old or possibly contain unsafe additives.) quality essential oils, water or lemon juice, and sugar.

A good place to order a kit from, is hennamuse.com (as a bonus she is a WAHM!)
A great place to read and learn is at HennaTribe.com.

You can practice by drawing designs with pencil, or using the paste on paper, but there really is no substitute for just practicing on skin. You can wipe off the paste as soon as you are done to minimize the stain and put a balm or lotion on first to keep the dye molecules from penetrating to much.
Good luck, it's a really fun medium!

[almadianna]

I found two mehndi mamas threads and merged them so you are all together.

[Kidzaplenty]

[ewe+lamb]

Ooooh I love henna - I make up my paste with henna that my dh's family brings back from North Africa for me, roll my own cones - I can't do it the maroccan way with the blunted off syringe, I mix the henna with a little water, lemon juice, syrup or honey - whatever is there and a drop or two of lavendar essential oil I find it makes lovely stringy henna paste and I manage some really long lines with it, we did lots this summer but haven't got pictures - which I must start doing. I love the site www.tapdancinglizard.com - she is wonderful with great advice and free download books. I did try making up a juice for getting a really dark tint to the henna, it was black tea tea bags, fenugrec and cloves and then left it to blend nicely for around 12 hours the colour was indeed very dark but didn't last too long as I had expected it to. Anyone else made up a juice for colouring?

[lilylove]

I've read of others using infusions and a variety of juices including a liquid made steeping dried limes and cloves. I have had excellent results with lemon juice, sugar, molasses, a good amount of high terp oils (like cajput) and of course really high quality henna.
I like cones too

[rainbowmoon]

I'm still ISO henna supplies. I have been hesitant because of all the info. about "bad" henna out there.

Thanks for the links, I will check them out!

On the face paint forum I go to it was brought up that Henna is not approved by the FDA for using on skin here in the USA. Has anyone ever had any trouble because of that? I plan to offer it as a service but I am kind of wary now of advertising it.

[lilylove]

I wonder if the reason it is not approved for skin is because the trend is still relatively new in the US(so not a big push yet to get it approved) and black henna has many worried about henna in general. I have never heard of an artist having a problem about it not being approved and there are hundreds of henna artists in the US . Most cities will issue business licenses for it, I've heard, and you can purchase insurance for a henna business.
Black Henna is henna that has a chemical such as PPD, Para-Phenylenediamine, added to the paste. PPD can cause severe reactions, including blistering and permanent scarring.
Always buy henna from a reputable source. The are several great websites that sell kits. HennaCaravan.com is one of many! Most reputable henna artists use surprisingly simple and safe ingredients in their paste. I use henna powder (the dried powdered leaves of the henna plant), sugar and or molasses, essential oils (usually cajput and lavender blend) and lemon juice. Simple and safe.

[rainbowmoon]

I am sure many people don't even know it's not approved for skin. I don't think it's actually a bad thing, it just hasn't been tested by the FDA is all so there is no regulation whatsoever in products. I know when I was a hairstylist I applied henna right down to the scalp though. If there was something wrong with it I am sure it would be a "rule" with the state board but as far as I know it's not.

I will check the kits out at the link you mentioned! I also joined that message board!

I am going to obtain insurance on my business for sure! Have you looked into it at all?

Are there any good sites with designs suitable for a beginner? Or a book you might recommend?

[lilylove]

I haven't looked into insurance yet, I don't do enough work to bother with that yet. As my children get older and I can do more work I will have to start looking into it.
Yeah most herbs are also not approved, for the simple fact that they have not been tested. There is not much of a demand to push these sort of things through testing for the FDA.
You can get free patterns from both the HennaTribe.com and TheHennaPage.com. For good old fashioned books, my absolute fav is 'Mehndi, The Timeless Art of Henna Painting' by Loretta Roome.
You can also purchase ebooks full of designs of all types. From small books that are focused on very specifics styles to large in depth books of all kinds. Both TheHennaPage and Henna Caravan sell ebooks.

[rainbowmoon]

what do you think of the beachcombers supplies? are they ok?

[lilylove]

Hmm, I don't know. The kits look iffy on ingredients and freshness.
This looks fine though, as the powder is fresh and Jamila is a well known brand that a lot of henna artists use.

[rainbowmoon]

Thanks for the info.!!! Yeah I kind of thought the beachcombers kit was iffy. In any case I've decided to just go with the HennaCaravan kit as it just has everything and seems the best! I'll check back soon when it arrives!

[rainbowmoon]

btw, what essential oil do you like to use best? (I ordered lavender but was curious if using one is better than the other) or is it just scent preference?

[lilylove]

Well, different oils have different 'terp' contents (monoterpene acids). Terp helps achieve a better stain. Lavender is decent, Tea tree is good and Cajput, a member of the melaleuca family, is really good. I usually use a mix of cajput and lavender, or tea tree and lavender for pregnant mothers.

[rainbowmoon]

thanks yet again for the info.! What does cajput smell like?