Henna After care Tricks and Tips

Henna aftercare is very important as you defiantly want your henna design to look its best for as long as possible. Henna ink typically holds its form for 1-2 weeks before it begins to fade and flake.

During that time, keep your skin moisturized so that the design lasts longer, avoid washing with abrasive cleaning agents, and try to keep from rubbing the henna. If you care for your design, it will be more likely to last for several weeks – or even longer!

Let the henna dry. 

Henna paste is moist when applied. It will take approximately half an hour before the henna paste is dry enough that you do not have to worry about smudging it. After application, You need to keep that body part away from any obstructions like clothing, hair, environmental factors so that it doesn’t smear the design.

Leave the henna on as long as possible

The longer the paste stays on the skin, the darker the stain will be. Leave the henna on as long as possible! Leave it on a minimum of 4 hour or consider leaving it on overnight. Don’t wash it off with water or don’t rub it off, don’t accidentally brush it against anything.

Use sugar and lemon juice to protect the henna paste flake

Once the henna paste starts to dry, Use lemon sugar spray sealant. Leave it to soak in for a few hours, or even overnight. This will keep the paste moist for longer, and It also serves to seal the henna and protect the design. Be sure not to oversaturate the henna…you want it just a tiny bit wet. Oversaturation will lead to the dye dripping in places you don’t want it. If you leave the sugar-and-lemon-juice solution on your skin overnight, it’s important to wrap or otherwise protect your skin from rubbing and smearing. How to mix lemon and sugar → Fill a small bowl with lemon juice, then mix with sugar until the solution is sticky and syrupy. Use a cotton ball to blot the sugar-lemon-juice onto the dry henna.

Try to keep your skin warm and moist.

The warmer the body temperature, the faster the henna will stain. If you are cold, try drinking something hot before you start. Gently steaming the paste-coated area also helps impart warmth and moisture.

Wrap up the design.

If you are worried that you henna paste can get smudged because you are in a crowded area or due to your work, you can wrap the henna paste after 20-30 minutes of application. I would advise to have at least one coat of Lemon and Sugar juice before you wrap it.

You can wrap the area with an elastic bandage, paper medical tape or toilet paper. Try covering the wrap with a sock to make it more secure. Try laying a piece of toilet paper over the design, then wrapping the area with an elastic bandage

Know that henna stains textiles like clothing, sheets, and towels. If you leave the paste on overnight, wrapping may protect your sheets.

Just be careful that you do not mess your henna design when putting the wrap.

Take the henna paste off after 6-24h

Use any clean, dull scraping tool: a toothpick, a fingernail, a file, or the blunt side of a knife. Rinse your skin with room-temperature water once you’ve cleared most of the henna paste. Avoid using soap on the fresh henna.

Apply natural oil

After scrubbing the henna paste off (or taking shower), you should avoid the moisturizers or creams which are not natural. You should apply any natural oil, like olive oil or coconut oil.

Keep the henna area away from soap and water for 24 hours.

Try not to get the area wet for at least 6-12 hours after paste removal, although the effect will be even stronger if you wait a full 24 hours. Water can interrupt the oxidization and darkening processes of your henna stain.If you have it, put henna balm (like the ones available at Artistic Adornment ) over your design before you bathe, do dishes, or go into a chlorinated pool… Do not use synthetic moisturizers – many people have reported that this makes henna fade *faster*. Even if you have something that says it is natural – check the ingredient list. If it’s got stuff other than plant names in it, chances are you don’t want to use it. If you are in a bind and can’t get a suitable henna balm for some reason, you can use olive oil. This is not a necessary step, but is recommended.

Moisturize.

Apply a coat of natural oil, butter, or lotion after the paste is removed. While the henna is on your skin, moisturize regularly to protect the design and prevent exfoliation. Many store-bought moisturizers contain chemicals that can prematurely lighten the stain, so it’s best to use something natural.