Methods for preparing henna for mehendi, tools. How to prepare the skin for painting, drawing technique, what to do after applying mehndi.
Mehendi is the ancient art of painting with henna on the body, the skill of creating biotattoos. Wearable patterns made with natural dyes are an ancient tradition that originated in eastern countries. Henna drawings were used as amulets, they were made before weddings, special occasions. Today, mehendi painting has become a popular type of European biotat, easily done at home.
Preparing the coloring paste
In the photo henna for mehendi
Before making the mehendi, the material is prepared a day. First choose henna. The paint should be designed for body art. It has a finer grind and darker color. Henna is not suitable for hair, as it spreads and does not adhere well to the skin.
It is recommended to choose a dye for biotat with a shelf life of no more than 3 months, without preservatives. Chemical added henna can cause rashes and redness on the skin. To simplify the process, buy a ready-made paste that can be applied directly to the body.
There are 2 popular recipes for making powdered henna for wearable biotatu - classic and based on tea and coffee.
Before painting the mehendi, dilute the paint using the following ingredients:
- 20 gram bag of henna or 1 tbsp. l. dye;
- juice of 2 lemons;
- plant essential oils (sandalwood, lavender, orange or tea tree to choose from);
- 1 tsp Sahara.
The procedure for preparing henna for mehendi, according to the classic version:
- Sift the dye through a sieve so that the henna becomes homogeneous (if the dye has been in the store for a long time, lumps may appear in it).
- Pour henna into a bowl with a depression and add a quarter of a glass of lemon juice. The paint is not diluted with water: an acidic environment is required for the coloring effect.
- Stir the ingredients well until smooth. If you want to darken the shade, add basma or antimony.
- Cover the container with plastic and set aside for 12 hours in a warm place. If the paint is too cold, you can heat it up in a water bath or in the microwave. But don't overdo it!
- After 12 hours, open the container and add a spoonful of sugar and essential oil to the mixture to absorb the dye and brighten the shade.
- Add 1 tsp lemon juice again. Paint for henna drawings at home in density resembles sour cream or toothpaste.
- Leave the henna under the plastic for another 12 hours.
- The dye is now ready. You can start making henna mehendi drawings.
Important! There is no exact dosage of lemon juice in the recipe, since the masters, during the preparation of the dye, are repelled by the absorbing properties of the selected paint. If it turns out to be liquid, the image will bleed. The thick paint dries for a long time and does not apply well to the skin.
Before making henna drawings, check the consistency of the dye on any part of the body. If you are not satisfied with it, bring to the desired state by adding a little more powder or lemon juice.
To prepare tea and coffee-based paint you will need:
- 2 tsp black tea;
- 2 tsp natural ground coffee;
- 0.5 liters of boiling water;
- 40 g or 2 tbsp. l. henna;
- 2 tsp lemon juice.
How to make henna for mehendi with tea and coffee:
- It takes 4-5 hours to prepare the dye. First, pour boiling water over tea and coffee and cook for 1 hour.
- Mix the broth with henna to make a thick puree.
- Add lemon juice.
- Insist the paint under polyethylene for at least 3-4 hours. The more time you take for this, the thicker and richer the shade will turn out.
Finished henna can be applied to the body.
Required tools
Before painting with henna, prepare the tools that you will need in the process:
- Applicator. Ready-made biotattoo ink is sold in plastic cones with a small hole through which henna is squeezed out. At home, you can use a small syringe without a needle, filling it with dye.
- Wooden sticks, wide and thin, for drawing lines.
- Brush.
- Needle or toothpick.
- Cotton swab to remove excess paint.
When all the tools are ready, you can start drawing mehendi in stages.
Skin preparation
Before making the henna drawing, select a place on the body where the pattern will be located. For beginners, we recommend starting with the hands, feet and legs: these areas are more accessible for painting, and the skin absorbs the dye better.
Thoroughly cleanse the skin with a scrub or loofah and soap, remove all hairs. The procedure can be done at the spa or at home.
Important! Don't shave your hair. Remove them with an epilator. When they grow back, they take on a biotat shade. Remember: hair dye lasts longer than skin.
The next step is degreasing with alcohol or vodka using a napkin or cotton pad.
Next, drop a little eucalyptus oil on the surface of the skin (it is necessary to open the pores and enhance the coloring effect), and you can start drawing henna in stages.
Henna painting technique
If you are a good artist, then applying the image to the skin is not difficult. But if you don't know how to draw, you will have to use mehendi stencils. Henna drawings start step by step with a sketch.
You can attach the stencil to your skin with a germicidal patch or tape and paint over the free space with henna. This is the easiest method and is suitable for beginners. If you are afraid that the stencil will slip, transfer the drawing with a marker to polyethylene and attach it to the surface of the body. The resulting print is induced with henna by squeezing the paint out of a sachet or syringe.
If there is no stencil, try drawing simple mehendi patterns step by step. Start with geometric shapes: lines, spirals, triangles, squares. A plant ornament looks convenient in execution and at the same time attractive.
Gently squeeze out the paint with thin threads and place them on the surface of the body. Use wooden sticks for thick lines. Openwork tattoos are obtained by drawing with a needle.
If you have to draw a large image, break it up into several parts. You can first "fill your hand" by practicing on paper. Think about where to start the pattern. There are drawings that come from the center or, conversely, from the side. It is not necessary to depict oriental symbols, letters: choose a simple but effective pattern to your liking.
Avoid getting paint in skin folds and wrinkles. A lot of dye accumulates in them, which affects the smoothness of the lines and the elegance of the pattern. If you spoil the contour, remove the excess henna with a cotton swab.
Important! During the procedure, regularly moisten the image with lemon juice. This product improves the properties of the paint, promotes its absorption into the skin.
What to do after drawing a picture?
Do not rinse off the paint after finishing work. It should dry and fix on the body, which will take at least 6 hours. Do not wet the drawing or allow contact with moisture. You can leave the mehendi overnight by wrapping the patterned skin with plastic and a towel.
In a day, excess paint will disappear on its own. If you cannot wait that long, remove the henna with the blunt side of a knife or a cotton rag. But do not scrub, do not scrub with a washcloth! Fresh drawing can be easily removed.
Refrain from going to the gym, sauna or steam bath. On the first day, avoid touching the pattern with clothing or shoes. If the pattern is in the bikini area, you will have to postpone epilation until it disappears.
Thanks to these measures, it will be possible to maintain the pattern for 2-3 weeks. If you don't like the drawing, in the first hours after application it can be easily washed off with water.
How to make henna drawing - watch the video:
Mehendi biotattoos at home are simple. True, before drawing, you will have to practice on paper to feel confident. But after the procedure, you boast of a fashionable, exclusive biotat.
