In order to increase the accessibility of henna art and enhance cultural sharing, Mihenna has proudly offered our ready-to-use henna paste for the last two years. We’ve perfected our henna paste recipe to create a dark, long-lasting stain from organic, all-natural ingredients. And now we are ready to share the joy of making your own henna paste with our brand new kit - The Henna Powder Kit!
Making Henna Paste
The Henna Powder Kit guides you through preparing your own henna paste from USDA-certified organic ingredients. Delivered in an adorable red box, the kit contains:
- 100 grams of natural henna powder
- 30 milliliters of our custom blended essential oils
- 2 applicator bottles with 12 tips of varying sizes
- 16 inch carrot bag for storing the finished henna paste
- 1 roller bottle of coconut oil for aftercare
- 1 step-by-step, illustrated instructional booklet
Before getting started, you’ll need to collect the following items:
- 3 tablespoons of sugar (preferably organic)
- 1 cup of distilled / purified water at room temperature
- A glass bowl
- A spoon
- A pair of scissors
- Cling wrap
Step 1. Stir 100 grams of natural henna powder and 3 tablespoons of sugar in your bowl.
Step 2. Add 1 cup of water and mix into a thick paste.
Step 3. Cover the bowl with cling wrap and let sit for 30 minutes. This will allow the water to absorb into your henna paste.
Step 4. Add 30 milliliters of essential oil mixture and mix until the lumps are gone. The paste should have a pudding-like consistency.
Step 5. Cover the bowl again with cling wrap and store in a warm place for 6 hours, like inside a cabinet or above the fridge. This will allow the dye release to occur.
Step 6. Mix the henna paste one more time and spoon into the carrot bag. Use the twist tie to secure the bag.
Step 7. Snip the end of the carrot bag and fill an applicator bottle.
Step 8. Select a tip and screw it onto the applicator bottle.
Step 9. Create your very own henna art with your fresh, organic henna paste!
There’s nothing like the feeling of accomplishment that comes from making your own henna paste. Now when someone compliments your henna tattoos, you can say, “Thanks! They’re organic.”
Henna Powder FAQs
1) Where is henna powder from?
Henna comes from the plant Lawsonia inermis which grows near the equator in Africa, the Middle East, and Southern Asia. At Mihenna, we get our certified organic henna powder from India.
2) Is henna powder safe?
Organic henna powder is safe for your skin and hair. Always check the ingredients to be sure there are no added chemicals. Henna is antifungal and contains some antimicrobials. It is not safe to consume, and children should not be left unattended with henna paste.
3) Does henna powder expire?
Henna in powdered form will last several months as long you keep it away from moisture and excessive heat. After 4 to 5 months, it may start to lose potency and not create as dark a stain.
Not to be confused with henna that has been made into a paste. Henna paste should be stored in the freezer when not in use. Frozen henna paste will last up to 3 months and can be defrosted before each use.
4) Why add sugar to henna paste?
Sugar helps keep your henna paste from drying too quickly by pulling moisture in from the air. The longer the paste stays wet, the more dye will absorb into your skin creating a darker and longer lasting stain.
If you live in a very humid climate, you can use less sugar in your henna mix as the readily available moisture in the air will keep your henna paste wet. If you live in a very dry climate, you may need to add a bit more sugar.
5) Why does making henna take so long?
Henna paste needs to sit for 6 hours to allow for the dye release. The color contained within the henna plant leaves is extracted by breaking the leaves down to their molecules. Crushing the leaves into a fine powder is the first step of this process. Mixing the henna powder with water, sugar, and essential oils is the second part of the process. A chemical reaction called oxidation releases the color and makes it available to absorb into your skin. But oxidation takes time to occur and to reach a stable point that's ready for you to use.
You should plan to make your henna paste the day before you plan to use it.
6) How to use henna powder?
Henna powder can be mixed with sugar, water, and essential oils to create a paste that can be used to create henna tattoos or henna hair dye. If you are a beginner henna artist, we recommend using our henna stencils to get perfect henna tattoos every time.