Henna Aftercare
Caring for Your Henna
Henna paste takes 5-20 minutes to dry. Don't smudge it. Keep the paste on! Keep it warm.
Wrapping (optional). Do not use plastic (it will destroy your design).
Wait for the paste to dry. Before cracks form, cover with first aid paper tape. Do not lift or readjust tape once it makes contact with the henna.
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Wait for the paste to dry. Before cracks form, seal with a water-sugar solution (1/4 teaspoon sugar dissolved in 1 teaspoon water). Gently dab solution on dry henna with a cotton bud. Use sparingly and avoid drips! When dry, wrap with unrolled cotton balls> bath tissue> gauze> tape.
The longer the paste is on, the darker the stain. 6 hours is okay. 24 hours is best.
Do not use water to remove henna paste!
If no sugar-water spray was applied: Dried henna flakes off on its own. Flake off remaining paste with fingernails or the edge of a credit card.
If sugar-water spray was applied: Use only vegetable oil (see below*) to remove stubborn paste and sugar stickiness.
THE ORANGE STAIN TAKES TWO DAYS TO DARKEN.
Avoid water as long as possible, as much as possible. After paste removal, do not wet area for 24+ hours, if possible. Avoiding water allows the stain to darken and last longer.
Moisturize 2 - 3 times per day with a natural veggie oil (*olive, coconut, shea butter, jojoba, etc.). Coat with an organic lip balm if the design must get wet. Avoid petroleum jelly.
The fastest way to fade a henna stain is to go swimming in chlorinated water. Water, soap, hand sanitizer, commercial moisturizers, sweating, soaking, exfoliating, shaving, gloves, manual labor and rubbing also cause fading.