Henna Aftercare

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Henna paste takes 5-20 minutes to dry, depending on humidity and airflow. Slower dry time creates a darker stain.

Don't smudge your design paste. Repairs cost extra. 

Stop back for sugar-water spray when the paste looks like dark chocolate and the wet shine is gone. 

Sugar water helps the paste to stay on your skin for several hours. Without sugar spray the paste will crack and lift off your skin because henna shrinks when it dries. 

Keep the henna paste design area warm.

DO NOT use plastic wrap!  It causes perspiration and 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. 4 hours is okay. 6 - 8 hours is best. 

Do not use water to remove henna paste! Your stain won't get as dark as it should.

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.

Avoid getting the design wet to achieve the darkest stain.

Avoiding water allows the stain to last longer.

Moisturize 2 - 3 times per day with a natural veggie oil (*olive, coconut, shea butter, jojoba, etc.). Coat with a beeswax-based lip balm if the design must get wet. Avoid petroleum-based jelly.

It depends on placement and aftercare. More calloused skin stains deeper so it gets darker and lasts longer. The palms stain best followed by the back of the hands then lower arms. Upper arms stain lighter. The face, neck and torso stain even lighter because the skin is thinner. These areas only last 1 - 3 days.

If you've recently exfoliated or had sunburn that peeled, the stain will be very light to nonexistent because the dead skin layers have been removed. 

The stain gradually fades as the skin exfoliates. 

Duration depends on all this plus body temperature/ chemistry, skin type, lifestyle, where you get it and how well you take care of it.

Exfoliation is the only way to remove a henna stain. 

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.​​