Fleeting Beauty Henna

The Art of Henna

Henna is an ancient art practiced by many countries and cultures over thousands of years. It now involves the preparation of a paste of henna powder mixed with an essential oil such as lavender, and lemon juice. The henna is applied using a cellophane cone and is squeezed out like icing a cake; see picture below. The thickness of the lines can be controlled by varying the pressure or speed of application.

Fleeting Beauty Henna sources its fresh or frozen henna paste from a local Adelaide supplier, www.modernhenna.com.au

Henna stain

Henna is applied as a paste which stains the skin underneath it. The paste is left on at least until it dries, and if left on further it will stain for longer. If left on overnight, the stain will be dark and will stay on for up to two weeks. Water will impede the stain; the design should be kept dry for the first 24 hours to get the best stain. The easiest way to do that is apply an edible oil such as coconut or olive oil just before showering to protect the stain from getting damp.

The picture below shows the progression of the stain as it matures on the skin. From left to right:

Paste on the skin
Stain on skin when paste is freshly removed
Stain on skin after one day
Stain on skin after two days. This stain is now mature, and will fade slowly over the next ten to twelve days.