FAQ THE HENNA KIT
1. HOW DOES "HENNA" WORK?
Henna is made from combining natural ground up henna plant with natural liquids. It is made into a paste by combining the henna powder with water and natural oils. It is then let to sit to allow the ‘die to release’.
You then use the applicator bottle to apply the design and let the paste set onto your skin. This is when the henna has the dark black colour that you will see in many photos. You then scrape the henna paste off, and left below will be a beautiful rich orange/red design. This stain will become stronger and darker over the next few days, and can last over a week.
2. WHAT IS THE BACKGROUND OF HENNA?
Henna has been used in Pakistan, Africa, India, the Middle East and more for thousands of years. The plant in it's natural form can also be found growing in Australia. Henna contains cooling properties, and people of the desert would use it to cool themselves down during the summer heat. It has also been documented to have been used as a sunblock, and a healer for headaches and stomach pains. Henna powder is often also used as a hair dye in many countries around the world.
Henna is a large part of many Indian special occasions, namely weddings, where the bride is covered in intricate designs. Many guests will also be covered in henna for decorative purposes, including men.
However, henna is not strictly restricted to any one specific culture or tradition, and it can be used as a form of art and self expression by anyone, where-ever you may be. The Henna Kit creation stemmed from a trip to India, where the Indian locals, in both big cities and villages, were determined to share henna with us, and for us to bring it to home to share with the rest of the world. The locals insisted that Henna should be something that everyone in the world can enjoy, and were thrilled to see that people from other cultures appreciated it as they do. The Nomads endeavor to share Henna with the rest of the world whilst still ensuring that it's history and traditional background is always recognized.
3. WHY IS THE NAMASTE COLLECTIVE HENNA KIT THE BEST?
Our kit has made creating your own henna designs easier than ever! The kit contains simple and clear instructions, a unique design booklet to be inspired by, a tracing pencil to make drawing designs a breeze, and an easy to use applicator bottle.
Our henna kits allow you to get earthy and creative, providing you with what you need to get started with no experience necessary! Not to mention we provide the highest quality, completely natural and most respected henna available. We are also always very happy to help you out with any questions you have, at any time!
4. CAN HENNA BE HARMFUL TO MY SKIN?
Ours? No! We only use the most safe and natural ingredients, and we recommend mixing with only natural products, and to always test on a small patch of skin first.
As with any product applied directly to skin, it is always possible that in vary rare circumstances, some individuals may have a unique reaction. If any adverse reaction occurs, we suggest to cease use immediately, remove the paste, and wash with warm soapy water. And of course, if symptoms persist, see a doctor.
We suggest to be aware of some "pre made" henna pastes that you may see being sold elsewhere that are full of chemicals and nasties that are harmful to your skin. Henna itself is a completely natural product, and this is why once mixed it needs to be frozen to preserve it's shelf-life. However, some "pre made" pastes use chemical dyes to preserve the paste and therefore risk the dyes and chemicals entering into your bloodstream or leaving permanent welts and scars. Often with these Henna Pastes, it is the chemical dyes that leave stains on your skin, rather than the natural henna.
5. WHERE CAN I USE HENNA?
You can use henna almost everywhere! However, the tougher and more coarse the skin, the darker the stain will be and the longer it will last. This is why the stains will be darkest on the hands / palms and feet! We do not recommend using the henna near your eyes.
Henna has also been used on surfaces other than skin! By applying henna to natural wood, it can actually leave a beautiful, natural, dark brown/red stain which sinks into the grains of the timber. Be careful when you do this however, as wood does not naturally exfoliate like skin, so the stain will be much more permanent!
6. HOW MANY HENNA DESIGNS WILL THIS KIT MAKE?
This kit will give you enough henna paste to create around 40 hand size designs. Don’t have 40 hands? That’s ok, don’t stress, the paste can also be frozen for up to 12 months for use later on! Just thaw it out, and it is ready to go. Check out the question on freezing the Henna below for more information on this.
7. WHAT OIL CAN I USE TO MAKE THE PASTE?
We recommend either eucalyptus or tea tree natural essential oils - as mentioned in our instruction booklet. The henna will also work with other types of essential oils (we have had customers tell us they have used all sorts of oils), however we believe that eucalyptus and tea tree work the best.
Beware of some oils which have extra high concentrations of certain ingredients, meaning it can be a bit harsher on your skin, and in some cases, can cause a slight burning feeling. Some skin types will react differently to some oils, so as always, we recommend testing on a small patch of skin first!
8. HOW LONG SHOULD I LEAVE THE HENNA PASTE ON MY SKIN?
As long as you like, but generally the longer it is left on the skin, the darker the stain will be and the longer it will last. We recommend over 5 hours if you can! Some people like to wrap their designs in clingwrap if they are planning to sleep with it on, and this will help the stain be super dark and stop the paste crumbling off in your bed!
9. HOW DO I GET THE HENNA PASTE OFF MY SKIN?
You can simply use a card or your fingernails to slowly scrape it off. Avoid using water to remove the paste, as this will reduce your stain! The Namaste Collective nomads personally suggest using coconut oil, to slowly rub and take off the dry Henna paste.
10. HOW CAN I GET A DARKER STAIN?
There are so many different ways! Henna takes time to perfect, and there are many different tips and tricks that will get that dark stain you are looking for:
One of the easiest and most effective tricks is to keep everything warm! Keep your henna warm while the dye is releasing (but don't leave it in sunlight), keep your skin warm while you are applying it, and keep yourself warm while you let the paste sit on your skin (here, you can sit in the sunlight). However, lets be sensible, don't try to put the henna in the microwave!
Also, the longer you can leave the paste on your skin, the better the stain will be! If you are really motivated to get that super dark and long-lasting stain, maybe try wrapping the design in gladwrap (once it is dry) and leaving the paste on overnight.
Keep in mind that the same batch of henna may produce different stains on different types of skin. The coarser the skin, the more likely it is that there will be a darker stain. Avoid having any moisturizer or creams on the skin before applying!
11. HOW LONG WILL MY STAIN LAST?
The amount of time the henna design will stay on your skin depends on a number of things. But if you look after your design very well, and avoid exfoliation as much as possible, a strong stain can last up to 2 weeks. Generally, when exposed to water and rubbing daily, it will last around a week.
12. HOW CAN I REMOVE MY HENNA STAIN?
Need it off? Simply exfoliate your skin! Avoid using nasty chemical soaps!
13. HOW LONG CAN I FREEZE HENNA FOR?
Once you have let the henna sit and the dye release has occurred, your henna can be frozen and preserved for up to 12 months! When you need to use it, simply take it out, let it thaw out, give it a shake, and get going! The paste can be frozen in the bottle, as well as in the mixing bag. It can be frozen, de-frosted, and frozen again multiple times, but just make sure it is not left out for long periods (5+ hours) as this might effect it's staining power.
14. MY APPLICATOR BOTTLE IS CLOGGING, HOW CAN I FIX IT?
If the applicator bottle is left for a while, sometimes the henna paste can dry up in the thin needle tip. Don't fret, this can be easily fixed! The first thing to do is remove the cap, and run hot water through it, using your fingers to push out any left over paste. It can also be helpful to tap it on a hard surface to knock as much out as possible. It can also be helpful to hold the needle tip under hot water to help soften the henna inside of it.
Then, put the cap back on the bottle, secure it tightly, and squeeze hard while pointing it into the sink. The blockage will break through and the needle tip will be clear!
15. MY HENNA PASTE SEEMS TOO THICK AND HARD TO PUSH OUT!
After months of testing and hundreds of trail henna tattoos were played with, we discovered the perfect ratio of liquids to henna powder, and this is what we give you in our instruction booklet. However, sometimes the henna can become thick depending on many things, mainly the temperature and how long the bottle has been left out.
One thing which can really help to soften up the henna and stop your hand getting henna cramps is to hold the bottle (with the cap securely on) under warm running water. We do not recommend adding more water to the bottle, as it often will not mix properly, and can cause your designs to run!